Subaru Impreza vs Kia Sorento
What's the difference?

Subaru Impreza

$25,999 - $38,288

2024 price

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Kia Sorento

$42,990 - $86,990

2025 price

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Summary

2024 Subaru Impreza

2025 Kia Sorento

By Tom White

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Flat 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.6L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

7.5L/100km (combined)

1.6L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Even base car well equipped
Solid and comfortable
Standard safety equipment

Superb comfort and features
Family focused practicality
Easy-going driving experience

Dislikes

No hybrid option
Engine noisy when pushed
Loves a drink

Price vs value equation doesn't add up
Limited electric driving range
No curtain airbags in the third row

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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2025 Kia Sorento Summary

The plug-in hybrid market is slowly but surely gaining traction in Australia, and Kia has thrown its hat into the ring with the flagship Sorento GT-Line PHEV AWD.

This top-spec seven-seat large SUV pairs family friendly practicality with the promise of lower emissions and petrol savings, at least, in theory.

So, is it the right blend of convenience, space and efficiency for busy families looking to dip a toe into electrification? That’s exactly what my family and I have been finding out.

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Deep dive comparison

2024 Subaru Impreza 2025 Kia Sorento

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.

Verdict

The Kia Sorento GT-Line PHEV is a sumptuously equipped seven-seater that delivers comfort, tech and an easy-going drive. It presents well on the surface, and for the right buyer (one who can make the most of its plug-in capabilities ) it could be a smart, low-emissions option for family life.

But for all its polish, it doesn’t quite do enough to justify itself as the best Sorento in the range. The electric-only driving range isn’t especially generous, and the higher price tag , combined with its lower towing capacity, may leave some families wondering whether the diesel variant is the more practical choice.

It’s not a bad car by any means, but the flagship GT-Line PHEV feels more like a stepping stone than a standout.

Subaru Impreza vs Kia Sorento What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Subaru Impreza vs Kia Sorento
What's the difference?