Hyundai Ioniq vs Subaru Impreza
What's the difference?

Hyundai Ioniq

$19,395 - $42,950

2021 price

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Subaru Impreza

$23,888 - $39,888

2024 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2021 Hyundai Ioniq

2024 Subaru Impreza

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

—

Flat 4, 2.0L

Vehicle type

—

Unleaded Petrol

Electric range

—

7.5L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

—

Battery capacity

—

Seating

Likes

Well-tuned electric drive
Range is about right
Excellent energy consumption

Even base car well equipped
Solid and comfortable
Standard safety equipment

Dislikes

Feels very heavy
Design won't be for everyone
Still a little too pricey for mass adoption

No hybrid option
Engine noisy when pushed
Loves a drink

2021 Hyundai Ioniq Summary

Hyundai's Ioniq range is nothing if not a flex in the face of Toyota.

Sure, Toyota has a dominating position in the Australian market, with its well-received range of hybrid models, but what happens after hybrid? Hyundai takes on the blocky Prius formula with not only a directly competing hybrid model, but a plug-in and a fully electric version, too.

This expansive range is as though Hyundai is trying to demonstrate it's ready for any future, near or far, and guess what, Toyota? Anything you can do; the Korean juggernaut thinks it can do better.

These cars aren't really designed to sell so much as they are offerings for early adopters, but a few years after its launch, with a host of rivals set to take it on, and an entire sub-brand based on the Ioniq just around the corner, is Hyundai's top-spec Ioniq electric worth a look? I took one for a week to find out.

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2024 Subaru Impreza Summary

For over thirty years, the Subaru Impreza has been an icon on Australian roads.

If you’re a member of the ‘PlayStation generation’ like me, there’s a very good chance you slapped P plates on one as your first car.

For Subaru the Impreza is more than that. Along with its WRX performance variant, it's the car which put Subaru on the map, raising it from a relatively unknown Japanese automaker to a global household name.

Things change, though, and despite 30-plus years of history as a beloved nameplate, the Impreza has gone from a best-seller to tumbling down the sales charts as buyers shuffle into small SUVs rather than hatchbacks or small sedans.

The question we’re looking to answer today is what this new-generation Impreza has to offer in 2024, and whether it is still worth a look.

Read on to see what we found.

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Hyundai Ioniq 2024 Subaru Impreza

Verdict

Just like the Kona EV, Hyundai's Ioniq is still one of the best EV options on the market today. It strikes an excellent balance by offering significantly more range and better energy consumption than the more affordable Nissan Leaf or MG ZS EV, while providing the familiarity of the Hyundai spec and drive experience at a price only a little higher than a top-spec Prius.

Its relatively high score is a product of these factors, but also the way in which its interactivity offers the early adopters the engagement they will be searching for.

Verdict

The 2024 Impreza delivers on all the key things which have made the nameplate so well regarded for the last 30-odd years.

The issue is, buyer expectations have moved on. Hatchbacks need to do more than ever to compete with small SUVs, and with today’s fuel prices it’s far more valuable to offer hybrid rather than all-wheel drive.

This is why, despite the sixth-generation Impreza being a tidy high-tech offering with an admirable commitment to safety, I think it will ultimately continue to shrink its market share. This Impreza really is one for the fans.

Hyundai Ioniq vs Subaru Impreza What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Hyundai Ioniq vs Subaru Impreza
What's the difference?