2024 Subaru Impreza 2.0L engine (FB20D). Problems and durability

Unfortunately, the new generation of the Impreza appeared to be much more expensive than the previous one. I saw the Impreza sedan as the best option for a new car under $20,000. Today, the new Impreza is going to have a starting price of over $24,000. But the car became really much more interesting in terms of technologies and design.

Today, I will tell you more about the 2.0L non-turbocharged engine in the new Impreza and will also outline several of its common problems. I will try to focus on possible issues so that you could understand if you need this car for this money. But I want to assure you that the engine is better than average. Still, it has some common problems, like almost any piece of technology currently.

Here’s what I’m going to cover here:

• Key facts about the base Impreza 2.0L engine.
• How many miles will the 2-liter engine last in the Impreza?
• What are the common issues that you should expect with this engine?
• Is there any way to prolong the life of the Impreza engine?

What should you know about the 2.0L engine in the new Impreza?

Although the 2024 Impreza is completely new, the engine is not that fresh. This is the FB20D engine that was introduced in 2016 and used in the previous-generation Impreza and also in the Subaru XV.

The engine feels really good although it’s not that powerful and doesn’t give a lot of optimism to me when I’m looking at its specs. But Subaru set the engine in such a way that you will feel all the available torque quite early (at low RPM) and this makes the difference in comparison with other simple non-turbo engines on the market.

Here are some facts you will probably want to know about the FB20D engine:

• this is the 2.0L non-turbocharged gasoline engine which is H4 which means it is the boxer engine, not the traditional inline-4 version;
• the engine offers 152 horsepower and 145lb-ft of torque and it’s actually not a lot, but the machine doesn’t feel bad when you drive;
• the transmission that accompanies this engine is the CVT (Lineatronic) made by Subaru – not a bad option, but without any alternatives;
• the engine is a direct-injection machine which means it will have some issues with carbon buildup and this news is worse than it may seem at first;
• both camshafts have the AVCS system which is an Active Valve Control System used for variable valve timing;
• the timing system is driven by the chain, and the engine doesn’t have hydraulic lifters, so valves need regular adjustment;
• the engine is quite economical offering 27 MPG in the city and up to 34 MPG on highways which is not that bad.

One of the coolest features of the Subaru Impreza is that it saved its greatest advantage – the all-wheel drive in all trims, even in the Base. It means you will get better traction, wonderful feelings when driving, and new opportunities if you suddenly decide to go off the road and try your Subaru in sand, snow, or mud.

To prepare you for some bad news, I want to say that Subaru still sticks to boxer engine design and it’s not that good. To clean the valves, change the spark plugs, or do basically any kind of repair in this engine, you will need to know some magic. This is obviously not the car for DIYers or for those who want cheap maintenance.

How long will the 2.0L engine last in your Impreza?

Although the engine is not problem-free, it will not die prematurely. The average estimated lifespan is up to 180,000 miles which is not that bad. Your CVT will probably die earlier and cause more problems than the engine itself.

So, within 180,000 miles, the 2-liter base engine in the new Subaru Impreza shouldn’t throw any serious problems. It will still bother you with some minor issues that you will have to invest in. Also, the engine is not that easy to diagnose and repair, so the majority of owners go to the dealership or find a specialized Subaru shop.

If you don’t maintain this engine, forget about regular oil changes, and don’t care about loads and driving style, you will probably lose it after it hits 100,000 miles or something like that.

The CVT may fail after 100K miles, but it can be repaired and then work till the engine drops. The Lineatronic CVT is much better than many other types of CVT units offered on the market now.

What are the common problems with the FB20D engine in the Impreza?

Boxer engines are not perfect and they are quite hard to maintain. I even will outline this as one of the potential problems with this engine, especially at high mileage. But overall, this is a good powerplant that is not going to let you down. The engine is pretty well-balanced in terms of displacement, power, and torque and it’s very efficient in terms of fuel. But to achieve this, Subaru had to compromise several important features.

Here are the common problems with the 2.0L engine in the Subaru Impreza:

1. Oil consumption from the first miles

The FB-Series engines are all known for their weakness of burning a little oil. This becomes especially serious when you drive at high RPM. If the vehicle is driven on highways most of the time, the oil consumption will be dangerous.

For example, you can forget to check the oil levels before you go to another city or state in your Impreza. The level will drop even worse and the engine will get bad lubrication. Only after that, the low-oil-pressure light will go on the dash and you will get to know about the problem.

It’s important to check the oil level in your Subaru and always keep it closer to the MAX mark on the dipstick.

2. Direct injection and carbon buildup

Direct injection in the boxer engine is not a really good idea because cleaning the injectors and the valves in this engine is not that easy. To get to the valves, you will need to know a lot about the technology of these engines. Also, some maintenance procedures will require taking the engine off the car which will make the prices for labor skyrocket.

Previous FB20 engines were fitted with port injection and didn’t have this problem. After about 50,000 miles, you will need to clean the valves and you will be surprised with how much it costs in the dealership.

3. Weak phasers and timing chain tensioner

The engine is driven by the chain that needs to be replaced at approximately 120,000 miles or once it starts rattling. But poor engine maintenance can kill the chain tensioner much earlier. If you don’t change the oil as required by Subaru, your chain tensioner and also phasers will not be living long and happy lives.

Replacing phasers in the FB20D engine is also not the task you will want to complete. Actually, anything in this engine is hard to maintain and repair and this annoys me, especially when after 100,000 miles the powerplant starts going crazy with various minor problems and breakdowns.

4. Complicated construction and expensive maintenance

If you go to your local repair shop, those guys may look under the hood and shake their heads hinting that they won’t do anything with this engine. It’s hard to find a good mechanic who would repair your engine, clean the intake valves, change the spark plugs, and so on. So, most Subaru Impreza owners will have to go to the dealership.

It’s not a secret that Subaru dealerships, although being quite professional and cool to cooperate with, charge a lot of money for any action with your car. So, I think this is one of the common problems – complicated construction and expensive repairs.

How can you prolong the life of the 2.0L Impreza engine?

It’s not that easy to prolong its life. Maybe, some of you will be able to take this engine to 200,000 miles, but further than that it won’t go. Or it will be torturing you with lots of minor and major problems that you will have to deal with. Investing money in this engine after it reaches 180,000 miles is not the best idea, in my opinion.

To happily drive your new Impreza till it reaches 180K miles, you should remember such tips:

• the engine needs only high-quality fuel and OEM oil with regular changes to function properly;
• check the oil levels to avoid problems with poor lubrication;
• the engine hates overheating, so revving it up like a sports powerplant is not the best idea;
• abusive driving can easily kill the engine prematurely, avoid it at all costs;
• change the chain and the tensioner at 100,000 miles to let the engine live another 100K miles or so.

These are just simple steps that you can take to drive your Subaru Impreza longer. Of course, this doesn’t save you from some minor problems that you will need to cope with.

Even though the FB20D is not a problem-free engine, it’s quite good and reliable. Like other simple Subaru engines, this one offers reliability and comfort but you will need to remember what issues may happen and how you should deal with them.

Hope I answered your questions about the 2024 Subaru Impreza 2.0L Base engine. If not, please ask them in the comments below.