The ’ 24 Subaru Impreza, the first stem-to-stern update since 2016, knows exactly what it is: an affordable, tremendous value; a steady and safe utility car that can actually be heard laughing at snow and mud; and one of the most comfortable cockpits you can find.
The Impreza has been an unapologetic 5–door hatchback and still is. And it is a 100% internal-combustion-engine model line (for now). It’s not a CUV (that is reserved for the Subaru Crosstrek built upon the Impreza platform). It’s not quite a “wagon;” it is a “hatchback,” a word other automakers recoil from. Not Subaru.
In fact, it is so much a hatchback that the Japanese automaker is dropping the sedan version of the Impreza altogether. It only represented about 20% of sales, and Subaru believes it won’t lose any buyers who, after all, choose Subaru for its vehicles’ reliability, bulletproof safety ratings and otherworldly performance in lousy road conditions.
Unlike most vehicle redesigns, it’s also not any wider or longer than the previous model. It doesn’t need to be. The cockpit is a thing of wonder, perfectly accommodating a 340-lb. (155-kg) offensive tackle on a football team, as well as the 170-lb. (77-kg) punter. And there’s plenty of headroom for both. The back seat wouldn’t be the first seating choice of the tackle, but the proportions of the vehicle and roofline don’t make it a road-trip penance either.
Navigating the twisty roads of central California, a driver acquainted with the outgoing model can detect a somewhat stiffer ride and better handling with little body sway. Subaru execs attribute the enhanced experience to 10% greater torsional rigidity derived from a wider application of construction adhesive and seat tracks that are welded directly to the floor instead of sitting on brackets.
The Lineartronic CVT is now standard for all trims and has been tweaked for better performance and reduced noise. That didn’t keep it from wheezing a touch on some hilly roads we traversed, but one gets used to it, and it’s all in the name of better fuel economy. There is a wider ratio spread (8.1 vs. 7.0 in ’ 23 model) and revised manual-mode ratios.
The standard engine on the Impreza (Base and Sport) is a 2.0L boxer that produces 152 hp and 145 lb.-ft. (197 Nm) of torque, while the 2.5L boxer is an RS-trim exclusive, including new camshafts, 182 hp and 178 lb.-ft. (241 Nm) at 3,700 RPM.
The interior, historically not Subaru’s strongest area, is quite well tailored for ’24. The base trim gets new standard dual 7-in. (18-cm) Subaru Starlink multimedia system. The upper touchscreen has on-screen controls for audio while the lower unit has on-screen controls for climate control and the EyeSight collision-avoidance system.
Subaru won’t ’fess up about future drivetrains, but a hybrid, possibly a plug-in hybrid, version of the Impreza is widely expected in the next two years. The ’24 Impreza will be imported to the U.S. from Japan.
Notable Features
- Sport trim includes 8-speed manual mode function for CVT with paddle shift controls.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control system with air filtration, voice control and occupant sensors for focused air control.
- EyeSight driver assist technology including advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering; pre-collision braking and throttle management; lane departure warning and lane keep assist.
- Wireless phone charging (first time in a Subaru); standard for the RS trim.
- Fuel economy (EPA): 2.0L, 27/34/30 mpg (8.7/6.9/7.8 L/100 km) city/highway/combined; 2.0L:; 2.5L, 26/33/29 mpg (9.0/7.1/8.1 L/100 km).
- Automatic emergency steering works with EyeSight and blindspot detection to assist with steering control to help avoid a collision at speeds less than 50 mph (80 km/h) (included on models equipped with blindspot detection with lane keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert).
- Standard on all models: ACT-4 Active Torque Split all-wheel drive with electronically controlled variable hydraulic transfer clutch.
- Latest version EyeSightdriver assist technology features a redesigned stereo camera with significantly wider field of view, an additional monocular camera and an electric brake booster for improved performance.
The exterior design of the ’24 Impreza is quite evolutionary, resembling more a change of sport jacket from black to gray rather than anything suggesting a change of personality. The headlamps and taillamps, as well as the side panel lines and scoops, have been updated. Otherwise, today’s Impreza owners may do a double-take when they see one on the street, but not many more.
What the ’24 Impreza may lack in actual style (though the new RS trim is quite fetching in red, with an enhanced interior) it makes up for with a likable personality and capability, while maintaining its reputation as one of the best values in the marketplace today.
