Lifted Impreza Hatchback / Wagon – 3 Tips on How to Build it Right

Today on our review we have an awesome lifted Impreza Hatchback owned by Ryan Miller from Spokane, Washington. From the first look at the pictures of his car, you realize that it must be very fun to drive. Improved clearance and larger off-road tires with grippy thread open up a lot of new roads and possibilities to enjoy driving.

Thanks to the famous four-wheel drive system and capable boxer engines Subaru has developed a huge following throughout the world. Successful rally racing career has popularized Impreza models to the maximum. Nearly any local car meet gathers dozens of Subies modified to beat anyone on the road, but some of their owners just don’t want sticking with concrete roads.

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Key Off-road Mods

Suspension & Lift

• 2004 Subaru Forester struts and springs
• 3/4” spacers from Primitive Racing
• 1999 Subaru Outback trailing arm brackets
• Rear camber bolts
• Rear sway bar delete
• Total lift: Just over 3″

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Wheels & Tires

• 15″ Method MR502 rally wheels
• 205/75R15 General Grabber A/T tires

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Exterior Modifications

• Yakima LoadWarrior roof basket
• LED lightbar
• Trucker mud flaps

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Interior Modifications

• CB radio
• PA speaker under front bumper
• Rear seats removed
• Trunk liner removed

Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system, standard on Imprezas of this era, was quite adept at handling loose surfaces and poor conditions even at stock ride height. While ground clearance could be limited, for those willing to get their hands dirty, lifting one of these cars poses an easily achievable challenge thanks to the wealth of online technical resources. With relatively basic mechanical skills and readily available suspension parts off the shelf from other models in Subaru lineup, you can readily raise these cars up substantially.

Interview with the owner

This lifted Subaru Impreza Hatchback was my first car and up until a few months ago my only car. After looking into the limited amount of useful mods that can be done to an n/a Impreza, I decided on a lift because it seemed like the simplest and easiest way to make the car more fun without spending a ton of money. I started with 1998 Outback suspension, which gave me about a 2.5 inch lift, but I switched to Forester suspension to get a little more lift along with a little more stiffness, and I was able to find the Forester suspension for only $100. Where I live, lowering Subaru’s seems to be the most popular way to go, but I wanted to stand out from the crowd and decided to go up instead of down. Lifting the Impreza also adds a great deal of utility to an already useful car, and has allowed me to explore the many backroads around the Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho area.

Ryan Miller

SUSPENSION

This 2003 lifted Subaru Impreza 2.5ts Station Wagon is powered by a bone stock naturally aspirated 2.5L flat four (non WRX).
The suspension modifications feature 2004 Subaru Forester struts and springs with 3/4 inch spacers from Primitive Racing, 1999 Subaru Outback trailing arm brackets, rear camber bolts, and rear sway bar delete, which gives a bit over 3 inches of lift in total.

WHEELS

Improved clearance and slightly trimmed bumpers allowed installing bigger tires, so Ryan fitted his car with 15 inch Method MR502 rally wheels wrapped in 205/75/15 General Grabber tires.

You may be wondering if there is some sort of skid plate installed for extra underside protection, and where you could acquire one. There is in fact a custom skid plate protecting vital components, however sourcing one for your own Impreza could be tricky. The skid plate protecting Ryan’s battlewagon is a unique, limited-run piece custom fabricated from a recycled street sign, making copies unavailable. So fabricating your own or sourcing a universal aftermarket skid would likely be required.

OFF-ROAD GOODIES

Yakima Loadwarrior roof basket equipped with bright LED lightbar and trucker mud flaps really add up to the stunning overland off-road style of this Subaru Impreza with a lift.

Among the interior mods, you will find a must-have for any offroad enthusiast and overlander CB radio with a PA speaker hidden under the front bumper. The rear seats and trunk liner were removed to free up some space for the gear.

Who would you like to mention or thank for the help on your project?

Everyone that has helped me along the way with this never-ending project!

Anything else that you would like to tell us about your awesome lifted Impreza?

I know Subaru doesn’t exactly have a great reputation when it comes to reliability, but my Impreza is almost at 200,000 miles and has never given me any real trouble besides basic maintenance needs. If anyone is thinking about getting a cheap car that does well off road and in the snow, but is smaller than an SUV, then an older Impreza with a nice lift is the way to go in my opinion. I might only be getting around 16 miles per gallon with the roof rack and all-terrain tires, but the fun I have in this car definitely makes up for that!

– View Recommended Lift Kits For Subaru Impreza

Off-Road Capability Score: 35/70

With Subaru’s renowned AWD system combined with the lifted suspension, aggressive all-terrain tires (30 points as per our rating systems), and improved protection (5 Points), this Impreza achieves an off-road score of 35 out of 70 – placing it well into our “off-road ready” build category. The superb traction afforded by the symmetric AWD and ample grip of the General Grabber tires empower drivers to explore far beyond what a stock Impreza could achieve. And its reasonable size and weight maintain maneuverability on tight trails. It’s a very well-rounded battlewagon build perfect for escaping civilization on weekends while comfortably carrying camping gear.

Complexity Level: Starter Off-roader

The lift kit, properly modified suspension geometry, oversized tire fitment, and integrated accessory selection push this into our middle-level build category – representing extensive upgrades for much improved capability.

Budget: $$

With quality parts selected to boost capability without breaking the bank, we classify this as 2 out of 5 rating on our budget scale. The core upgrades were achieved at a reasonable cost while still improving competence – perfectly suiting the Subaru’s adventure intentions.

In summary, Ryan built a very convincing overlander that aptly demonstrates how big capability gains can happen on a modest budget by sticking to the essentials.

Author’s Opinion

As an experienced mechanic and off-road journalist having covered hundreds of unique builds, Ryan’s lifted 2003 Subaru Impreza hatchback immediately impressed me with its cost-effective blend of improved capability and rugged style. By smartly incorporating suspension, tires, and key accessories like the roof basket, the owner transformed his bone-stock grocery-getter into a pretty capable off-road car ready to competently explore unpaved roads.

The Forester lift kit, properly adjusted alignment, and ample tire sidewall clearance demonstrate that function is the key in this build. And little touches like the street sign skid plate and personalized mud flaps showcase Ryan’s creative personality. For Subaru fans seeking more adventure at a reasonable price, this battlewagon builds the right foundation.

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