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The 2024 Subaru Impreza makes incremental improvements over its predecessor and offers a 2.5L boxer 4-cylinder for added oomph in this new RS trim. The design changes are evolutionary, but for Subaru buyers, that should be just fine. It is definitely the more attractive and sporty alternative to the uber-popular Crosstrek. No black body cladding, a lower ride height, and no roof rails (though you can add them later since the mount points are included). Let’s see how the Impreza RS stacks up against the latest in an ever-shrinking segment in America.
Let’s face it: people love the rugged look of the Subaru Crosstrek. That’s why it has skyrocketed to become the brand’s most popular model. People look at that car and say “I can go just about anywhere I want” while saving both money and space in the driveway. The Impreza, however, hasn’t seen the same amount of love these last few years. Subaru says that most shoppers actually want the Impreza hatchback, so for 2024, that is the only way you can get one. Park this next to that Crosstrek, and the similarities are obvious than ever before. This redesign sharpens up the details and makes the Impreza a genuinely sharp looking little thing, especially in the blue color we got to drive.
Ground clearance is way below that of the Crosstrek though, and for good reasons that we will cover in the drive portion. This is supposed to be the street-oriented hatchback in the lineup. However, Subaru still provides mounting points for factory roof rails if you want to add them on later. They will not be configurable from the factory, though, and have fewer mounting points than the Crosstrek’s. That means they have lower payload capacities both static and dynamic. If you want to put bikes or skis up there, the Impreza will still suffice. Want a tent with 700 pounds of capacity? Go with the Crosstrek. One interesting standard feature this year is swiveling LED headlights, something that is typically an option in this segment.
Inside, Subaru has played things safe by doing a simply copy and paste of the Crosstrek’s interior, save for some color and trim bits. The base model uses two 7″ displays stacked on top of each other, while the Premium and RS trims get the 11.6″ vertical screen. It is visually impressive compared to most of the competition, and the software has been refined a bit and is clearly a bit snappier than it has been in existing models that use it. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are front and center, but a full- or even partial-LCD instrument cluster is not available. The Impreza still works with a small center screen with just the basics.
The RS trim uses a majority of harder durable plastics, but the cloth seats have a cool tri-tone color scheme. The bolsters are mostly red, but there is a nice mix of dark and light grey as well. The driving position is definitely more up-right than cars like the Mazda3, but it’s still comfortable up front with a good amount of head room. Rear seat space has actually shrunk a bit versus last year, and you can definitely feel that with the head room. Taller folks’ heads will touch the ceiling, though Brian at 5’9″ was just fine. Cargo space is really well-packaged, allowing 24″ roller bags to sit upright agains the back of the hatchback. However, Subaru places the center rear seat belt entry point in an awkward position on the right side of the car behind the right rear passenger’s head. Tall cargo will interfere with that seatbelt and yank on that passenger’s neck if the trunk is filled to the brim, so keep that in mind.
The engine we are testing during this first drive is the up-charge 2.5L boxer 4-cylinder that makes 182 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft. of torque. It is only available on the top RS trim, but only loses one mpg to the smaller 2.0L – 29 versus 30 combined. That 2.0L produces 152 horsepower, and both engines are mated to the typical Subaru CVT transmission with eight simulated gears. Of course, all-wheel drive is standard, but the X-Mode off-road tune is reserved for the Crosstrek.
First impressions on the road show that the Impreza continues to drive a little bit differently than its Crosstrek sibling simply due to the fact that it is much closer to the ground. Ground clearance is right around five inches compared to the Crosstrek’s eight. That’s not the whole story this time around, however. Subaru has definitely put a more firm suspension in for this generation while also reducing noise, vibration and harshness levels. It doesn’t suffer from nearly as much tip and dive as the Crosstrek, and has a really buttoned-down suspension feel. Dare we say it, but the Impreza RS is sporty good fun in a corner, even with the 225-mm tires. One way to think of this is the sportiest trim of the sportiest version of the Crosstrek.
The power difference between this engine and 2.0L we drove in the 2024 Crosstrek is quite palpable. Punch the throttle and your head will be shoved into the headrest, something you did not see with the 2.0L. Surprisingly, there’s only one mpg difference between the two, so you don’t even have to feel too bad about getting the bigger engine. Expect a 7.5-second 0-60 time when we finally test one at home. The experience is definitely very CVT-like, because that’s exactly what the Impreza continues to work with. Accelerating from a stop will cause the engine to rev all the way to about 6,000 RPM, then it just hangs out there. If you floor it while already at speed, it tries harder to simulate shifts, which are never as rapid as the hottest regular Honda Civic.
As far as the brakes go, there’s nothing to complain about. They have a good linear feel and are responsive with a nice and firm feel to the pedal. The RS trim is probably going to come out with the shortest 60-0 stopping distance in the Impreza/Crosstrek lineup because of the 225-width tires and the more stable feel from the suspension tune. Those tires give the Impreza impressive amounts of grip in the corners for their size, while also being quieter than Impreza tires of the past. This is definitely quieter overall than the model it replaces, but not quite as hushed as a Mazda3 or Toyota Corolla Hatchback.
Fuel economy is an area that Subaru has done really well with in their models in the past. We fully expect the RS to hit its 29 mpg combined number in our testing. They have also done a really good job with the suspension tuning as well. The Impreza stays very flat and level through the corners. It’s not WRX-level fun, but it is far better than any Impreza before it. Body roll is really well-maintained, so it feels lighter than it is. Add in the standard all-wheel drive, and you’re looking at no torque steer off the line. It doesn’t matter what the surface is, you can floor the RS anywhere you want without experiencing any drama.
The 2024 Impreza RS benefits from a ton of little improvements in construction and packaging that give it a more refined and fun-to-drive nature this time around. If you don’t need the off-road-ready ride height or the bulky roof racks, the Impreza is a sporty option in a segment that focuses more on that than others tend to. Though you can’t option one up to quite the same level of equipment as some of its competitors, it represents a strong value with a simplified trim structure. It looks good, drives well, and continues to enable an active lifestyle with its hatchback-only practicality.
The Base trim with the 2.0L boxer 4-cylinder starts at $24,085, but if you want this RS trim with thew more powerful 2.5, that starts at $28,975. There is one package available that adds the moonroof and power driver’s seat, but leather seats are not available in this generation. Nor is a sedan or a manual transmission, both things that has been left for the WRX line this time around. According to Subaru, unlike the norm, most people actually wanted the hatchback anyway. In that regard, the tables have turned for Impreza and Crosstrek positioning – with the latter being the far more popular model for Subaru, it seems that the new Impreza is based more on the Crosstrek than the Crosstrek is based on the Impreza. Go figure, and go to your dealer if you’re interested in this attractive new Impreza, they’ll be hitting dealer lots very soon.
