2024 Subaru Impreza Road Test and Review

2024 Subaru Impreza ・ Photo by Subaru

The 2024 Subaru Impreza is all-new with a fresh, updated design, larger available infotainment screen, new RS trim level, and expanded range of features. This sporty hatchback gets a responsive 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, with the new RS trim getting a more powerful 2.5-liter. Those engines are complemented by a stiffer chassis that improves handling, especially in the corners. There’s also standard all-wheel drive for managing rough road conditions.

Inside, there are revised front seats for a more comfortable ride and a quieter cabin that makes long drives less tiring. The Sport and RS trims get a standard 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are also enhanced safety features as a part of EyeSight driver assistance with new cameras that provide a wider field of view. Let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Subaru Impreza to see if it’s the right car for you.

A Choice of Three Affordable Trims

Subaru keeps it simple with a choice of just three trims for the Impreza. The Base is priced from $22,995 with standard features including a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive, EyeSight driver assistance technologies, 16-inch wheels, dual 7-inch infotainment screens, and cloth seating surfaces. The Sport is priced from $24,995 and adds a manual mode for the continuously variable automatic transmission, 18-inch wheels, push-button start, LED fog lights, and an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new RS trim sits at the top of the lineup with pricing of $27,885. It gets a more powerful 2.5-liter engine for better performance, heated front seats and side mirrors, blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert, unique RS cloth seating surfaces, and wireless charging. It’s a small lineup with three distinct trims. They’re all affordably priced with each coming in at under $30,000.

Photo by Brady Holt

Two Responsive Engine Options

There is a choice of two engines depending on the trim of the Impreza you pick. The Base and Sport both have a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The new RS gets a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque with a manual mode added to its CVT. There’s also standard all-wheel drive that makes everything from snow to rain to dirt roads easier to manage.

We spent our time in the RS with the more powerful engine. This is a small hatchback so that 182 horsepower proved more than capable of getting the Impreza up to highway speeds. A heavy foot on the gas delivered enough power to pass slower vehicles. The transmission delivered power smoothly with a minimum of noise, even under hard acceleration.

Photo by Subaru

A Smooth, Refined Ride

The ride in the Subaru Impreza is notably better than in the previous generation. This is one of the big improvements this model year with structural changes that help keep the body of the vehicle more rigid while also reducing weight. You won’t see these changes, but you will feel them whether you’re behind the wheel or simply along for the ride.

Passengers will notice the Impreza is smoother with less noise and less vibration, especially over rough road surface. The driver will notice greater steering control as the Impreza keeps its composure no matter the road surface. It not only makes this little hatchback nicer to drive, it makes it more fun, especially in the sporty RS trim with its more powerful engine.

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Fuel Economy That’s Easy on Your Budget

Gas prices always go up, which can be tough to manage — especially when you’re on a budget. The Subaru Impreza makes fueling up less challenging with great fuel economy across the lineup. The Base and Sport trims, which both have the smaller 2.0-liter engine, get an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. Those are great fuel economy figures that help keep this affordable hatchback affordable over the long run.

The more powerful 2.5-liter engine in the RS has lower fuel economy figures, which is to be expected, but the dip is surprisingly small. It gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. That’s a loss of just 1 mpg across the board, so you can go with the performance engine without a significant increase in your fuel costs.

Photo by Brady Holt

Room for Your Stuff

The Subaru Impreza is a compact car, so it’s not the right choice if you plan to haul a lot of cargo, but it does still have a good amount of room. There’s 20.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats with 56.0 cubic feet behind the front seats. That’s enough for luggage on a weekend getaway or supplies for your next home improvement project.

Adding to its ability to carry cargo is its hatchback design. A trunk is limiting and won’t work for big, bulky items even if the trunk is large. A hatchback has the advantage of added height and a wider opening so you can more easily stow the odd stuff that a trunk can’t handle. The cargo area also has tie-downs and grocery hooks as well as a light so you can see better at night. It you need to carry cargo, then the Subaru Impreza is ready.

Photo by Subaru

A Comfortable Interior With Supportive Front Seats

The Subaru Impreza is a compact car, but it has good room for passengers. Those up front, even if they’re tall, will find plenty of legroom and headroom to stretch out and get comfortable. Seating is supportive without being stiff with bolstering that’s just enough to keep you in your seat on the curves without becoming tight and confining for those of a larger frame.

A variety of cloth seating surfaces look and feel good with plenty of visual appeal. There’s standard dual-zone automatic climate control and the ride is noticeably quieter. Even over rough roads with uneven, pebbled pavement, there was a minimum of road noise intruding into the cabin. The quieter ride on this year’s Impreza makes it more well-suited to longer road trips and makes it easier for passengers to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.

Photo by Subaru

Enhanced Safety Features

The full Impreza lineup gets enhanced safety features for the 2024 model year. This includes the latest version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance technology. It features a stereo camera with a wider field of view, an additional monocular camera, and an electric brake booster. These technologies allow for improved performance and expand on the range of conditions the system can handle.

Standard safety features on the Impreza include advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering, pre-collision braking and throttle management, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist. There’s also a rear seat reminder so you don’t leave behind anything you put in the rear seats at the start of the drive. Options include blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency steering. It’s a comprehensive offering with good standard safety features across the lineup.

Photo by Subaru

New 11.6-Inch Infotainment Touchscreen

The base trim of the Impreza has dual 7-inch infotainment screens. The top touchscreen controls the audio while the lower screen controls climate and EyeSight safety features. There’s standard AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4-speaker audio, and a front USB-A port. The rest of the Impreza lineup gets an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6-speaker audio, front USB-C port, and rear USB-A and C ports. The top RS adds standard wireless charging and an optional 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

It’s a comprehensive system with good features across the lineup, but the dual-screen setup feels somewhat dated as vehicles increasingly feature a large single touchscreen. This is only an issue on the base trim, with the larger screen standard on the Sport and RS. It’s easier to use, and it makes the Impreza feel like a more premium offering.

Photo by Subaru

Final Thoughts

The all-new Subaru Impreza takes what was already a fun and affordable car and makes it better in subtle ways. Seating is more comfortable and supportive with a smoother ride so longer drives are less tiresome. It also handles better and, in the new RS trim, delivers a responsive and engaging ride that matches its sporty styling. Hatchbacks are known for being fun cars, and the Impreza delivers on that expectation.

There are enhanced safety features along with an available 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen that creates a more upscale experience with good features including wireless smartphone connectivity. Rounding out the package is pricing. The three-trim lineup tops out at under $30,000, and it gets good fuel economy so it’s easy on your budget over the long term. The 2024 Subaru Impreza has lots to offer for those in the market for a compact hatchback.

Photo by Subaru