CompetingCars.com
2008 model year
What's new for 2008.
The 2008 Subaru Impreza launches the third generation with a complete redesign that prioritizes comfort, refinement, and interior space. The model moves to a longer wheelbase and introduces a new double-wishbone rear suspension, replacing the previous strut-based setup to improve ride quality and cargo capacity. The body styles are updated to a more conservative sedan and a new five-door hatchback that replaces the previous wagon. Standard safety features are expanded to include side-curtain airbags and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) on more models.
Redesign
- Complete generational redesign with a longer wheelbase and new sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles.
Chassis
- New double-wishbone rear suspension for improved ride comfort and increased cargo room.
Safety
- Standard side-curtain airbags and expanded availability of Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC).
Trims
Select a trim to see its specs and equipment.
2008 Subaru Impreza
2.5i 4-door
- Horsepower
- 170
- City MPG
- 20
- Highway MPG
- 27
- Engine
- 2.5-liter SOHC SUBARU BOXER
- Horsepower
- 170 hp
- Torque
- 170 lb-ft
- Drivetrain
- Subaru Symmetrical AWD
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- City / highway MPG
- 20 / 27
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Wheel size
- 16 in
- Ground clearance
- –
- Cargo, seats up
- 11.3 cu ft
- Towing capacity
- –
Standard equipment
- Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- i-Active Valve Lift System
- 4-wheel independent suspension
- 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) with EBD
- Tricot upholstery
- 80-watt 4-speaker audio system
- Power windows and side mirrors
- Cruise control
- 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatback
- Tilt steering column
2008 Subaru Impreza
2.5i 5-door
- Horsepower
- 170
- City MPG
- 20
- Highway MPG
- 27
- Engine
- 2.5-liter SOHC SUBARU BOXER
- Horsepower
- 170 hp
- Torque
- 170 lb-ft
- Drivetrain
- Subaru Symmetrical AWD
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- City / highway MPG
- 20 / 27
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Wheel size
- 16 in
- Ground clearance
- –
- Cargo, seats up
- 11.3 cu ft
- Towing capacity
- –
Adds over Impreza 2.5i 4-door
- 5-door body style
- Single-speed rear window wiper
- L.E.D. taillights
- Rear spoiler
- Grocery bag hook and 4 tiedown hooks
- Retractable/removable cargo-area cover
2008 Subaru Impreza
Outback Sport
- Horsepower
- 170
- City MPG
- 20
- Highway MPG
- 27
- Engine
- 2.5-liter SOHC SUBARU BOXER
- Horsepower
- 170 hp
- Torque
- 170 lb-ft
- Drivetrain
- Subaru Symmetrical AWD
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- City / highway MPG
- 20 / 27
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Wheel size
- 17 in
- Ground clearance
- –
- Cargo, seats up
- 11.3 cu ft
- Towing capacity
- –
Adds over Impreza 2.5i 5-door
- Raised suspension
- Roof rack base carrier
- Front and rear bumper underguards
- Fog lights
- Body-color side mirrors and door handles
- Cloth upholstery
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle
- 80-watt 10-speaker audio system
- SRS Circle Surround Automotive audio enhancement
- Auxiliary audio jack
The trims, side by side.
Scroll sideways to see every trim →
"Optional" means the feature needs an upgrade or package.
3 of 3 trims
| Trim | 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| City / Hwy / Combined (MPG) | 20 / 27 / 22 | 20 / 27 / 22 | 20 / 27 / 22 |
| Horsepower | 170 hp | 170 hp | 170 hp |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| Drivetrain | Subaru Symmetrical AWD | Subaru Symmetrical AWD | Subaru Symmetrical AWD |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
| Name | 2.5-liter SOHC SUBARU BOXER | 2.5-liter SOHC SUBARU BOXER | 2.5-liter SOHC SUBARU BOXER |
| Type | 4-cylinder horizontally opposed | 4-cylinder horizontally opposed | 4-cylinder horizontally opposed |
| Displacement l | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Fuel injection | Sequential multiport fuel injection | Sequential multiport fuel injection | Sequential multiport fuel injection |
| Horsepower | 170 | 170 | 170 |
| Horsepower RPM | 6000 | 6000 | 6000 |
| Torque lb ft | 170 | 170 | 170 |
| Torque RPM | 4400 | 4400 | 4400 |
| Fuel type | Unleaded gasoline (87 octane) | Unleaded gasoline (87 octane) | Unleaded gasoline (87 octane) |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| City MPG | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Highway MPG | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Combined MPG | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| Length (in) | 180.3 | 173.8 | 173.8 |
| Width (in) | 68.5 | 68.5 | 68.5 |
| Height (in) | 58.1 | 58.1 | 58.3 |
| Wheelbase (in) | 103.1 | 103.1 | 103.1 |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| Cargo volume seats up (cu ft) | 11.3 | 11.3 | 11.3 |
| Cargo volume max (cu ft) | – | 44.4 | 44.4 |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| Wheel size (in) | 16 | 16 | 17 |
| Wheel material | steel | steel | aluminum-alloy |
| Wheel finish | alloy wheel look covers | alloy wheel look covers | High-luster 6-spoke |
| Tire spec | 205/55 R16 M+S all-season | 205/55 R16 M+S all-season | 205/50 R17 M+S all-season |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| Active head restraints | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ring shaped reinforcement frame | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Airbags description | Front, side, and side-curtain | Front, side, and side-curtain | Front, side, and side-curtain |
| Electronic brake force distribution | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Abs standard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2.5i 4-door | 2.5i 5-door | Outback Sport | |
| Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| i-Active Valve Lift System | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4-wheel independent suspension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) with EBD | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tricot upholstery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 80-watt 4-speaker audio system | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power windows and side mirrors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatback | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tilt steering column | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5-door body style | - | Yes | Yes |
| Single-speed rear window wiper | - | Yes | Yes |
| L.E.D. taillights | - | Yes | Yes |
| Rear spoiler | - | Yes | Yes |
| Grocery bag hook and 4 tiedown hooks | - | Yes | Yes |
| Retractable/removable cargo-area cover | - | Yes | Yes |
| Raised suspension | - | - | Yes |
| Roof rack base carrier | - | - | Yes |
| Front and rear bumper underguards | - | - | Yes |
| Fog lights | - | - | Yes |
| Body-color side mirrors and door handles | - | - | Yes |
| Cloth upholstery | - | - | Yes |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle | - | - | Yes |
| 80-watt 10-speaker audio system | - | - | Yes |
| SRS Circle Surround Automotive audio enhancement | - | - | Yes |
| Auxiliary audio jack | - | - | Yes |