From a distance, the 2024 Subaru Impreza may be mistaken for a crossover — perhaps its fraternal twin, the Crosstrek — but up close, this compact is all hatchback. Unfortunately, we mean that all too literally; as of 2024, the Impreza sedan is no more. With it, we also saw the demise of the manual transmission.
But the Impreza hatchback is not merely a kneecapped Crosstrek. It’s lower and missing the crossover’s body cladding, yes, but it also offers a sportier drive with crisper handling. And if that’s your bag, the revived RS model comes with a bigger engine, firmer suspension,
bigger wheels and a performance drive mode to tie it all together — and you’ve still got all-wheel drive for when the going gets slick.
It’s no secret that small cars are thin on the ground in 2024, but don’t let the reduced size of the field fool you. Subaru has to compete with the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Hyundai Elantra. Its standard hatchback configuration and all-wheel drive are a plus in this crowd, and while its interior may not be as fancy as the others’, the Impreza’s cabin is well-built and hard-wearing, and if you really must have the power offered by the turbocharged Mazda 3, the WRX still exists; there’s even a fancy GT model if you’d rather be coddled than play Cosworth.