The new 2024 Impreza is still the cheapest Subaru you can buy, but it’s not as cheap as it was. That’s because Subaru has eliminated both the sedan body style and the standard manual transmission, meaning its new starting price of $24,085 is $3270 higher than the cheapest version of last year’s Impreza. Even when comparing apples to apples, the 2024 Impreza hatchback with an automatic transmission costs $1470 more than the equivalent 2023 model.
A healthy dose of extra standard equipment helps soften the sticker shock, as even the base model now has automatic climate control, LED headlights, and an upgraded set of driver-assistance features, which Subaru brands as EyeSight. The 2024 Impreza Sport starts at $26,085, which is slightly cheaper than last year’s Impreza Sport hatch. It adds 18-inch wheels, different suspension tuning, a larger 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, pushbutton start, and fog lights.
Both the base and Sport models have a carryover 152-hp 2.0-liter flat-four engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard, naturally.
The RS model, starting at $28,975, is new to the lineup and includes a more powerful 182-hp 2.5-liter flat-four engine. Other than its badges and black and carbon-fiber trim pieces, additional equipment also includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum pedals, an All-Weather package, and extra driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
source: car and driver