2024 Subaru Impreza RS: Check Drive | The Day by day Drive

[ad_1]

2024 Subaru Impreza RS
2024 Subaru Impreza RS in Pure Purple

Consumer Guide Test Drive

2024 Subaru Impreza RS

Class: Compact Automotive

Shade: Pure Purple

Seating capability: 5

CG Report Card
Room and Consolation B
Energy and Efficiency B
Match and End C
Gasoline Financial 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 stage evaluated, and will not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup.
Massive & Tall Consolation
Massive Man B
Tall Man B
Massive & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” score based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester.
Drivetrain
Engine Specs 182-horsepower 2.5-liter
Engine Sort 4-cylinder
Transmission CVT
Drive Wheels AWD

Miles pushed: 149

Noticed gas economic system: 24.8 mpg

Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway

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

Gasoline sort: Common gasoline

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

Choices on take a look at car: N/A

Worth as examined: $28,975

 

Fast Hits

The nice: Greenback worth, enjoyable to drive

The great: Roomy cabin, commonplace AWD

The not so good: Finances-grade cabin supplies

 

Tom Appel:

Reality is, the Impreza has for years been wildly outsold by its mechanically comparable 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 type and one trim stage consequently.

2024 Subaru Impreza RS
2024 Subaru Impreza RS

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

To simplify issues for 2024, the Impreza is now hatchback solely; there is no such thing as a longer a sedan variant. That leaves the midsize Legacy—which is massively outsold by its rugged-looking, mechanically comparable brother the Outback—as Subaru’s solely sedan. Notice that the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are nonetheless supplied in each sedan and hatchback configurations, whereas the Nissan Sentra is obtainable solely as a sedan.

Check Drive: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium

2024 Subaru Impreza RS
2024 Subaru Impreza RS

Additionally rendered simpler is the 2024 trim-level lineup, which has been decreased from 4 to 3 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 means again in 2005.

2022 Kia Forte GT: Check Drive

2024 Subaru Impreza RS
2024 Subaru Impreza RS

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 handbook is among the many issues misplaced for 2024.

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

Sport and RS fashions additionally characteristic 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.

Shopper Information just lately spent every week behind the wheel the 2024 Subaru Impreza RS in Pure Purple. Our take a look at 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 positive assessment, we’d wish to get our major criticism out of the best way 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 suggests the cabin is ok, it simply trails most small automobiles when it comes to supplies high quality. Additionally, the cabin design is a bit of odd. Whereas the sprint appears to be like high quality, 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 mentioned, the remainder of the information right here is fairly good. The cabin is roomy up entrance, with loads of big-guy area, and a seating place that affords glorious outward visibility and encourages sporty driving. Rear-seat area 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 giant and straightforward to learn, and options clearly marked icons and a easy menu system.

Check Drive: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

2024 Subaru Impreza RS
2024 Subaru Impreza RS

It’s on the street, nonetheless, that the Impreza RS shines, and you probably have an urge for food for sporty character, you’ll respect the best way 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 high quality job of conserving the automobile’s 4-cylinder engine in its helpful powerband.

What driving lovers will respect most concerning the Impreza is its thoughtfully tuned suspension and glorious steering really feel. The RS is enjoyable to drive even in slower 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. Trip high quality too, is spectacular. The RS is comfy 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 automobiles within the class.

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

Essentially the most placing characteristic of the Impreza RS, nonetheless, is its discount worth. For lower than $30,000, and for a 3rd lower than the transaction worth of a median new car, fortunate customers can have a roomy, comfy, sporty, and relative fuel-efficient automobile that comes with glorious commonplace AWD.

Sure, the Honda Civic is extra refined and boasts a slicker, extra upscale cabin, and Corolla extra gas environment friendly, and retains its legendary status for reliability, however the Impreza is extra enjoyable to drive, a discount at each trim stage, and isn’t seen on each road nook. Whereas we’d by no means try to speak somebody out of buying the Honda or Toyota, we’d completely help anybody’s barely adventurous choice to go together with the Impreza as an alternative. And no, it’s not a Crosstrek, it’s really a greater worth.

Check Drive: 2022 Hyundai Kona N

2024 Subaru Impreza RS
2024 Subaru Impreza RS

Observe Tom on Twitter

Take heed to the Automotive Stuff Podcast

2024 Subaru Impreza RS Gallery

Click on under for enlarged photographs

Meet the 2024 Shopper Information Greatest Buys

Shopper Information Automotive Stuff Podcast Episode 200: Automotive of the 12 months Finalists, Greatest Vehicles of 2023, Surviving Very Lengthy Drives



[ad_2]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *