2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Acura TLX

The 2021 Subaru Impreza showcased a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had taken some bold styling risks. Both the sedan and hatchback versions featured sleek headlights and taillights, giving an impression of width, along with a nicely-tapered front end. The body sides had some scalloping for visual flair, and the awkward wheel arch sheetmetal from the previous generation was toned down. The Impreza Sport models stood out with specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while base models came with 16-inch steel wheels. The interior design was typical of compact cars, with the infotainment touchscreen splitting the dashboard in two and various forms of plastic throughout. The Impreza Sport added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2022 Acura TLX had a wide and long stance, reminiscent of a luxury sedan from a larger size class. It was notably wider than the BMW 3 Series, with a track width nearly three inches wider at the rear and almost two inches at the front. The TLX featured thin headlights pressed against a five-sided grille, a V-shaped front bumper, and large tailpipes on each side, giving it a substantial yet fuss-free appearance. The Type S variant added exclusive touches like the Tiger Eye Pearl paint color, Performance Red Pearl, and 20-inch Y-spoke gray wheels inspired by the Acura NSX. The interior was snug but detailed, with a narrow center console, angled air vents, and inward curves on the aluminum trim. The upper trims with the Advance package included thin LED strips against light matte wood, creating a Scandinavian airport lounge vibe. The Type S models featured faux-suede inserts, red stitching, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with real metal shift paddles.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mounted lower in the chassis, helping to lower the car’s center of gravity. Most Impreza models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual transmission was available on the base sedan and hatchback, as well as the Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport model also featured specific suspension tuning and a torque vectoring feature for the AWD system. The Impreza provided a solid and refined ride, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport’s suspension tuning offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the engine’s lack of power and noncommunicative steering kept it from being a true driver’s car.

The 2022 Acura TLX featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, delivering 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The TLX started as a front-wheel drive car, but the Super Handling-All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system was available for an additional $2000. This system could vary torque at either rear wheel, improving stability and handling precision. The Type S variant came with a 3.0-liter turbo V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The TLX’s double-wishbone front suspension, adaptive dampers, and SH-AWD system made it balanced and predictable on the track. The engine’s broad torque, minimal turbo lag, and Sport+ driving mode provided an engaging driving experience. However, the exhaust note was subdued, and the regular TLX felt more like a luxury sedan than a sport sedan. The Type S offered a good balance of performance and comfort, though the summer P Zero tires emitted extra noise on the highway. Fuel economy for the Type S was 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza offered reasonable legroom in both the sedan and hatchback versions, though headroom was a bit below average. The sedan had 12.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the least among current compact sedans, but it did offer a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchback, but less than the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Premium and higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim featured a six-way power driver’s seat and automatic climate control. A power moonroof was available as an option on most trim levels.

The 2022 Acura TLX, despite its large exterior, was tight for four passengers inside. The back seat had decent headroom but limited legroom. The front seats were comfortable, with the Type S offering a thigh extension and adjustable side bolsters. The driving position was low, and the controls were well-marked. The touchpad interface for the infotainment system required some acclimation, as it was not a traditional cursor trackpad. The climate control was straightforward, and the trunk space was 13.5 cubic feet, less than a Honda Civic. The TLX’s double-wishbone suspension took up more space, limiting trunk and cabin space.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth on the base and Premium trim levels, while higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. An option package for the Limited trim added TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. The Impreza also had a secondary display housed in a hood over the main touchscreen, showing information like estimated range. The infotainment system was easy to use, with large touchscreen icons and minimal menu digging for important functions.

The 2022 Acura TLX had a simple and quick infotainment interface, though some typefaces were too small to read easily. The head-up display, available only with the Advance Package, allowed the driver to interact with various functions from the steering wheel. The Advance Package also included 360-degree cameras, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The ELS Studio audio system with 17 speakers was included, along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and 12-way heated front seats. The Technology Package linked the climate control to the navigation system, adjusting the air based on the sun’s position. Standard features included "Jewel Eye" LED headlights, a garage door opener, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The AcuraWatch suite of driver assistance features was also standard.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award, with the highest “Good” score in all crash tests. The standard headlights received a “Marginal” rating, while the Limited trim’s headlights received a “Good” score. The NHTSA gave the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating. The Impreza came with Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech as standard on CVT-equipped models, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights were available as options.

The 2022 Acura TLX was rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests, headlight visibility, and anti-glare, and standard forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The NHTSA gave the TLX a five-star overall score, with four stars in the frontal passenger-side test. Standard safety features included knee airbags for driver and passenger, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors were included in the Technology Package and higher trims.