Subaru Impreza (2021)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 82 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,153

£179/month

MOT Pass Rate

72%

Average

Road Tax

£200

Standard rate/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 12-25

1600cc Petrol

Check Carefully

72% pass rate, £2,153/year to run. 10 points below average.

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Petrol1600cc5 years old82 tests75k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1600cc)

~42 mpg

£1,398

Road Tax

Standard rate (from April 2017)

£200

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£500

Total per year£2,153

Per month£179/mo

Per week£41/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars).

Reliability Verdict

72% MOT pass rate(Average)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. That's 10 points below the average of 82% across all models in our data. It falls below the Subaru brand average of 83%.

72% of MOT tests on Subaru Imprezas from 2021 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 3 years old. That's based on 82 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 74,592 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 models3326th of 3,336(bottom 1%)

Rank among Subaru models168th of 184(bottom 10%)

vs average of all models-10%(82% avg)

vs 2021 models average-20%(92% avg)

vs Subaru average-11%(83% avg)

Mileage Analysis

74,592

Average miles

22,200

Expected for age

The average 2021 Subaru Impreza had 74,592 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is well above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Check service history carefully, as high-mileage cars need consistent maintenance to stay reliable.

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Best Year to Buy?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2016 model has the highest MOT pass rate at 92%, while the 1994 model has the lowest at 81%. The 2021 scores 72%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.

Subaru Impreza by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	72%	82	74,592 mi
2020	91%	128	75,896 mi
2019	90%	343	53,725 mi
2018	91%	329	44,855 mi
2017	91%	210	60,514 mi
2016	92%	325	62,451 mi
2015	88%	346	66,732 mi
2014	84%	234	65,423 mi
2013	90%	134	77,231 mi
2012	88%	154	64,127 mi
2011	84%	417	77,422 mi
2010	85%	1,591	88,108 mi
2009	83%	1,498	88,078 mi
2008	81%	1,984	95,457 mi
2007	81%	3,447	94,086 mi
2006	82%	3,346	99,363 mi
2005	82%	4,111	104,834 mi
2004	84%	3,460	104,585 mi
2003	82%	3,280	108,355 mi
2002	84%	1,991	109,552 mi
2001	82%	1,688	113,881 mi
2000	83%	1,600	107,364 mi
1999	83%	2,069	110,144 mi
1998	84%	1,185	107,969 mi
1997	83%	731	102,415 mi
1996	85%	347	111,892 mi
1995	87%	209	102,719 mi
1994	81%	124	113,726 mi
1993	86%	36	92,697 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Volkswagen Golf

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+20%

Vauxhall Corsa

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£2,003/year

88%

+16%

Nissan Qashqai

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,853/year

93%

+21%

MINI Cooper

2019 · 1499cc Petrol

£1,853/year

92%

+20%

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About the 2021 Subaru Impreza

The 2021 Subaru Impreza is a small family car. Our records list a 1600cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 82 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 1% of 2021 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 74,592 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Subaru Impreza owners cover more miles than the average driver. High-mileage examples should be checked carefully for wear on suspension, brakes, and drivetrain components.

2021 Subaru Impreza Fuel Costs

The 1600cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,398 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 Subaru Impreza?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,153 (£179/month), broken down as £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT, and £500 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 72% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

Subaru Impreza Reliability Trend

Newer Subaru Imprezas pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2021 Subaru Impreza

At 5 years old, the Subaru Impreza offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2016 model has the highest pass rate at 92%. Note: with only 82 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 Subaru Impreza stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Subaru Impreza(2021)	72%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£2,153
Volkswagen Golf(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£300
Vauxhall Corsa(2019)	88%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,003-£150
Nissan Qashqai(2020)	93%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£300
MINI Cooper(2019)	92%	£1,398	£200	Grp 12-25	£1,853-£300

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2021 Subaru Impreza

Is the 2021 Subaru Impreza reliable?

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. 72% of MOT tests on 2021 Subaru Imprezas ended in a pass, from 82 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 10 points below the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2021 Subaru Impreza cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,153 a year (£179 a month): £1,398 fuel, £200 road tax, £55 MOT and £500 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 Subaru Impreza?

72% of 82 MOT tests on the 2021 Subaru Impreza ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 3326th of 3,336 models first registered in 2021 (bottom 1%).

Which year Subaru Impreza has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2016 Subaru Impreza has the highest MOT pass rate at 92% and the 1994 the lowest at 81%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2021 Subaru Impreza?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2021 Subaru Impreza is 74,592 miles, which is well above the expected 22,200 miles for a 3-year-old car. Check service history carefully, as high-mileage cars need consistent maintenance to stay reliable.