Subaru Impreza

GH2Stock varies — page stays live

The GH2 chassis represents the front-wheel drive (2WD) version of the third-generation Impreza hatchback. Fitted with the 1.5-liter EL15 engine, it was engineered as an entry-level, fuel-efficient daily driver primarily for the Japanese domestic market and select export regions.

Engine
EL15 DOHC
Displacement
1,498 cc
Drive
2WD (FF)
Gearbox
4AT / 5MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
Hatchback
Subaru Impreza GH2Subaru Impreza — representative 3rd Gen (GH) image

Chassis variants of the Impreza

GH2EL15 DOHC1,498 ccFF4AT / 5MT
GH3EL15 DOHC1,498 cc4WD4AT / 5MT

Dimensions & shipping volume

Length
4,415 mm
Width
1,740 mm
Height
1,475 mm
Weight
1,240 kg
Shipping volume
11.33 M³

Manufacture year vs. registration year

Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:

Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
GH2-1XXXXXXJun 2007Aug 2009Applied Model A-B (Pre-facelift)
GH2-2XXXXXXSep 2009Dec 2011Applied Model C-D (Facelift)

Import eligibility by country

Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This GH2 was produced 2007–2011; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.

KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
UgandaCheck unit age
Only units manufactured Jul 2011 or later qualify (15-year limit).
TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.
ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.
MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.

Common questions about the GH2

What is the primary difference between the GH2 and GH3?
The GH2 is front-wheel drive (FF/2WD), whereas the GH3 is equipped with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD).
Does the GH2 1.5L engine use a timing belt or a timing chain?
The EL15 engine in the GH2 utilizes a rubber timing belt, which typically requires inspection and replacement every 100,000 km or 10 years.