2024 Subaru Impreza Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Compared to the previous-generation Subaru Impreza, the new 2024 model has a more aggressive and sporty style. The grille is larger and more angular, with narrower headlights that convey a more serious focused squint in human terms. Unlike other Subaru models, the Impreza sticks with body-coloured wheel arches instead of the more outdoorsy black plastic liners. The RS trim level also gains side skirts below the doors for a more low-slung appearance. The rear haunches feature similar flared fenders to its predecessor, suggesting a wider and more athletic stance than the Honda Civic or Mazda 3 hatchback. While the 2024 Impreza features a more street-oriented style than other Subarus, it's also more rugged looking than those rivals.

On the inside, the new Impreza has a more modern look, courtesy of the vertical 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen that is standard on the Touring, RS, and Sport-tech trims. The Convenience model comes with two 7-inch displays, instead. Otherwise, the overall layout, dash, and steering wheel are very similar to the last-generation Impreza. The RS spices things up with racy red stitching and red seat upholstery accents. Wheel sizes range from 16-inch steel to 18-inch alloy wheels depending on trim.

Materials quality is commendable for the class. Any area where the driver or front passenger are likely to touch are well cushioned with soft-touch materials that look attractive and feel sturdy. The rear seats opt for hard plastics instead, and this makes sense for durability's sake, as those surfaces have a better chance at surviving children or pets.

The 2024 Impreza doesn't break new ground when it comes to styling. Instead, it represents more of a logical evolution. The big infotainment touchscreen is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the interior design because without it, it would be difficult to tell the new interior from the old one.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza is available with the choice of two engines. In Canada, the Convenience and Touring trims come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces power specs of 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The RS and Sport-tech models upgrade to a 2.5-litre engine that increases output to 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. Both are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and all trims but the base model also add steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. Automotive enthusiasts will be disappointed to learn the manual transmission option has been dropped with the newest generation of Impreza. All-wheel-drive (AWD) with active torque vectoring is standard for all Imprezas.

This review is limited to the RS model, which is the sportiest choice in the lineup. Right off the line, the Impreza RS is more responsive than we expect from a CVT. Acceleration is more than adequate but not impressive, leading us to wonder if the smaller 2.0-litre engine is underpowered. With light to moderate pressure on the pedal, the engine remains pleasantly quiet. With harder acceleration, the noise is much more noticeable and the typical CVT drone is interrupted by simulated gear changes. The Sport and RS come with paddle shifters for manual control over eight simulated gears.

Handling is on the sporty side and is aided by the traction that comes with AWD. The Impreza corners with more confidence than its front-wheel-drive (FWD) rivals and can be entertaining for drivers on a curvy road. Thankfully, ride quality doesn't suffer as a result as bumps in the road are well smoothed over and remain both comfortable and stable over rough surfaces. With added sound insulation, road noise is also quieter than the last Impreza generation, which helps reduce fatigue over long distances.

With regard to comfort and performance, the Impreza RS is comparable to the Honda Civic Si sedan and base Mazda 3 hatchback. They're all sporty without sacrificing a compliant ride, but the Impreza's standard AWD drivetrain gives it a distinct traction advantage, allowing spirited drivers to get on the throttle earlier in a turn. The Mazda is available with AWD, but only in the more expensive turbo model.

Front-seat passengers are treated to a spacious cabin that largely favours function over form. Primary controls are logically placed and easy to operate. Outward visibility is helped by narrow front roof pillars that won't obstruct your view through sharp left turns. The large rear hatch glass provides a good rearward view, though the rear headrests tend to block some of the view. Dual-zone climate control is standard.

Knowing that most Subaru owners are more active than other brands' customers, there is no shortage of adequate drink storage that can accommodate larger bottles and flasks. The RS trim also comes with a wireless charging pad, but the harder plastic surface doesn't keep your phone in place as well as grippier rubber trays. A large centre armrest bin will easily hold the rest of your personal items.

The rear seats are more accommodating than the Impreza's rather compact exterior suggests. Six-footers should easily have enough headroom and legroom, as well as space under the front seats for their feet. Behind those seats, the cargo area can hold up to 578 litres. That's over 100 litres less than the Honda Civic Hatchback, but comparable to the Mazda 3. The seatbacks fold down, but they don't lie flat to the cargo floor. Still, total cargo space measures a healthy 1,586 litres of capacity.

More importantly to Subaru owners, the Impreza accepts a number of roof racks to shuttle your bicycles, kayaks, or cargo boxes. The designers smartly included handy flat sections in the door jambs to use as a step up to access the roof area. Unlike other Subarus, the Impreza is not rated for the heavier overlanding tent platforms, though that doesn't seem to have deterred owners from using them in that manner in the past.

Not only is the large 11.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system visually impactful, but it's also easy to use. The large on-screen buttons can be used with a quick glance, and more commonly used controls for volume, tuning, and temperature are represented with physical knobs and buttons flanking the screen. Secondary climate controls are situated at the bottom of the screen and remain there for easy and consistent use. There is a slight but forgivable delay between your screen taps and actuation, though.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included in all Imprezas and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are equipped in all but the Convenience trim. A native navigation system is not available, but considering many drivers are using Google maps through phone integration, most shoppers won't miss it. As with most modern vehicles, some monitoring and control is available through a smartphone app as long as you have a data plan active. It's part of the Subaru Starlink system that comes with the top three trims. A 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system is included with the RS and Sport-tech trims.

The Impreza's infotainment system favours usability over novelty and for that, we're thankful. The menus are smartly organized, very intuitive, and you'll likely never have to refer to the owner's manual for even some of the more advanced features.

Crash-test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are not yet available, but considering the new 2024 Impreza uses a more rigid version of its predecessor's chassis, we expect it to achieve similarly admirable scores, and Subaru is targeting a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS.

All 2024 Subaru Imprezas come with the company's EyeSight suite of safety features and driver assist technology that include frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and lane-centring. Stepping up to the Touring model adds the Starlink communications features that come with automatic collision notification, enhanced roadside assistance and an SOS button. The top three trims add a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency steering that will swerve the vehicle out of the way of trouble if certain conditions are met.

In our time with the Impreza RS, these safety features performed as they should, with no false alarms or other intrusive actions. The adaptive cruise control does a good job of smoothly maintaining a consistent gap between you and vehicles you're following. Both the safety feature content and the way they operate are comparable to other hatchbacks in the class.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza in Convenience trim has a starting price in Canada of $29,303 (including $1,995 in destination charges plus other fees). That's nearly $7,000 less than the entry-level Honda Civic Hatchback while the Mazda 3 hatchback starts slightly lower. However, the Impreza gains a significant advantage for offering AWD as standard equipment. The Honda Civic is stuck with front-drive only and the Mazda 3 offers it as an option on the higher trims that will set you back at least $34,305 with fees

The midrange Touring trim has a new car starting price of $32,503 and upgrades you with the larger infotainment screen and a few more convenience and tech features. Our pick is the Subaru Impreza RS trim that starts at $34,303. The big reason is for the more powerful 2.5-litre engine, but you also get plenty of other upgrades to easily justify the very reasonable price premium. Subaru Canada offers one more trim, the Sport-tech, which is priced at $37,303.

The base 2.0-litre engine is estimated to return fuel economy of 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6.9 highway (combined driving are not available as of this writing). The RS and Sport-tech trims are rated at 9.0 L/100 km city and 7.2 highway. The Honda Civic pulls significantly better numbers thanks to its FWD setup, while the AWD Mazda 3 hatchbacks are comparable to the Impreza.

Whether you're looking for AWD because you live in a weather-prone region, or if you're seeking a sportier handling hatchback with significantly more traction, the Impreza should be at the top of your list. While Subarus have been known for this for many years, it remains a game-changer in the economy class of vehicles. The Impreza is tailored for active outdoorsy owners, but shoppers of any stripe will also appreciate all it has to offer.

As vehicle prices continue to climb to uncomfortable heights, the 2024 Subaru Impreza remains a smart purchase for its capabilities, ease of use, and fun driving dynamics.

Note: Images show a US model.