The Subaru Impreza is a value-oriented compact hatchback that competes primarily with the Honda Civic, the Mazda3, and the Kia K4.
2026 Subaru Impreza Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Subaru Impreza
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Subaru Impreza
The Impreza lineup has been pared down from three to two trims. The base trim is gone, making the Sport trim the new point of entry. Though the Sport trim hasn’t increased in price, that change makes the Impreza about $2,000 more expensive than it was in 2025—still a value player, but not quite as competitive as before. The Impreza RS features a four-cylinder engine that’s been retuned for this year. Subaru says it's been upgraded and refined, though it’s down two horsepower from the previous year. On a sunnier note, the Impreza is now available with Citron Yellow Pearl paint.
Design
The Subaru Impreza is a compact hatchback that looks like a downscaled Subaru Crosstrek. In truth, the more popular Crosstrek small crossover is an upscaled Impreza, with a taller ride height and chunky lower body cladding. Both versions get gray 18-inch alloy wheels, but the sportier RS also gets blacked-out trim and RS badging.
Powertrain
Each of the Impreza’s two trims gets its own powertrain. The Sport model features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated for 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The RS features an updated version of its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. That’s down two horses from last year, but Subaru says the retuned version is more responsive. Both models get a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). As the base model in Subaru’s lineup, the Impreza doesn’t pretend to be as sporty as its bigger siblings, but it still handles well and has great traction. Despite the RS’s better power, the two Imprezas are close in fuel economy ratings; the Sport is rated for 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined; the RS sacrifices just a single mpg in the city.
Interior
The Impreza is a lot more spacious than it looks, easily seating five and offering an impressive 36.5 inches of rear legroom. There’s also 20.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, and a maximum of 56 cubic feet with the second row folded down. That cargo rating is comparable to other small hatchbacks, and much better than most small and even some midsize sedans. That said, the Impreza’s materials aren’t great. They’re fine for a budget car, but there is no shortage of hard plastic surfaces. Manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery come standard. Options include upgraded upholstery, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat that costs extra, even on the RS trim.
Technology
Both versions of the Impreza come with a portrait-oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Subaru’s interface is notoriously sluggish, and though there are physical controls for functions such as climate and volume, others are buried in a nest of infotainment menus. Other standard features include a USB-A port, a USB-C port, and a six-speaker audio system. The RS adds wireless device charging and is offered with a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.
