Can A Subaru Impreza Tow A Trailer? If Yes, How Much? [ Answered ]

I have been camping for over ten years with different car makes and models. Subaru Impreza has been my favorite choice due to its all-wheel-drive system, adequate gear space, and high clearance.

It also has a nice towing capacity, and if you’re interested to know whether it can tow a trailer, I’ve compiled this handy guide to help with that.

Here, I provide detailed insights about Subaru Impreza’s towing capacity by year compared to other cars. I have also shared tips for putting a trailer with a hitch on a Subaru Impreza.

Can a Subaru Impreza Tow a Trailer?

All latest Subaru Imprezas have an unbraked towing capacity of 1000 pounds and braked capacity of 2600 pounds, so they can tow a number of small and mid-sized trailers. Besides that, this car can handle off-road adventures due to its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. (1)

Subaru Company does not recommend Imprezas for towing activities due to the low engine power, compact design, and lack of hitches. But Subaru recommends 2002-2007 models for towing purposes since they have 2000 pounds of braked towing capacity.

Subaru Imprezas need modifications to make towing possible. I recommend consulting a professional mechanic nearby before modifying your Impreza. Too much weight could cause permanent engine damage to your Impreza.

Subaru Imprezas have two body styles that serve different purposes. If you are into outdoor activities, consider an Impreza hatchback body style. It comes with a hitch for towing a small and mid-sized trailer of 2600 pounds maximum weight.

Subaru Impreza sedan is not ideal for off-road activities and towing. It has a compact design with the low engine power that cannot pull a trailer. Towing trailers on the sedan can permanently damage the engine.

The official towing capacity for Subaru Imprezas in the United States is zero and in Europe is 1000 pounds. Imprezas are not excellent towing vehicles for outdoor enthusiasts due to their limited towing capacity.

How Much Can a Subaru Impreza Tow?

Imprezas have a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system to cruise different terrains to make them ideal for camping adventures. But Imprezas come in two body styles with unique towing capacities.

So, how much can a Subaru Impreza tow? 2000 pounds is the maximum towing capacity for Subaru Imprezas. But Subaru does not recommend these models for towing purposes due to the low engine power. (2)

An Impreza hatchback is the perfect option for towing than the sedan counterpart. The hatchback models have a hitch to pull a small and mid-sized trailer for camping. The compact designs for sedans inhibit them from modification.

Understanding the towing capacity of your Impreza body style will help avoid damaging the engine and other crucial parts. Below are tables showing the towing capabilities for the Subaru Impreza hatchback and sedan.

Subaru Impreza Hatchback Towing Capacities

2020 Subaru Impreza	Specifications	Braked Capacity (Pounds)
2.0i (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	2600
2.0i Premium (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	2600
2.0i-L (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	2600
2.0i-S (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	2600

Subaru Impreza Sedan Towing Capacities

2020 Subaru Impreza	Specifications	Braked Capacity (Pounds)
2.0i (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	0
2.0i Premium (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	0
2.0i-L (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	0
2.0i-S (AWD)	2.0L, ULP, CVT AUTO	0

Can You Put a Trailer with a Hitch on a Subaru Impreza?

Subaru does not recommend modifying Imprezas to make them towing vehicles. But auto technological advancement makes it possible to transform your Subaru Impreza into a towing vehicle.

So, can you put a trailer with a hitch on a Subaru Impreza? Yes. You can use a hitch installation kit to fit a Draw-Tite 24960 on your Subaru Impreza. But the process can be a daunting experience for beginners. (3)

I recommend taking your Impreza to a nearby garage to fit a hitch for towing a trailer. But if you have the necessary tools and skills, this tedious modification process will take about an hour to complete.

The maximum towing capacity for Draw-Tite 24960 hitch is 2000 pounds. The weight will limit your Impreza towing ability in the long run. I recommend staying under 1000 pounds to reduce the hassle of cruising in rugged terrains.

Installing a hitch on your Subaru Impreza does not boost the engine abilities. Instead, the trailer will put additional strain on your engine and transmission to reduce their service life. The best option is to consult a professional mechanic to avoid damaging your Subaru Impreza.

Can a 2021 Subaru Impreza Tow a Trailer?

Yes. All Subaru Impreza models can tow small and mid-sized trailers with a maximum weight of 2600 pounds. But these trailers might cause permanent damage to your engine and transmission. (4)

2021 Subaru Impreza can tow both empty and loaded small-size trailers without challenges. But it can only tow empty medium and large-sized trailers with a maximum weight of 2600 pounds and below.

Remember that Subaru does not recommend Imprezas as towing vehicles. Straining your engine and transmission might cause severe damages to your Subaru Imprezas that render the warranty void.

Subaru Impreza Towing Capacity by Year

Subaru Impreza is a compact sports car with an all-wheel-drive system. There are about five generations of Subaru Impreza with different body styles. (6)

Each generation has a unique towing capacity despite Subaru not recommending them as towing vehicles. Below is a table showing Subaru Impreza towing capacity by year:

Year	Engine	Unbraked Towing Capacity (lbs)	Braked Towing Capacity (lbs)
2002	All	1000	2000
2003	All	1000	2000
2004	All	1000	2000
2005	All	1000	2000
2006	All	1000	2000
2007	All	1000	2000
2008	All	N/A	2600
2009	All	N/A	2600
2010	All	N/A	2600
2011	All	N/A	2600
2012	All	N/A	2600
2013	All	N/A	2600
2014	All	N/A	2600
2015	All	N/A	2600
2016	All	N/A	2600
2017	All	N/A	2600
2018	All	N/A	2600
2019	All	N/A	2600
2020	All	N/A	2600
2021	All	N/A	2600

Can Subaru Impreza Tow a Boat?

Yes. A Subaru Impreza can tow an empty boat with an average weight of 2200 pounds. But a loaded boat will strain the engine and transmission to cause permanent damage. (7)

A loaded boat has an average weight of 13,600 pounds which is far outside the Subaru Impreza’s towing capability. It can only tow an empty fishing boat trailer with an average weight of 600lbs.

Can Subaru Impreza Tow a Jet Ski?

Yes. All Subaru Impreza models can tow an empty and loaded Jet Ski without any challenges. An empty Jet Ski trailer weighs 300lbs, and a loaded counterpart weighs 1800lbs. (8)

The weight range for empty and loaded Jet Ski trailers falls within the Subaru Impreza towing capacity. But the Impreza cannot tow a Jet Ski trailer with a maximum weight of 3000lbs.

Subaru Impreza Towing Capacity Compared to Other Cars

Subaru Impreza’s towing capacity is slightly different from other cars since they have an average towing capacity of 2600 pounds. The towing range falls within the Impreza’s capabilities. (9)

But most sedans are not the best choice for towing heavy trailers for camping adventures. Below is a table showing Subaru Impreza’s towing capacity compared to other cars.

Other Cars	Minimum Towing Capacity	Maximum Towing Capacity
2021 Subaru WRX	2500lbs	2500lbs
2021 Honda Civic	2645lbs	2645lbs
2021 Toyota Corolla	2600lbs	2600lbs

Conclusion

Subaru Impreza is not an ideal towing vehicle due to its low engine and transmission power. But attaching a hitch will make your Impreza tow a small and mid-sized trailer.

Subaru Impreza comes with two body styles, and the hatchback is the perfect choice for towing small trailers during the camping adventure. The sedan counterpart is ideal for on-road activities.

I hope this information helped you understand Subaru Impreza’s towing capacity. Feel free to share with your friends or family.

References

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