The 2024 Subaru Impreza RS is a stepdown descendant of the mighty WRX, with generous borrowing from its parts bins
Now in its sixth generation, the 2024 Impreza has been redesigned inside and out with a stiffer chassis and uploaded with more safety technologies. (Photography courtesy of Subaru or as credited)
Jump to Special Features
What’s New for 2024?
Return of the Impreza RS
2024 Impreza Pricing
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
Impreza RS Ride and Handling
Top Safety Awards
Why Buy the Subaru Impreza RS?
Specifications
The 2024 Subaru Impreza RS is sweet perfection in a five-door hatch for $31,045, including all-wheel drive. The brought-back RS trim level gets more power and a looong-list of desirable standard equipment.
Subaru’s design blueprint maximizes everything in a small footprint. The doors open wide (to almost 90 degrees), and there is tall headroom of 39.8 inches or 38.7 with the moonroof. The two-tone fabric front seats are bolstered but not so severely as to hinder comfortable entry and exit — or excessive wear and tear to the fabric. Front legroom is long at 42.9 inches. Sightlines are unobstructed across the hood, at the side mirrors, and out the back glass.
The RS is a stepdown descendant of the mighty Impreza WRX, which earned its mud in World Rally Championship events. The best part of the RS is the kick in power from the 2.5-liter “boxer” four-cylinder — and the WRX’s dual-pinion electronic power steering rack. The RS is a romp to drive with acceleration so eager I nicknamed the tester “Gunner.” And the steering has quick-ratio responsiveness. It takes just a jink to make a course change. Subaru calls the steering force more direct and natural feeling.
A low engine cowl opens sightlines at the side mirrors and across the hood.
What’s New About Impreza for 2024?
Now in its sixth generation, the 2024 Impreza has been redesigned inside and out with a stiffer chassis and uploaded with more safety technologies. The Impreza sedan is out, and five-door hatchback Imprezas are in.
Subaru says the 2024 Impreza “has been designed around the concept of utility and sportiness that lends itself to an active lifestyle.” Nothing new there because that is how every Subaru is conceived and delivered.
Long regarded as dutiful and dependable, the 2024 Impreza RS is a pine-branch slap across the face. The new RS marks the return of the model’s premier enthusiast-focused 2.5 RS, which debuted in 1998. It would become the foundation for the Impreza WRX in the U.S. market.
Impreza RS sport seats are trimmed in black cloth with red bolsters.
Design and Chassis Updates
The Subaru Global Platform for the 2024 Impreza is 10 percent stiffer, achieving higher torsional rigidity. Panels are also glued together with more structural adhesive, from 26.2 feet to 88.5 feet. The new chassis and adhesives have tightened body rigidity and saved weight, resulting in a smoother ride and quieter cabin.
The RS interior has attractive gunmetal gray and simulated carbon fiber accents.
Return of the Impreza RS
The new Impreza RS gets a notable power boost from the 182-horsepower 2.5-liter “boxer” four-cylinder engine. A 152-hp 2.0-liter version powers base-model Imprezas. All engine variants are direct-injected with double overhead camshafts, dual active valve control, and auto stop-start at idle.
While other Impreza trims have Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT, the RS trumps that with an 8-speed manual mode with steering wheel paddle shifters.
Unique exterior RS features include 18-inch dark-gray alloy wheels and a black finish on the grille, side spoilers, and side mirrors. LED headlights and fog lights are also standard.
Inside the RS, there are gunmetal gray and simulated carbon fiber accents. Front sport seats are trimmed in black cloth with red bolsters. Carpeted floor mats have the RS logo. The RS also includes an upgraded leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, aluminum alloy pedals, heated front seats, and rear USB charge ports.
The top-of-the-line RS trim builds on the Sport model and adds blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
There is one factory option package (No. 33) for $2,070, which adds a Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio system, power moonroof, and 10-way power front driver seat with lumbar support.
Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT in the RS has an 8-speed manual mode with steering wheel paddle shifters.
2024 Subaru Impreza Pricing
Sold in three trim levels of Base, Sport, and RS, all with Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system. All models are five-door hatchbacks. Retail pricing includes the $1,120 freight charge from Gunma, Japan.
Base: $24,085
Sport: $26,085
RS: $28,975
There are seven paint colors, but only Oasis Blue is a $395 option. (The hue is what I would call French or Petty Blue.) The tester was Pure Red, a bold and appealing blue-red.
The Impreza RS tester cost $31,075 with the sunroof package, $2,070. This is a desirable package not so much for the power tilt-slide sunroof as for the 10-way power driver seat. Also included in the package is a 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system with a 432-watt amplifier. However, even this system was washed out amid the maelstrom of noise in the cabin at highway speeds.
RS performance and exterior features include: 18-inch dark alloy wheels with 225/40 all-season Yokohama tires, full LED steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beam control, LED fog lights, fixed crossbar mounting points, and a tire puncture repair kit.
Check current Subaru Impreza pricing here. And check for special Subaru offers here.
The 11.6-inch tablet multimedia system includes some hard buttons for often-adjusted features.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
With a trim curb weight of 3,323 pounds (with the lone factory option package), the RS is eager to rev and run. It delivers with a 182-hp, 2.5-liter version of the boxer engine with 178 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,700 rpm.
The Base and Sport trims are more fuel efficient than the RS. The 2.0-liter engine has mileage ratings of 27 mpg city, 34 highway, and 30 mpg combined on the recommended 87 octane fuel. The more powerful RS is dinged just 1 mpg in each category, or 26/33/29 mpg.
Also outstanding about all Imprezas are their 16.6-gallon fuel tanks. Small crossover SUVs typically have gas tanks of 14 to 15 gallons.
The 182-hp, 2.5-liter boxer engine in the Impreza RS. (Mark Maynard photo)
Impreza RS Ride and Handling
No matter how stiff the new structure and how much glue was used, the cabin is still noisy as hell at speed on the highway. But the noise might have been more from the tires. The 18-inch Yokohama Avid S34 (225/40) has a sticky treadwear rating of 320AA. Replacements will run around $250 each.
Subaru’s revised Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is standard across the model line. Now, with Active Torque Vectoring, the AWD system has a faster response time and more agile handling, Subaru says.
Also adapted from the WRX is the dual-pinion electronic power steering. Subaru says this rack is more responsive and has a more direct and natural steering feel.
The Sport and RS trim levels have Subaru’s SI-Drive performance management system, with Intelligent and Sport modes. The mode is changed via a handy thumb switch on the steering. It is easy to toggle back and forth, but I typically hit Sport mode whenever I drove. Intelligent mode is more about maximizing fuel economy, which is overrated in such a sporty car.
Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system ACT-4 (active torque split) drives the wheels through an electronic variable hydraulic transfer clutch. The control unit monitors vehicle speed, gear position, and wheel speed. The system actively changes torque to the rear wheels anywhere from a few percent to fully locked. The control unit can and does alter torque several times per second.
The Impreza RS has 18-inch dark alloy wheels with 18 inch Yokohama Avid tires.
Top Safety Awards
Standard equipment on all 2024 Impreza models is the latest version of Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. The enhanced system has a wider field of view, updated control software, and an electric brake booster. EyeSight can now identify bicycles and pedestrians at intersections sooner. When necessary, the system alerts the driver and engages braking to avoid collisions.
Automatic Emergency Steering is included on models with Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Keep Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. The automatic steering function will give avoidance steering at speeds less than 50 mph.
Throughout its 30-year history, Impreza has racked up safety awards, and there are more for 2024.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Subaru Impreza the top five stars in every tested category: Overall, frontal, side, and rollover.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gives the Impreza its top rating of Top Safety Pick+. IIHS testing covers seven categories, including Front Crash Prevention: pedestrian.
Back seat legroom seems longer than its 36.5 inches; headroom is tall at 38 inches.
Cargo space has a wide and tall entry, with some basement storage below.
Why Buy the 2024 Subaru Impreza RS?
The Subaru Impreza is a small wagon with big benefits. It is easy to enjoy for the long term, whether for a young family or a ride-share driver.
Long regarded as dutiful and dependable, the 2024 Impreza RS is a pine-branch slap across the face.
Subaru Impreza RS Specifications
Body style: compact 5-door, 5-seat crossover with all-wheel drive
Engine: 182-hp, DOHC 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with direct injection; 178 lb.-ft. torque at 3,700 rpm; auto stop-start at idle
Transmission: Lineartronic CVT with 8-speed manual shift mode with steering wheel paddle shifters; SI-Drive selectable performance modes of Intelligent and Sport; ACT-4 active torque split with electronically controlled variable hydraulic transfer clutch
Fuel economy: 26/33/29 mpg city/hwy/combined; 87 octane
BY THE NUMBERS
Fuel tank: 16.6 gallons
Cargo space: 20.4-56 cubic feet; load floor length 32.1/63.9 inches, seatbacks up/down
Front head/leg room: 38.7*/42.9 inches *39.8 w/o moonroof
Rear head/leg room: 38/36.5 inches
Length/wheelbase: 176.2/105.1 inches
Curb weight: 3,323 pounds, with option package; 3,275 lbs. base
Turning circle: 34.78 feet
FEATURES
Standard equipment includes: Keyless entry with push-button start, heated front sport seats, 11.6-inch tablet multimedia system, Starlink connected services, dual-zone climate control with dynamic ventilation and air filtration, wireless phone charger, illuminated USB A and C ports, heated wipers and side mirrors, retractable cargo cover, leather-wrapped steering wheel, welcome lighting.
RS performance and exterior features: 18-inch dark alloy wheels with 225/40- all-season Yokohama tires, full LED steering responsive headlights, automatic high beam, LED fog lights, fixed crossbar mounting points, tire puncture repair kit;
Safety features include: 8 air bags, vehicle dynamics control with all-wheel all-speed traction control, rollover sensor;
Advanced Safety Technologies: EyeSight driver-assist system, advanced adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, collision detection door unlock function.
CHASSIS COMPONENTS
Brakes: power-assisted dual-diagonal 4-wheel discs with brake force distribution, brake assist, brake override, active torque vectoring, auto vehicle hold, electric parking brake; 12.4-inch front ventilated rotors with dual-piston calipers; rear 11.2-inch ventilated discs with single-piston calipers;
Steering: dual pinion electric power assisted; 34.78-foot turning circle;
Tires-wheels: 18-by-7-inch alloy wheels with Yokohama Avid S34 225/40 all-season tires, treadwear rating of 320AA;
Suspension: 4-wheel independent with front MacPherson struts, lower L arms, coil springs, dampers, stabilizer bar, and hydraulic engine mounts; rear double wishbone with coil springs, dampers, stabilizer bar.
PRICING
Base RS price: $29,005, including $1,120 freight charge; price as tested $31,075
Options on test vehicle: Package 33 $2,070, adds power moonroof, Harman Kardon audio system, 10-way power driver seat with 2-way lumbar
Where assembled: Gunma, Japan
Warranties: 3-years/36,000-miles bumper to bumper with roadside assistance; 5-years/60,000-miles powertrain
