The 2024 Subaru Impreza RS is here to revive a forgotten gem. Ever since the Subaru Crosstrek arrived, it’s become the vehicle of choice for many buyers in the price range under $30k. However the Impreza RS comes equipped with a more potent powertrain, aggressive looks, and new technology to make it quite the hot hatch in 2023. So let’s see how it compares to others in this segment.
The 2024 Impreza kicks off a new generation for Subaru’s stalwart all-wheel-drive compact. Now only available as a hatchback, there are upgrades under the metal and subtle new styling, but the Impreza remains mostly the same. Notable changes include a new RS trim, with a larger engine and more power than last year’s Impreza, and updated driver-assist features. The manual transmission has been discontinued.
Subaru has made its name by, in the parlance of today, staying in its lane. Compared to its larger Japanese competitors, Subaru’s focus on practical, affordable, and adventurous cars and SUVs has earned it a loyal fanbase. It hasn’t hurt that, for a time, the automaker also dominated global rally racing, highlighting the brand’s robust build quality and advanced all-wheel-drive systems.
The Subaru Impreza won’t dominate motorsports, but it has everything necessary for a sensible commuter and weekend explorer. The cabin is roomy and comfortable, and there’s loads of cargo space — more than most competitors — when you fold down the rear seats.
The 2024 model kicks off the Impreza’s sixth generation, but it remains largely the same as before. The front and rear ends have a new grille and head- and taillight style. Under the metal, the Impreza uses more structural adhesive, which Subaru says helps make the car 10% stiffer and more resistant to twist and flex. But the Impreza’s dimensions haven’t changed much — it’s slightly taller — meaning it’s as easy to park and maneuver as before.
Inside the cabin, new seat mounts help improve ride comfort, and the infotainment interface grows to a 7-inch standard touchscreen, or an 11.6-inch display in the middle and top trims. Subaru’s EyeSight driver safety system also gets an update with a wider-view camera and a new feature that can automatically steer away from a collision at speeds less than 50 mph. A new RS trim conjures up earlier performance glory (the RS preceded the high-performance Subaru WRX model) with a larger engine and slightly more power. Finally, the sedan body style and manual transmission are gone, leaving only a hatchback with an automatic shifter.
None of these changes make the Impreza any faster or more fuel-efficient, though. The RS trim promises a bit more speed, but we’ll need to wait for testing. The Impreza’s sluggish and thirsty ways make rivals like the Honda Civic Hatchback, Toyota Corolla Hatchback, and [Mazda 3 Hatchback (/mazda/mazda3) worthy considerations. Nearly all offer more power and better fuel economy. Only the Mazda offers optional all-wheel drive, however, and the Impreza remains the clear favorite if you need a lot of cargo space.
The 2024 Impreza offers two engines. Base and Sport trims come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower, 145 pound-feet of torque), while the RS trim is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (182 hp, 178 lb-ft). Both engines pair with a continuously variable automatic transmission, which in the Sport and RS can be paddle-shifted to simulate a standard eight-speed gearbox. All Impreza trims come with all-wheel drive.
Rapid acceleration is not one of the Impreza’s strengths. In independent testing, it accelerates from zero to 60 mph in about 9 seconds — pretty leisurely relative to its competition. Both the Honda Civic and Mazda3 are quicker off the line. The new RS trim should be incrementally faster, maybe a half-second or so, but don’t buy an Impreza expecting high-speed thrills. But the Impreza handles well, and when up to speed it can make for joyful driving on a curved road. In addition to the stiffer body, the new Impreza also benefits from steering components used in the high-performance Subaru WRX sports car.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the 2024 Subaru Impreza delivers 30 mpg combined (27/34 mpg city/ highway). The new RS trim is 1 mpg less all around. These aren’t particularly impressive numbers given the Impreza’s light power output. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback costs nearly the same as the Subaru, but makes more power than the Base and Sport trims and gets better fuel economy (35 mpg combined). The Kia Rio Hatchback is a less powerful, more basic, cheaper set of wheels, but even it gets up to 36 mpg combined.
All-wheel-drive, advanced driver-assist features, generous cargo space, and top safety scores make the Subaru Impreza a smart and practical choice. But some rivals offer better fuel efficiency and performance.
