2024 Subaru Impreza RS: Take a look at Drive

2024 Subaru Impreza RS: Take a look at Drive | The Each day Drive

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2024 Subaru Impreza RS

Class: Compact Automobile

Shade: Pure Crimson

Seating capability: 5

CG Report Card

Room and Consolation	B
Energy and Efficiency	B
Match and End	C
Gas Economic system	B
Worth	A

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and should not mirror Client Information’s impressions of the whole mannequin lineup.

Large & Tall Consolation

Large Man	B
Tall Man	B

Large & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Large” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	182-horsepower 2.5-liter
Engine Kind	4-cylinder
Transmission	CVT
Drive Wheels	AWD

Miles pushed: 149

Noticed gasoline economic system: 24.8 mpg

Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway

EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 26/33/29 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Gas sort: Common gasoline

Base value: $27,885 (not together with $1090 vacation spot cost)

Choices on check automobile: N/A

Value as examined: $28,975

Fast Hits

The nice: Greenback worth, enjoyable to drive

The great: Roomy cabin, normal AWD

The not so good: Price range-grade cabin supplies

Tom Appel:

Reality is, the Impreza has for years been wildly outsold by its mechanically related showroom mate, the Crosstrek. The smallest of the maker’s two automobile choices—each different Subaru is arguably a crossover—the Impreza was fully redesigned for 2024, and is down one physique model and one trim degree consequently.

For 2022 (2023 numbers usually are not but posted) the Impreza was outsold by the Crosstrek by an almost 5-to-1 ratio; that robust is the ability of a lifted look, a roof rack, and a few bodyside cladding. And in reality, the little Crosstrek’s sporty/rugged look will not be solely interesting, however fully in step with Subaru’s free-spirit branding.

To simplify issues for 2024, the Impreza is now hatchback solely; there isn’t a longer a sedan variant. That leaves the midsize Legacy—which is massively outsold by its rugged-looking, mechanically related brother the Outback—as Subaru’s solely sedan. Notice that the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are nonetheless provided in each sedan and hatchback configurations, whereas the Nissan Sentra is obtainable solely as a sedan.

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Additionally rendered simpler is the 2024 trim-level lineup, which has been decreased from 4 to a few choices. Gone are Premium and Restricted trims. The returning Base (beginning round $24,000), is joined by the brand new Sport ($26,000), and RS ($29,000). Subaru followers might recall the RS nameplate, which was final used on sporty Impreza fashions approach again in 2005.

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Base and Sport variations of the Impreza are powered by a 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The RS comes with a 182-horsepower 2.5-liter 4. All 2024 Imprezas are outfitted with a CVT-automatic transmission, the beforehand obtainable 6-speed guide is among the many issues misplaced for 2024.

Like all U.S.-market Subarus, save for the BRZ sporty coupe, all Imprezas include normal AWD. Distinctive to the Sport and RS is the model’s SI-Drive system, which, per Subaru, “is a complicated engine administration system with driver-selectable modes tailor-made to swimsuit completely different circumstances and completely different moods. SI-DRIVE^® is the proper resolution for many who crave each sporty response and financial gasoline consumption, taking automobile efficiency to an all-new degree.” So there.

Sport and RS fashions additionally function bigger front-brake rotors, and sportier suspension tuning, together with the addition of a rear stabilizer bar. Additionally, Sport and RS fashions are distinguished by 18-inch enable wheels (designs distinctive to every mannequin) versus 16-inch alloy wheels on the Base.

Client Information not too long ago spent every week behind the wheel the 2024 Subaru Impreza RS in Pure Crimson. Our check automobile was outfitted with no extra-cost choices and got here to $28,975, together with vacation spot cost.

As a result of that is largely a good evaluate, we’d wish to get our main grievance out of the way in which first: The Impreza cabin, even in RS trim, is reasonable wanting relative to the competitors, particularly the Honda Civic. Now, that’s low cost by 2024 requirements, which implies the cabin is okay, it simply trails most small vehicles when it comes to supplies high quality. Additionally, the cabin design is a bit of odd. Whereas the sprint appears fantastic, and the controls all fall handy logically, there’s simply an excessive amount of happening inside. The entrance door panels particularly look confusingly overwrought, and cursed with an unappealing array intersecting traces and stampings, seemingly employed to masks the dearth of soft-touch supplies widespread in different small U.S.-market choices.

That stated, the remainder of the information right here is fairly good. The cabin is roomy up entrance, with loads of big-guy house, and a seating place that affords glorious outward visibility and encourages sporty driving. Rear-seat house is a bit of tight for bigger adults, however no extra so than different automobiles within the class.

Subaru’s “Starlink” digital interface touchscreen is each massive and straightforward to learn, and options clearly marked icons and a easy menu system.

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It’s on the street, nevertheless, that the Impreza RS shines, and when you have an urge for food for sporty character, you’ll admire the way in which this automobile feels underway. Beginning with the engine, which—although no powerhouse—delivers loads of energy from a cease, and sounds simply snarky sufficient spice of the visceral driving expertise. And, whereas we’re not usually followers of CVT computerized transmissions, the Impreza’s shifter does a fantastic job of holding the automobile’s 4-cylinder engine in its helpful powerband.

What driving fans will admire most in regards to the Impreza is its thoughtfully tuned suspension and glorious steering really feel. The RS is enjoyable to drive even in slower site visitors, and rewards quick blasts up and down freeway entry ramps and round Interstate cloverleafs. Agency-feeling, responsive brakes add to the automobile’s athletic character. Journey high quality too, is spectacular. The RS is snug even over tough street surfaces, and has a complicated, European-sedan really feel on the freeway, although cabin- and street noise at freeway velocity are considerably elevated relative to different vehicles within the class.

In routine driving that barely favored city commuting, we averaged 24.8 mpg, which appears affordable on condition that the Impreza RS does invite aggressive throttle use. Additionally price noting, the Impreza boasts a surprisingly massive 16.6-gallon gasoline tank. This compares to the 12.4- and 13.2-gallon tanks discovered on the Civic and Corolla respectively, and may enable the Impreza RS to cruise greater than 500 miles between gasoline stops on prolonged street journeys.

Probably the most putting function of the Impreza RS, nevertheless, is its cut price value. For lower than $30,000, and for a 3rd lower than the transaction value of a median new automobile, fortunate shoppers can have a roomy, snug, sporty, and relative fuel-efficient automobile that comes with glorious normal AWD.

Sure, the Honda Civic is extra refined and boasts a slicker, extra upscale cabin, and Corolla extra gasoline environment friendly, and retains its legendary status for reliability, however the Impreza is extra enjoyable to drive, a cut price at each trim degree, and isn’t seen on each avenue nook. Whereas we’d by no means attempt to speak somebody out of buying the Honda or Toyota, we’d completely assist anybody’s barely adventurous resolution to go together with the Impreza as a substitute. And no, it’s not a Crosstrek, it’s really a greater worth.

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