Subaru Impreza vs Volkswagen Polo

The Subaru Impreza starts from $33,490 before on-road costs, while the Volkswagen Polo opens at $30,790. That makes the Volkswagen Polo the more affordable entry point by $2,700.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $36,839 and $33,869 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Volkswagen Polo by roughly $2,995 in fuel alone.

Both the Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Polo hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Subaru Impreza and 94% for the Volkswagen Polo.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Volkswagen Polo packs more ADAS features with 3 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 1 in the Subaru Impreza.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking. Airbag count is 9 in the Subaru Impreza and 6 in the Volkswagen Polo.

The Subaru Impreza features a 11.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Polo gets a 8-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments.

The Volkswagen Polo counters with Apple CarPlay and wireless charging that the Subaru Impreza does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Subaru Impreza uses a Petrol I4 Boxer producing 115kW and 196Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a AWD layout.

The Volkswagen Polo responds with a Petrol making 85kW and 200Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds.

The Subaru Impreza has the clear power advantage at 115kW vs 85kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Subaru Impreza measures 4,490mm long on a 2,670mm wheelbase, 410mm longer than the Volkswagen Polo at 4,080mm (2,564mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Subaru Impreza generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 291L in the Subaru Impreza and 351L in the Volkswagen Polo, giving the Volkswagen Polo a 60L advantage.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,138/year for the Subaru Impreza and $1,539/year for the Volkswagen Polo. That is a $599 annual difference in favour of the Volkswagen Polo.

Estimated annual total: $2,138 (Subaru Impreza) vs $1,539 (Volkswagen Polo). The Volkswagen Polo saves you roughly $599 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Impreza) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Volkswagen Polo). Both match on warranty length.