Unfortunately, the RS only comes with a CVT.
SubaruThe 2024 Subaru Impreza was unveiled today at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. It brings a ton of new technology to the range, a new design and interior, and a throwback RS model aimed at enthusiasts. Perhaps more notably, it ditches the sedan and manual transmission altogether.
The hatch-only model will now be offered with the standard 2.0-liter flat-four, making 152 hp and 145 lb-ft, and an optional 2.5-liter flat-four that makes 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. That engine—which is also available in the Crosstrek, Forester, Legacy, and Outback—comes exclusively on the Impreza RS, a trim level Subaru fans will recognize from the iconic Impreza 2.5RS of the Nineties. Unlike that old model, however, the new enthusiast-oriented trim comes exclusively with a continuously variable transmission. We’d prefer the 2.4-liter from the BR-Z mated to a manual, but at least self-shifting enthusiasts can still get a WRX with a stick.
But RS buyers also get unique badging, dark gray 18-inch alloys wheels, black exterior trim, upgraded LEDs, faux carbon interior bits, and unique black-and-red seats. That interior is also new for the 2024 model year, now offering Subaru’s vertical 11.6-inch Starlink (no, not the SpaceX one) infotainment system. Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver assistance tech is also standard, as is all-wheel drive, of course. The AWD system also gets active torque vectoring, which should help in slippery conditions.
Subaru
The death of the sedan also signals a resurgence of small hatchbacks, though the WRX remains sedan-only for the time being. Those that want a more capable hatch will have to wait for the Crosstrek to get redesigned. But now that the Impreza is, for the first time, automatic-only, we’re hoping the Crosstrek will help keep the manual transmission alive in the compact segment.
Subaru
Subaru says the Impreza will arrive at dealerships this spring. We don’t have information on pricing yet, but we’ll likely hear more in the coming months.
Keyword: The 2024 Subaru Impreza Brings Back the RS Trim, Ditches Sedan