Skip to main content

Subaru Impreza’s Biggest Weaknesses And Are They Finally Fixed?

The Subaru Impreza dropped off the radar of compact car buyers, and Subaru had to fix its weaknesses. So did Subaru finally get it right with the next-generation 2024 Impreza hatchback?
2024 Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza compact sedan and hatchback were failing, and Subaru of America had to fix the small all-wheel-drive compact car. Sales had dropped steadily for the past two years. Moreover, the Impreza was outdated compared with top-selling compact cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

Subaru of America asked Subaru Corporation to fix Impreza's many weaknesses like excessive road noise, better connectivity, and more supportive seats, says a new report from Automotive News (by subscription). And Impreza sedan sales were falling like a rock.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza

The Impreza is Subaru's entry-level model, and it serves as an essential gateway to the Subaru brand. The Impreza comes standard with all-wheel-drive, and customers can get an affordable, safe, all-weather capable model that's fuel efficient. But the Impreza still wasn't selling.

Subaru Impreza is now a hatch-only compact car.

Subaru dropped the Impreza sedan, which was a good move at the right time. Compact car shoppers are looking for sporty and utility. So the 2024 Impreza now comes in one sleek hatchback body style.

2024 Subaru Impreza

The all-new next-generation Impreza will arrive this spring at the right time. The Automotive News report says Subaru, citing forecasts by market analysts, says 1.3 million households remain interested and committed to compact cars, with sales forecast to rise slightly through 2025.

"Impreza owners specifically do not want an SUV, and Subaru customers are always about value for money," Garrick Goh, car line planning manager for Subaru of America, said here during a media preview for the car. "But they still want a vehicle that handles poor road conditions and feels safe."

Here is what Subaru did to fix the next-generation 2024 Impreza.

  • Improved welding and a more reinforced structure with enhanced, high-strength steel mean a lighter chassis.
  • The Impreza's doors open farther for easier access. In addition, there is now more storage inside the cabin.
  • There is more sound insulation to block out road noise and provide what Subaru says "is a more pleasant car on longer trips." And the compact hatchback's seats heat up faster and get hotter.
  • There is now a washer for the rear camera monitor to keep it clear of dirt and road debris. In addition, there are larger multimedia screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
  • While the wheelbase, length, and ground clearance remain the same, the next-generation Impreza stands slightly taller and weighs about 100 pounds more.
  • A step pad is built into the rear door sills, allowing greater access to the roof rack.

Subaru kept the pricing of the new 2024 Impreza competitive, and they paired down the Impreza lineup. As a result, the compact car now comes in three trim levels for U.S. customers.

What is the price of the 2024 Impreza?

The 2024 Subaru Impreza Base hatchback starts at $24,085, the Sport hatch starts at $26,085, and the all-new RS hatch with the 2.5-liter Boxer engine has a starting price of $28,975. Pricing includes destination and delivery fees ($1,090).

There is one area where Subaru could have improved the new Impreza hatch—fuel mileage. But the latest Impreza is less fuel efficient.

The EPA reports the remodeled Impreza's fuel economy for the 2.0-liter Boxer engine drops from the 2023 2.0-liter 5-door hatchback with the Continuously Variable automatic Transmission (CVT) model. The new 2024 Impreza 2.0-liter engine gets one less mpg city, two mpg less highway, and one mpg less combined. The 2023 EPA-estimated fuel economy is 28/36 city/highway mpg and 31 combined mpg.

According to newly-released information from the EPA, the agency reveals the 2024 Impreza's fuel economy for the 2.0-liter engine is 27/34 city/highway mpg and 30 combined mpg.

What is the fuel mileage of the new 2024 Impreza RS?

The Impreza RS with the newly-retuned 2.5-liter Boxer engine did not exist previously. The EPA report says the fuel mileage rating for the 2024 Impreza RS with the new 2.5-liter engine is 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The Impreza RS has one mpg less city/highway/combined fuel economy than the 2024 Impreza Base and Sport trims with the 2.0-liter engine.

Overall, Subaru Corporation addresses the Impreza compact car's most significant weaknesses, and the 2024 Impreza hatchback is now ready to compete with the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The new Impreza arrives this spring at U.S. retailers. Stay tuned.

Let us know if you want a new model compact car this year. Will the 2024 Impreza be on your shopping list?

You Might Also Like: Subaru Says They'll Make A New Impreza Without All-Wheel-Drive - No Worries, It’s Not For The U.S.

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.

Leave your comments below, share the article with friends, and tweet it out to your followers!

Photo credit: Subaru USA

Automotive News
Subaru
Subaru Impreza

Comments

RoyB (not verified)    May 10, 2023 - 11:15PM

Permalink

My opinion of Subaru’s biggest weaknesses is different; these three are why I, regrettably, won’t be buying a new Subaru:
1) Weak and easily cracked windshields ! The replacement ordeal is made far worse, (in time to repair and in tripling the $$ costs) by the necessity to recalibrate the (to me very undesirable) EYESIGHT) cameras. EYESIGHT OUT TO BE DELETEABLE.
2) CVT TRANNY is in the SUBARUs only to increase gas mileage. By design the CVT IS WEAK compared to traditional auto-trans and probably will need replacing , a MAJOR expense, before 160k miles, among its other well known shortcomings.
Aisen can supply an 8 speed AutoTrans, that competes in fuel efficiency with CVT,- similar to that used in Toyota RAV4.
3) HERE I list LAST what I believe should be
FIRST: IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE: Subaru should install the necessary means to PREVENT CARBON BUILDUP ON INTAKE VALVES
IN ALL THEIR GDI ENGINES, rather than keep up their current practice of adding a valve flushing
operation every oil change or so to get off the hard
carbonized debris ( an approx additional $300. to every other, or so, oil change!!). The “dual injection” technology is well known and is used
successfully at Toyota, Audi, Ford so that their engines have a much easier chance at running at their peaks . And I believe Honda, on its 1.5L turbo at least, employs a less complex method to directly clean intake valves ; evidently the “direct injectors” have been moved somewhat so that each sprays the bottom of its intake valve when it is open !! I believe SUBARU HAS KNOWN of this issue for years but has decided to keep taking the
considerable $$ from the unaware customers so the engines will keep running… rather than clean up the GDI self destructive design that cheats the customers.
This should be weakness #1 to FIX.(all IMHO). And,yes, it disappoints me more than a little cause
I’d rather drive a Subaru.