Should've Been the WRX! // 2024 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Review 

I would buy this instantly if it had a WRX engine and 6 speed transmission. Looks great and the size is just perfect for everyday + utility .

Sarah, by far, gives the best car reviews on RU-vid. Her encyclopedic knowledge of various cars and how one differs from the other...her knowledge just gives great color to a review. Most other car reviews are superficial compared to hers.

Sarah, I think you hit the nail on the head about the manual transmission vs non, and why manufacturers are phasing them out. Some of us just want to shift the darn things!

I bought an 2021 Impreza hatchback sport in manual transmission. I added an Thornton tunning chip (it works), and accessorized, "heavily" !!! I've installed an illuminated shifter ball knob, LED headlights, underfloor lighting, El wire, pin strips, intake turbo fan, etc, etc, ect.... I love my little grocery getter. 😅👍

Just the most thorough and thoughtful car reviews on RU-vid 😊 much much respect ✊

I love the lil rubber pointer 😂

Love your reviews Sarah, I think your the only REAL mechanic reviewing cars (plus your quickness is amazing!)

Great job Sarah and right on analysis about why nobody wants the manual on the base model.

Exactly like my wife's Crosstrek in there. Subaru has like 4 parts they rearrange to create their entire lineup

To your point regarding putting a manual in a higher trim. You only need to look as far as the Civic sport touring with that standard transmission. They cannot keep that model on the lot

I just got mine and love it. As long as you’re not looking for WRX acceleration it’s perfect. Great for commuting and the Harmon Kardon stereo is fantastic.

Agree with your comments about manuals. I have a 2014 Forester stick, but it was only available in the base trim, and it took my dealer a month to find one. No wonder they don’t sell.

I had a Impreza WRX Wagon once upon a time, a fun tossable car, so it’s nice that they brought back the hatch in the sporty one.

I owned a 2004 WRX-STI back then. What an awesome car. Subaru sure have made their line-up milquetoast since then. Strange, when almost every other auto maker has been going up the performance curve the last 20 years, Subaru slid down. I wonder why?

am I the only person that wants physical buttons/switches ?

I would have bought one with a 6-speed manual. Ended up with a 23 Jetta Sport 6-Speed and half the car payment.

You speak the truth! This car deserved the brz 2.4 and a manual it would’ve been a unique N/A hatchback!

Just bought my 2024 impreza rs and I am loving it so far. Not fast but worth it for the slightly better horsepower and the sunroof/harmon kardon audio system

Your enthusiasm and knowledge have moved you to the top of my FAV reviewers, I had just about wrote off the the RS for a CX-30 as my next daily, until your review that is. Please review the the new 2024 Kona N-Line as my new ride will be between these two cars.

I don't believe I have ever seen the backseat try to flop forward in a braking test like this one did! Thank you for another great review!

Picked up a silver one yesterday.

Thanks for another great review, Sarah. You always make them fun to watch and I never miss one. I loved the way the back seat tried to get into the front during the braking test. Never know what you're going to come up with next which just makes it that much more fun. Thanks for all your hard work. It is absolutely appreciated each and every time.

I agree with you on everything you just said about the manual transmission by the way, I own six cars they are all manual transmissions three Volkswagens, one BMW, one series and two mini Cooper esses all manual

I do wish they would sell more manuals so that when they have a car like this it would be easy to find one for a manual swap.

I think you're spot-on about what kind of drivers chose the manual transmission in the previous gen Impreza. I have a '21 Crosstrek "Premium", which of course is basically just a lifted Impreza hatch, and I got it with the 2.0/6-speed combo. Would I have liked the 2.5 and the Sport trim? Sure, if it came with a stick. I could certainly afford the slightly higher cost, but it wasn't worth it to lose the driving engagement. Having driven a Crosstrek with the CVT (the dealer had no manuals to try, because 2021 & supply chain) it's surprising how much different the character is with the manual. It's still slow, but not quite as painfully so, and at least it sounds cool running through the gears when you give it the beans. Great review, and Subaru should really listen to your suggestions for a special model.

The reason for the cvt is because the eyesight system on manual transmission they can’t offer it

I love those red seats so much I might just have to some for my 19 Impreza 😂

No Subaru fan and never even thought about owning one … but this one right here I love

All CVTs should do that when you floor them! Do the fake shifts to humor people most of the time but when you want full power it shouldn't fake shift you out of it.

I own the base Impreza 2016 and this car is everything I wanted to see as an improvement on the Impreza, but I don't think it is fair to compare to the WRX

This will most likely be my next car.

I love the way the rear seat moved forward under breaking 😂

Great vid! I found this most informative as I am looking to own one of these. Thank you so much! -Mark

Love the car. Up here in Washington it's a no Brainerd. Wish I still had my turbo Forester...but I have enough vehicles...did I say that? Sarah, keep up the great work that you do. Be well, stay safe.

Very useful review - thank you! This will probably be my next daily driver…not ready to give up my 2014 WRX hatch, though!

Really like the hips on the rear quarter panels, nice design on these cars but I’m weak for wagons 😊

I love your reviews-informative-and fun! I love your off-the-wall humor too.

"Ooh geez!" Always love hearing that

It would have been perfect if they lowered the compresion ratio of the ez36, supercharged it from factory and then put in a 48v mild hybrid powertrain in it to make a RELIABLE 300hp and great gas mileage. Also side note its obviously not like this everywhere but subaru buyers based on studies are generally well off. I rarely see the premium or base model. Most of the time i see limited, touring and now wilderness models.

That bean test looked quicker than I was expecting!!! So happy it does the smart thing and pins the rpms when your foot is flat

Couldn't agree with you any more with your comments around 10:05 about the m/t. Soooo spot on!!! Great review Sarah

"E.T. can ride in your backpack!" Hilarious! 😂

You are correct. Consumers buy manual because they love to drive! The corporate MBAs don't get it!

Dammit Sarah. I was here last year right before I leased the blue wilderness, I’m at the point where I need to order another and here you are making my decision SUPER EASY. I LOVE YOU

It's all about the Eyesight system when it comes to subaru not offering manual transmissions anymore.

Super informative. Love that pointer, priceless.

The disdain in your voice (and on your face) when you said CVT... LOL!

Sarah GREAT review, probably the best I've seen on the 2024 Impreza RS ! I'm on my 3rd Impreza now and from the looks of it the RS is going to be my 4th. I agree the Crystal Pearl White is awesome and in the sun it does shine. I for one like the CVT as I tired of shifting gears years ago. Keep up your great reviews.

Am I the only thought it's a bit scary to have no physical buttons? What if it stops working?

All things considered, especially with most manufacturers prices on their vehicles, Subaru still offers an amazing value for what you get for the price.

Time for the braking test. Rear seat: *Ight, Imma head out.*

Wasn’t able to find a single manual in 2022 but luckily I was able to order my Impreza in sport with the manual, hopefully they’ll bring it back in the future…or make the wrx in hatch

Sarah, you take car reviews to an all new level. Entertaining, funny, objective, accurate, detailed, full of fun facts and fake farts. ❤ No others come close. Alas, I know I am stuck in a time warp when just under $30K is a great price point. 🙄🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️😢

9:07 It is indeed shifting; position of the CVT belt/chain 😜 Great points about manual sales. Hope Subaru is listening to your great suggestions 👍🏼

Basic model starts at 23,000 plus all the fees adds on up to 30K for the basic eventually

After watching Mighty Car Mods swap all the parts from a wrecked WRX STI to a levorge... yes, I do believe all the subaru parts are interchangable. All they had to do was add some wires to the harness.

There was some testing done which showed that fake shifts are actually better for acceleration. There is still power loss by slipping the chain over the two cones in the CVT. This is why cars like the Civic have preferred shift points at full throttle. The WRX also shifts up and down with the fake shifts.

Spot on with your views on a manual. I drive manual because of the experience, not because of affordability. One of my daily drivers is a 2007 Subaru Outback with a 5 speed manual. Fun car to drive, utilitarian, and it has a lot of luxury options to make it comfortable.

Your reviews and The Car Care Nut reviews are the best on RU-vid. Flat out.

I agree with your overall review its almost a perfect score. It'll be interesting to see what kind of set up Subaru will use when they go electric.

As a SUBARU owner (outback and Ascent) I wish Subaru would build a TACO SIZED small PICKUP TRUCK.

thunderstruck/kickstart my heart/Welcome to the jungle/Freebird (on bagpipes)

Love your review, Sarah. It's thorough and fun. Also my first time seeing your channel. You earned a follow!

I don't know much about cars but that hand pointy thing you use is hilarious

I love your car reviews Sarah❤

Mazda is a little bit smarter - they offer Mazda 3 2.5 FWD hatch with manual. One trim only - S Premium, but it comes with quite a few niceties, not a barebone low level trim. Price starts at $30'315, even higher than RS. I'm curios what their sales numbers are. BTW, I remember, you reviewed several Mazdas, do they offer model 3 for review? With a manual? 🤔

I still own a 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon. Yup, manual, turbo and hatchback-like. A great car.

Yes Subaru, please bring back the Impreza WRX.

Great to see some Subaru love, Sarah! I recently bought my first, a 23 Impreza sedan. Last of the line, but it's such a great car!

I just bought one of the last 2023 Impreza even knowing this was coming out. Main reasons were: the integrated climate control on the screen. Don't like that, I just want physical knobs. The electronic e-brake. It just over-complicates something that should be very simple. The auto start/stop, this one is obvious. I know you can disable it but having to do that every time you get in the car is annoying. You don't get that much more power. Yeah its better than nothing but only around 30hp extra and you lose 3 mpg just doesn't feel like a worthwhile trade off since its still not really fast anyway. It just doesn't look that much different than the last gen, I like the taillights better but that's about it. The steering headlights are nice when they work but one more thing to break 10 years down the road. I just like the simplicity of the last generation Impreza. In a time of ever more complicated vehicles that was what I was looking for. Enough tech to be enjoyable but not so much that it will end up being problematic. Having said that if I was buying an Impreza from the 24 model year and up this would probably be the one I would get. Great review!

It's not the size of the Swaybar. It's how Subaru uses it.

To my eyes, when I can take them off Sarah, the back muffler looks like aluminized steel rather than stainless. It is brighter/whiter than the stainless exhaust pipes.

Your reviews are the best new and refreshing from the same old boring other channels. Totally agree on the black wheels getting so tired of seeing them on every vehicle.😊

I would love a compilation of breaking check "OH CHEESEs".

I'm looking forward to see the mods you do

I like your reviews.

I hope that wasn't a malfunction in the back seat moving forward during the break test😲🤔

Was the backseat properly latched during the brake test? It flopped over a bit, which would be disconcerting if it was. I mean, if it does that with a (presumably) empty trunk, there's a risk that whatever you're carrying in the trunk would shoot out through the back seat and hit the occupants when breaking hard!

Wow, I thought every manufacturer had dropped using CVT's right after it's roll out, except Nissan? Another awesome one Sarah!

@10:16 thanks for making the case for why the manual is only offered on the top trim Integra 😅

Really wish there was a sedan version. Hatchbacks just add a bunch of extra wind and road noise while looking worse lol

Love it, Clean minimal cladding, Now drop the FA24 in it with a 6 speed, I had a 2000 RS in high school, absolutely loved it.

A gearbox and a lil turbo would be nice

We only get 4 models in The Netherlands, and this isn't one of them. XV, Forester, Outback and Solterra(?). At times I miss my GC8 turbo. And no WRX should be a hatchback.

If it had a manual transmission I would buy one right now

“E.T. can ride in your backpack” 😂

Imagine this car with the BRZ engine, a manual transmission, and Perrelli P Zero All Season Plus Elect tires, a car for everything and the best little hot hatch possible. But dreams are dreams.

I didn't know this came in a 2.5. I wonder how it compares to the Mazda 3 2.5 AWD

Thank you!

I hate those info payment screens. I am avoiding cars with those right now. Guess that’s why I’m always buying used cars.

To save a dime they downsize the rear calipers to one piston! The bean counters are at it again

As an Australian, I always find it amusing what Americans think a WRX is. Because we've had hatches, sedans, two doors all sorts of things.

3:40 don't know if that's intentional but the logo when spinning fast looks just like an old 50's depiction of an atom.

Isn’t there a Toyota hatchback that’s manual?

Shimmy is definitely from those all-season tires.

For the price and value, I love it...a sweet lil hatchback with a well developed flat 4 and AWD and for the size the 2.5 is plenty...(OF COURSE, I would have loved a turbo Subaru!!!)

Fun car.......affordable.......but I want a manual.....more fun.

No interest in any Subarus but I never miss one of your videos!

PS -spot on regarding the 6-speed manual sales logic. Very few enthusiasts on the sales/marketing teams apparently. 😂

When I went to get my 2021, they had no manual on inventory 😢