How do you set cruise control on a Subaru Impreza?
Activate cruise control, reach your desired speed, and press Set (or engage the control stalk) to lock in that speed; the system will maintain it until you brake or cancel.
The exact controls vary by model year and trim. Newer Imprezas with EyeSight use steering-wheel controls and, in many cases, an adaptive distance setting, while older or base trims may rely on a right-side stalk. The basic concept remains the same: turn on cruise, set your speed, and adjust or cancel as needed.
Steering-wheel controls (common on newer Impreza models)
If your car has a cruise control cluster on the right side of the steering wheel, use these steps. On EyeSight-equipped models, you may also have a distance setting for adaptive cruise control.
- Turn on cruise control by pressing the CRUISE button until the indicator light on the dash comes on.
- Accelerate with the gas pedal to your desired cruising speed (usually above about 25 mph).
- Press SET/− (or SET) to lock in that speed.
- To adjust your speed, press RES/+ to increase or SET/− to decrease.
- To cancel cruise control, press CANCEL or lightly press the brake pedal.
- To resume the previously set speed, press RES/+ after cancellation.
- If your model has EyeSight adaptive cruise control, use the Distance control to choose how closely you follow the vehicle ahead.
These steps cover steering-wheel cruise control setups. Always refer to your owner’s manual for the exact button labels and behavior for your year and trim.
Cruise control via stalk (older Impreza models)
Some older Impreza models use a stalk on the right side of the steering column for cruise control functions. The actions are similar, but labeled differently depending on year.
- Turn cruise control on using the ON/OFF switch on the end or side of the stalk.
- Accelerate to your desired cruising speed.
- Push or move the end of the stalk to SET/COAST to lock in that speed.
- To adjust speed, use RES/ACCEL to increase or SET/COAST to decrease.
- To cancel, either press the brake or switch the stalk to OFF.
- To resume the previously set speed, operate the RES/ACCEL function on the stalk.
- If your model offers EyeSight, you may have a separate distance setting accessible through the steering controls or the instrument cluster.
For any model year or trim variation, confirm the exact control locations and labels in the owner’s manual or on-dash indicators. Practicing in a safe area before highway use is advised.
Summary
Crucial takeaway: Most Subaru Impreza cruise control workflows follow the same pattern—activate, set a speed, then adjust or cancel as needed. The main difference is whether the controls are wheel-mounted buttons (common on newer models with EyeSight) or a right-side stalk (found on some older trims). Always consult your manual for year-specific instructions, and avoid using cruise control in heavy traffic or challenging road conditions.
