2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2021 Subaru Impreza showcased a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had featured large round headlights and box fender flares. This generation, while not immediately identifiable as a Subaru, still maintained a handsome appearance. Both the sedan and hatchback versions sported sleek headlights and taillights, enhancing their width impression, and 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 Impreza was built on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with models like the Legacy sedan, Outback wagon, and Forester and Ascent crossovers. This platform contributed to the overall refinement of the vehicle. Inside, the design was typical of compact cars, with the infotainment touchscreen splitting the dashboard and various forms of plastic throughout. The Impreza Sport featured contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the top-tier Impreza Limited boasted standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its fantastic look from the 2021 model, following a complete makeover. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the S-Class sedan continued to impress with its sleek design and long profile, which exuded elegance. The car's extended distance between the front axle and the dashboard added to its sophisticated appearance. The S-Class proudly displayed its Mercedes-Benz grille and star hood ornament, distinguishing it from other luxury sedans.

Inside, the S-Class dashboard featured a waterfall of open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the center stack. A separate 12.3-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel provided crisp imagery and customizable themes. The cabin was adorned with high-quality materials, meticulously fitted and assembled, ensuring a luxurious experience for all passengers.

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 design allowed for a lower center of gravity, enhancing the car's stability. 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 system for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

The Impreza provided a comfortable daily driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport model's suspension offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the steering was noncommunicative, and the engine's power was modest. For a more thrilling driving experience, one would need to opt for the WRX.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered two engine options: the S500 with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine and the S580 with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. Both engines featured the EQ Boost system, which provided up to 21 additional horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque during high-demand situations. The S500 produced 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, while the S580 delivered even more power. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD.

Despite their weight, the S500 and S580 were quick off the line, with 0-60 mph times of 4.9 seconds and 4.4 seconds, respectively. The S-Class handled smoothly and predictably, with powerful braking. The S500 achieved fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, while the S580 managed 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. With a 22.2-gallon fuel tank, the S-Class offered impressive range.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback provided reasonable legroom, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan's trunk space was limited to 12.3 cubic feet, but the standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat helped accommodate longer items. The hatchback offered 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchbacks, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza hatchback provided 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Most hatch trim levels also included standard roof rails.

Higher trim levels of the Impreza featured 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 included 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 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled as an executive sedan, offering a spacious and comfortable cabin with ample storage. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof. The 13.8-cubic-foot trunk provided plenty of space for luggage, and the cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row.

The driver and front passenger benefited from active multicontour seats with massage, memory, lumbar support, and comfort headrests. The Luxury Line package added a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, rear-seat heating, and the "Energizing Comfort" system. The Executive Line, exclusive to the S580, upgraded the rear seats with active multicontour features, neck and shoulder heating, and a high-end rear-seat entertainment system with 11.6-inch touchscreens.

One minor drawback was the wide-opening doors, which could be difficult to reach when seated. However, the soft-close feature prevented any frustration from slamming doors. The S-Class came with a four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on the base and Premium trims, while higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen. The top Limited trim offered an option package with TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display above the main touchscreen provided additional information, though it seemed somewhat redundant given the small LCD display in the gauge cluster. Overall, the Impreza's infotainment system was user-friendly, with large icons and easy access to important functions.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with advanced technology. The 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen served as the interface for the MBUX infotainment system, offering superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided customizable themes and crisp imagery. An optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest, while the augmented video for navigation superimposed directions over real-time video of the surroundings.

The available augmented reality head-up display projected supplemental instructions onto the windshield, enhancing driver assistance. The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system delivered high-fidelity audio, with an optional 4D Surround system adding headrest speakers for an immersive experience. The S-Class also featured rear-axle steering, improving maneuverability with up to 10 degrees of steering angle.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback both received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, with the highest "Good" scores in all crash tests. However, they missed the "Top Safety Pick+" award due to "Marginal" ratings for standard headlights. The Limited trim's headlights received a "Good" rating. The NHTSA awarded the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in all crash tests. The Impreza came with Subaru's EyeSight safety tech on CVT-equipped models, including features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped with numerous standard and optional safety features. Magic Vision Control adjusted windshield spray based on various factors, ensuring optimal visibility. Driver assistance features included adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, and Pre-Safe systems. The S-Class also featured car-to-x communication, sharing road condition warnings with other vehicles. For rear passengers, the S-Class offered optional rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bags.