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Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD car check

Is the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD reliable? We analysed 1,369 real MOT tests across 317 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,369 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.7%
Typical Mileage
108,104mi
Annual Mileage
5,761mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, constant velocity joint gaiter split and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD.

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.2%
1996
69.9%
1995
64.4%
1994

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 92
constant velocity joint gaiter split 64
Brake pipe excessively corroded 55
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 54
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 54
Headlamp aim too high 51
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 51
Registration plate lamp not working 51
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 39
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 33

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,966 mi/yr
Typical
5,761 mi/yr
Average
6,487 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,823 mi/yr

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1996 476 70.2% 89,600 102,958 119,399
1995 355 69.9% 91,671 106,833 127,244
1994 362 64.4% 99,955 121,157 137,423

How Long Does a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Last?

Based on 317 Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.8 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
108,104 mi
75th Percentile
128,116 mi
95th Percentile
163,699 mi
Max Recorded
933,364 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1996

70.2% MOT pass rate from 476 tests

Year to avoid
1994

64.4% MOT pass rate from 362 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.2% across 476 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD THIS CAR 68.7% 1,369 108,104 mi 32 yrs
Subaru Impreza 75.7% 915,729 83,083 mi 33 yrs
Subaru Forester 76.1% 456,470 85,220 mi 29 yrs
Subaru Legacy 72.5% 349,986 96,000 mi 35 yrs
Renault Modus Expression 75 83.5% 745 62,149 mi — yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD?

The Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.7% across 1,369 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD are exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (92 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (64), and brake pipe excessively corroded (55). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD owner drives around 5,761 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD models stay on UK roads for around 32 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD reliable?
Based on 1,369 MOT tests, the Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD has a 68.7% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD?
The most common MOT failures are exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, constant velocity joint gaiter split, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD do per year?
The typical Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD does around 5,761 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD last?
Most Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 317 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru Impreza Turbo 4WD is 1996 with a 70.2% pass rate across 476 tests.