When it’s time to purchase a new car, you have a lot to think about. Chances are that you’ll have a basic idea of what you want the vehicle to look like or what features you want it to have. But when you start comparing similar models of different brands, things can get a little muddled. We totally get it, so Adventure Subaru is here to help. If you’re looking for a compact car that’s reliable, sleek, efficient and perfectly suited for life in the Ozarks, check out our comparison of the 2018 Subaru Impreza vs. two of its biggest competitors, the Kia Forte and the Chevrolet Cruze. Spoiler Alert: The Impreza is the winner here. We’re not going to lie to you about that. But we don’t just want to tell you — we want to show you why we think that. Check it out below.
Comfort & Convenience
All three cars — the Impreza, the Forte and the Cruze — have similar body sizes and interior space. They all have enough seating to haul 5 passengers, but there are certainly some differences. Compared with the Kia Forte, the Subaru Impreza offers rear passengers about the same amount of space to stretch out, but it offers more front head- and legroom than the Forte. Drivers tend to find the Impreza to be roomier and more comfortable overall.
Both the Subaru Impreza and the Chevrolet Cruze are offered in two designs: a sedan and a hatchback. The sedans have four doors while the hatchbacks include a fifth door along with some extra cargo space. Compared with the Cruze, the Subaru Impreza provides more passenger space overall and can hold up to 52.6 cubic feet of cargo, while the Cruze can hold only 47.2 cubic feet. The Impreza also offers an exceptionally comfy and quiet ride.
The Impreza’s Subaru Starlink system takes convenience to the next level with a long list of apps and features it’s compatible with. The Kia Forte can connect to your phone and use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the Impreza goes a step further with built-in TomTom navigation and an available 8-inch touchscreen.
Safety & Security
Let’s start out by saying that all three of the cars we’re talking about here should be recognized for their great safety ratings. None of them are unsafe, but there are a few things the Subaru Impreza has that the other cars don’t.
The Cruze and the Forte both have features like rear park assist, forward collision alert, lane keep assist, blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. The Subaru Impreza adds a few extra safety precautions though, like EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. EyeSight acts like an extra set of eyes on the road, and even an extra foot on the brake if necessary. The Impreza also offers LED Steering Responsive Headlights and High Beam Assist, as well as Reverse Automatic Braking.
Subaru STARLINK also includes a safety and security system that will connect you to first responders in the case of a collision, allowing them to send help directly to your location. You can call on them for other kinds of roadside assistance, too.
Capability & Performance
Here in Northwest Arkansas, it’s important to have a car that can handle a variety of road conditions and terrains. Right off the bat, the 2018 Subaru Impreza has a significant advantage over the other two with Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Whether you’re driving along the scenic Pig Trail in the winter or heading to the top of Mount Sequoyah, you’ll find that the Symmetrical AWD on the Impreza helps you maintain control over your vehicle, even when the road conditions aren’t ideal. Both the Chevy Cruze and the Kia Forte only come in front-wheel drive.
When you compare the torque and horsepower of these three cars, you’ll see that the Kia Forte lags behind both the Subaru Impreza and the Chevrolet Cruze. So if power and performance are high on your priority list, this might knock the Kia out of the running. The Cruze and the Impreza are pretty comparable in these areas, but the Subaru still comes out on top. The 2018 Subaru Impreza has a fully independent double wishbone rear suspension while the Chevy Cruze has a semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension. Overall, you’re just going to get better performance out of the Subaru Impreza.
If you want to see the 2018 Subaru Impreza for yourself, there’s no better time than now. Adventure Subaru is offering a Sign & Drive lease incentive on 2018 Impreza models for a limited time. That means you can drive away with a brand new Impreza without paying anything at the time of your lease signing. If you want to learn more about what it means to lease a car, check out our blog post about the benefits of leasing vs. financing or stop by Adventure Subaru to chat with one of our associates.
