The Subaru Impreza gets redesigned for 2024 but remains an affordable compact hatchback with standard all-wheel drive, a roomy interior, and a host of standard features and tech. However, rivals boast better performance and nicer cabins.
Base Price: $27,885
As Tested: $31,045
Horsepower: 182
Mileage: 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mpg combined
The five-passenger Impreza is now in its sixth generation. For 2024, the sedan is scrapped as is the manual transmission. All models now come with a CVT. The exterior looks a little sportier and the performance-oriented RS trim joins the line-up.
The 2024 Impreza comes in three trims: base, Sport and RS. Starting prices range from $22,995 to $27,885. Like all Subarus except the BRZ, the Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive.
The base and Sport trims are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The RS gets a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 182 horses and 178 pound-feet.
Neither setup provides inspired performance. The base engine is okay for daily driving around town, but acceleration is leisurely so plan ahead for merging and passing at freeway speeds. The more powerful engine has quicker acceleration and livelier handling but can get loud when pressed. The CVT can also be slow to respond when you floor the accelerator. On the plus side, the ride is smooth and the Impreza stays planted with little body roll when cornering. The Impreza will sure get you from point A to point B but isn’t what you’d call sporty. If zippier performance is important to you, rivals such as the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Mazda 3 are more fun to drive.
Fuel economy is good for the class. EPA ratings for my tester are 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with a combined rating of 29. I got 29 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The base and Sport trims do a bit better at 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with a combined rating of 30.
The cabin is more utilitarian than what you’ll find in some competitors, with an emphasis on practicality over style. Still, it’s a pleasant place to be. It’s extremely roomy for a compact car. Materials are decent with few hard plastics. Seats are comfortable and supportive. Adults in both rows enjoy good leg- and headroom. The dash in the base model has two seven-inch screens, while the Sport and RS trims get an 11.6-inch vertical display that dominates the dash.
Standard features include remote keyless entry, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, infotainment system with two 7-inch touchscreens, four-speaker audio system, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, one front USB port and automatic high-beam headlights.
Available features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, leather seating, heated front seats, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, infotainment system with 11.6-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, two front USB ports, voice recognition, adaptive LED headlights, and a moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and rear-seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
The infotainment system is user-friendly with logically arranged menus, whether you get the two seven-inch displays in the base trim, or the larger 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen in the Sport and RS trims. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are wired with the two screens, and wireless with the larger screen. The icons on the larger screen are big and easy to see and reach. Physical controls make it easy to adjust audio and climate settings. One drawback is the big screen can have a lot of glare in bright sunlight.
Cargo space is good for a compact car. There are 20.4 cubic feet in the hatch with both rows of seating in place, and 56 cubes with the rear seats folded. The rear seats fold in a 40/60 split but don’t quite fold down flat.
The good:
Affordable
Smooth ride
Standard all-wheel drive
Good fuel economy
Roomy cabin for passengers and cargo
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Meh performance
Interior not as upscale as some rivals
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $27,885. The Option Package is $2,070 and includes a 10-way power driver’s seat with two-way lumbar support, Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio system with 432-watt equivalent amplifier and a power moonroof. Destination fee is $1,090 bringing the grand total to $31,045.
