2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2021 Subaru Impreza

The 2021 Subaru Impreza exhibited a conservative yet attractive design, moving away from the bold styling risks seen in earlier models. Sporting sleek headlights and taillights that added a sense of width, both the sedan and hatchback boasted a nicely-tapered front end. Subtle scalloping on the sides added visual flair, while the previous generation's awkward wheel arch design was thankfully toned down. The Sport model, in particular, came with exclusive styling elements, including 18-inch alloy wheels, compared to the base model's 16-inch steel wheels. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, which it shared with models like the Legacy sedan, Outback wagon, Forester, and Ascent crossovers, the Impreza benefited significantly in terms of overall refinement. The interior, although not the most exhilarating, was functional and typical for compact cars. The Sport model included touches like contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, whereas the top-tier Limited trim featured leather upholstery and LED headlights.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI retained the iconic essence of the original GTI, making it a high-performance compact hatchback, often hailed as the pioneer of the "hot hatch" genre since its 1983 debut. While it shared basics with the regular Golf, subtle enhancements like small red badges, a red connecting strip across the grille, and painted brake calipers distinguished it as a GTI. Standard features included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED foglamps, and gloss black side mirrors along with a small lip spoiler. Lowered by 0.6 inches compared to the regular Golf and further emphasized with side skirts, the GTI's sporty stance was classic. Inside, it continued the sporty theme with elements like red ambient lighting, a unique instrument cluster, and a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel. Its materials, from Clark plaid cloth seats to leather options in upper trims, exuded quality.

Every 2021 Subaru Impreza was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The low-mounted boxer engine contributed to the car’s lower center of gravity, enhancing stability. The majority of Impreza models came equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), with a five-speed manual option available for the base sedan and hatchback as well as the Sport hatchback. The Sport trim further featured exclusive suspension tuning and torque vectoring for improved handling. Though refined and solid, the Impreza's drive wasn’t particularly engaging, lacking the zest of alternatives like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The special suspension tuning of the Sport model offered a good balance of ride quality and handling, but noncommunicative steering and the engine’s limited power kept it from being a true driver’s car—a role reserved for the more performance-oriented WRX.

For the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, performance was core to its identity as a hot hatch. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the GTI was energetic, complemented by a lively exhaust note. The seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, which included paddle shifters for manual control, was available as an $800 option. However, many enthusiasts preferred the standard six-speed manual for a more engaging driving experience. The GTI's fuel efficiency was decent as well, achieving 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined with the manual transmission and slightly better figures with the dual-clutch automatic. Noteworthy was its adjustable DCC adaptive damping in the Autobahn model, enhancing the already excellent four-wheel independent suspension setup. Despite its prowess on the right roads or track, the stiff suspension could result in a rough ride on uneven surfaces, even with Comfort mode selected in the Autobahn model.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza provided reasonable legroom for both sedan and hatchback models. However, headroom fell a bit short in comparison to rivals. The sedan’s trunk space was limited at 12.3 cubic feet, but it offered a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat to manage longer items. The hatchback variant was more generous with 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, surpassing competitors like the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla hatchbacks. All hatch models except the base came with roof rails, adding to the cargo versatility. Subarus' All-Weather Package, available on Premium and higher trims, featured heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added conveniences like keyless entry and pushbutton start, while the Limited trim offered a standard six-way power driver’s seat, automatic climate control, and optional power moonroof.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its compact hatchback configuration, excelled in practicality, balancing a small footprint with substantial cargo and passenger space. Measuring 168.0 inches in length, 70.8 inches in width, and 57.8 inches in height with a 103.6-inch wheelbase, it provided 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 24.8 cubic feet when folded. The front row accommodated taller-than-average drivers comfortably, while the back row could fit two average-sized adults or three children. The GTI’s dimensions made it nimble in parking lots and urban settings, boasting a tight 35.8 feet turning circle, complemented by sharp, electric power-assisted steering and great outward visibility bolstered by a rearview camera. Inside, clever storage solutions included large door pockets, accommodating cupholders, and a mechanical handbrake, though a bit interfering with cupholder reach, it added to the GTI’s old-school charm.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was equipped with either a 6.5-inch touchscreen for base and Premium trims or an 8-inch touchscreen for higher trims. Connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were standard. An optional package for the Limited trim included TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. The Impreza featured a secondary display above the main touchscreen for close-to-sight information like estimated range, though it seemed somewhat redundant given the existing small LCD display in the gauge cluster. Overall, the infotainment system was user-friendly with large icons and minimal menu digging required, although it might not be as sophisticated as offerings found in competing vehicles.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured the VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system across all its trims, with the basic 6.5-inch screen on the S model and the advanced 8-inch screen with navigation on SE and Autobahn models. Its gesture controls, capacitive-touch screen, and smartphone integrations like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink showcased its tech-forward approach. Bluetooth hands-free and streaming, along with two USB ports, were standard, with SE models further offering a trial to SiriusXM with 360L. Volkswagen Car-Net added more connectivity options, including Remote Access, Safe & Secure, and Hotspot portals, complemented by Amazon Alexa integration. Apart from infotainment, the GTI came with smart features like LED daytime running lights, keyless access with pushbutton start, and rain-sensing windshield wipers, depending on the trim.

Both the 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback received an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick” award with the highest “Good” scores in all crash tests. However, they missed the “Top Safety Pick+” award due to a “Marginal” rating for standard headlights, though Limited trim headlights scored “Good”. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded both five-star overall safety ratings. The Impreza included Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite on CVT models, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Additional safety options included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded it top “Good” marks in all crash categories except for an “Acceptable” score for small overlap front; passenger side and “Poor” for Halogen headlights, with LED headlights rated “Acceptable”. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, multiple airbags, tire-pressure monitoring, and a rearview camera. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and other advanced driver-assistance systems. Despite compact vehicle safety concerns, VW’s comprehensive safety tech and sharp handling provided good crash avoidance potential.