2024 Subaru Impreza RS AWD Review: The Affordable WRX? 

Exactly, I want a car I can drive a long time, 150k plus, no turbo or hybrid system will help get me there. Cheers

100% - Completely agree with you

Absolutely.The automatic is for pu.ssys who don't know how to drive

From chile i was banned from subarubchile bc od saying thisbexact same this. A xt motor su either xv or this one would make in my eyes the perfect hot hatch, power and torque plus awd and of road features.

That’s the thing with Subaru. It seems that the brand is dead set on never fully delivering on the users needs and wants. - Want a faster infotainment system? Too bad, we signed the deal with the provider since the 2020 Outback and we’re stuck with those screens for 10 years. - Want a more capable Crosstrek? We’re keeping the engines from the prior gen. No turbos or improvements. And we’re sticking the laggy infotainment too. - Want the STI back? Nope, it’s an SUV market now. CVT and 182hp it is. Not to say they also have some great products, but with these guys there’s always a compromise.

@@Kilaueaorph4n Its about volume selling. That's why manuals are dying. We used to have great sport cars that were cheap interiors but amazing powertrain. Leasing a car is now overtaking owning, so people are leasing luxury brands at the same price of buying. Cut engine and powertrain for more interior. Mass consumers want a better interior. The enthusiast segment is shrinking. I'd love to go back to the days of an MR2, S2000, Old Gen Golf where we didnt care about interior. Drove to Best Buy, gutted the speakers and put in and Pioneer headunit where you had to walk to the trunk to swap out CDs. You have to have it off the lot with the best tech now. The market isnt there anymore. Interiors are a better selling point, living with CA traffic.... I get it. And with the move to electric... yeah, no more flagship STI, SHO, etc because R&D needs to be put there now. Its a weird time to be an enthusiast as that lake is drying but manufactures are trying to bring those nostalgic names back for marketing.

@@Kilaueaorph4n exactly. Want a hatch WRX - best we can do is slap some plastic cladding on the sedan WRX.

Its hot crock of shhhhhhyat

Cvt is a minus

​@@dolguldur4706 i can't help but not give too much of a shit after them making the cvt for 13 years now

it's at the very least been improved through time.. my last subie had one and it's at 190,000 miles in someone elses hands now just fine

Why?

the 2.5L models (so this RS) is made in USA

No. The WRX looks way better and sportier with more meaningful appearance.

@@raymondhachmishvili2483 Get your eyes checked lol

@@Unchainedmaple888 each to its own.

There is a WRX Wagon with the 2.4L Turbo in Asia. It looks great.

Says who?

He said the base now starts at $24k

​@Deetroiter I just checked and you're correct. I have no idea where the presenter got $24k from. Subaru USA starts at $19.8k for the sedan and $20.2k for the hatch. As far as I can tell Subaru Europe doesn't offer the impreza. I also could've sworn that Subaru USA was only going to offer the impreza from 2023 and onward as a hatch.

@@Deetroiter I sent you a 2nd comment correcting my first comment. The 2024 models will be exclusively hatchbacks starting at $24k. I don't know why RU-vid keeps deleting some of my comments.

@@Deetroiter A massive jump in price

@@janoycresnova9156 Dealers already listing these at 32k which is more than a used 2022 WRX. No ty.

Add to that the fact that the old 5 speed manual had a rubbery impersise feel and it's no wonder why it had a low take rate.

Yes! I had a 17 Impreza hatch and then an Escape company vehicle. The Escape was much better, sadly.

You can buy aftermarket color matched paint wheel arches for 1k an they look amazing

just get a levorg bro

Yea, I have a 2018 Impreza base. The new RS would be a nice upgrade with the cold weather package, better suspension, larger engine, and BSM/RCTA. However, my 2018 is still running well, and I dont drive much since I retired, so really cant justify trading. The new RS is also a bit expensive. If they put the 2.5L in all models, the "Sport" model would be a better value proposition.

unfortunately mom and pops will beat enthusiasts everytime. 6MT and turbo just don't sell so it is what it is.

People didn't buy them. Not much of an argument against that.

Back when the WRX hatchback was being produced the take rate was about 50/50. The reason Subaru gave why they stopped making the hatchback for the 2015-2022 generation was because they didn't have the budget to produce two variants of the WRX. I have known many former hatchback owners that loved them but would not buy another one in less it was a hatchback. So clearly the market is there for practical hot hatchbacks just that Subaru does not want to invest in them.

@@evoman44 thats eons ago. You have to look at sales data on what is selling currently. I bet you that even if they bring back a hot hatch, crosstrek will out sell wrx 3 to 1. Hell the impreza will still out sell it 2 to 1. Unfortunately us car enthuisatist will suffer no matter what.

​@drivingsports Actually there is an argument: Subaru, and others, offered Manual as a more basic option. However, Manual buyers now are enthusiasts. They want a Manual with all the options, not a stripped down model.

That would be the perfect combo!

I believe that below the foam insert there is still the space and part for a spare under there. Its the same body mostly for crosstrek and impreza and some of the Crosstreks still come with the spare. So still can get there with extra steps. And I have a '21 Sport and as much as I like the upgrades to this model, not making the switch. But if I was in the market today for myself? This car hits so many sweet spots.

I'm def gonna get a used one in a few years! 2019 Limited here

Same! Just got my 2022 Sport last year and I love the car, but the extra HP in the RS isnt enough to convince me to trade again. TBH it looks like the RS is a combination of the Sport and Limited Trims, I think we got the best parts of that already!

Exactly! Not everyone can afford a WRX. Plus not everyone needs are met with a sedan. The 1.8 turbo would be a happy medium for those buyers that need the practicality of a hatchback without sacrificing too much on performance. Plus a model like that would naturally have a higher manual transmission take rate.

I would love if they did that, but I think they don't want people buying a faster, funner Impreza when the WRX/STI exist. I think it's terrible business planning. Give the people what they want!

Subaru makes a 1.8 turbo engine??

I have heard the same thing from many former WRX hatchback owners. I currently have a WRX sedan but I would really like to have the practicality of a hatchback in my next car without having to sacrifice performance.

i'm just curious are there any good dbw manuals ? i'm driving a 2017 corolla IM and its just manual for the sake of it. i thought just my car was trash but i hear horror stories about rev hang in other things.

@@Shishizurui Rev hang is basically inevitable on newer vehicles due to stringent emissions regulations. If you want the rev hang to be gone, you have to get it tuned out. In places that enforce California emissions regulations, this won't fly.

Wow, 63k on a 2020! You’re really enjoying your car and road trips. In contrast, I just reached 30k on my 2019 Impreza Premium.

@@WaywardPondering 80 miles a day commute helps.

would save you alot more money just to turbo your 2020 impreza or just tune in

@@TheSlenderman80 Not if it blows up. Can't squeeze much out of the FB20 before it grenades. I think there's a turbo kit available for it from an Australian company, but it only adds about 30hp. The 2.5 is a better deal.

​@@slosubies4845 just want to know more details about the turbo kit, my one is my17 in Australia as well

I’ve seen several favorable reviews. My 2020 Impreza has 97,000 miles on it with no problems so far.

I was looking at the Impreza and crosstrek. I think the extra ground clearance would make going for the crosstrek the way to go.

Check out iihs crash test rating

It's not your Crosstrek Sport, it's just the Crosstrek Sport. Yours is different?

in Europe we were spared of CVTs because all the base models were manuals and Nissans had a French dual clutch (yeah not any more reliable than a Jatco CVT lol). While DCTs beat CVTs easily. Personally I would love a manual to be available. Honda also offers one as an alternative to their CVT.

I think an issue with manual cars these days is that manuals are absent in cars we would like to see them in. Even Subaru's own crosstrek, they had manual for a bit but only with the wimpy 2.0 engine.

1. Judging from all the idiot in car videos, maybe manual "enthusiast" should focus on learning how to drive. Period. 2. CVT/Automatic is faster and more fuel efficient than manuals. You know what else is fun? dealing with carburetors.

Side note: This CVT ONLY gives you maximum power output during acceleration from a dead stop. It sucks.

Still should be an option on some vehicles. Maybe make it order only, but it would sell.

no the CVT is crap on subarus. its ancient af

A hybrid is coming, but I’m. It sure it will be Impreza. Might be crosstrek.

I currently have an 05 WRX sedan that I love but would like to get a newer one. However I could really use the practicality of a hatchback. It's dang shame that Subaru does not offer the WRX hatchback anymore.

@@evoman44 I like hatchbacks too and prefer more basic options but I’d still go with the WRX for only a couple grand more. Or the Crosstrek sport for about the same price. Crazy how just a few short years ago you could get a mid trim Outback for the price of the RS. I’m on the lookout for a 18’, 19’ WRX for the right price

Back when the WRX was available as a hatchback the take rate was about 50/50. As much of as those hatchback owners loved their cars they would not consider another one if it was not a hatchback. So even if this was turbo model with around 200hp it would sell well.

Subaru wouldn’t do that. I was hoping it had the new 2.4T as well.

​@@AdventureeX That would make it just a WRX then.

@@evoman44 I would absolutely buy one with a turbo at 200hp. Subaru is always hamstringing themselves with their models.

​@@paulklp8262In what world does anyone drive a CVT WRX. They could twin turbo this and it wouldn't come close to the driving experience of an AWD 6mt turbocharged boxer like the WRX.

I see you've never heard of the woes of wiring.

@@ginkumo12 not saying it's easy and lots of people will do it. But somebody will, and it will be cool

You're talking about the Subaru of a decade and a half ago. The manual is never coming back, sadly. Subaru enthusiasts are no longer a priority, they want the average buyer now.

Zero chance.

Never thought about this until I had a loaner Impreza over the weekend. The heated seats toggles where so gummed up they took effort to turn on and off. You’re one spilled drink away from ruining a vital component.

It won't affect the longevity of anything. Sport all the way.

I don't disagree with you and I was thinking along the same lines. It's easy to say just get a WRX but if anyone has noticed it's pretty ugly and looks bloated now. not to mention horrendous gas mileage. The size of this vehicle is perfect, IMO, in a world of bloated vehicles. If this would have a 7sec'ish 0-60mph would make me feel like I got the perfect vehicle.

@@pbmcgme176 I really prefer the cargo practicality of the Impreza over the WRX, too. I'd consider a WRX if it were a hatch again. If I'm going to buy a sporty seden, even if I limit that to AWD ones, I don't think it's in my top 5.

His (unscientific) zero to sixty times tend to be just a bit slower from some of the magazines reviews.

We use a GPS system for 0-60 times with a 1-ft roll out on public streets. (We do several runs off-camera then do one for the camera.) Magazines use faster surfaces and longer roll-outs for slower times. You can see how this compares against other vehicles we've tested here: www.drivingsports.com/test-vehicle-data/ (Click Sort >> 0-60) We haven't added the RS yet, but will be adding it in this coming week.

@@drivingsports Ryan, didn’t want to imply that your tests are necessarily inaccurate, just that you get different numbers from different testers. That is a great, information filled website you’ve put together!

Teenage boys don’t know how to shift gears. Subaru isn’t going to offer a manual for the 6 folks that still want manuals in this 😂

​@@haroldbeauchamp3770 Not all car enthusiast can afford a WRX either nor does a sedan fit their needs. So clearly their is a gap in the market for an adorable sporty hatchback. There is the Honda Civic Sport hatchback that is still available with a manual. But if you live in the snow belt, AWD is very useful.

I envy you guys for getting the WRX wagon! That would be my ideal car even with a CVT. I can always do a manual transmission conversion. Jaja

and lets see RS stands for "rally sport" LOL badge a car RS and not offer it in Manual??? LAME !

Hahah what do you expect to get from a turbo sports car? Lol

Not only that but not everyone can afford a brand new WRX.

​@evoman44 than get a used one performance cars are hobbyist novelty cars. normal people get no benefit from them want a hobby specialty car pay specialist prices. This is a car for commuters not for enthusiasts. Cut and dry the wrx and the impreza have the same speed limit on the highway.

I'm not. I would think it appeals to those who have never driven a MT, and don't think a CVT is a lame excuse for a transmission...

I like the Mazda3, but I don't think I would buy another one. Consumer reports rates the Impreza slightly better in terms of reliability.