Impreza

Subaru just rewrote the value equation for compact hatchbacks. On September 24, 2026, Subaru of America announced that the 2027 Subaru Impreza will start at $24,595 MSRP—$2,000 less than the 2026 model—while putting the 180-horsepower 2.5-liter BOXER engine in every trim. Dealers are expected to receive cars in late 2026.

That combination—standard all-wheel drive, more power than last year’s base car, and a lower sticker—makes the 2027 Impreza the most affordable all-wheel-drive compact car on sale in the U.S.

This is not an all-new generation. The sixth-generation Impreza (introduced for 2024) continues with a mid-cycle refresh: a simplified two-trim lineup, cabin material updates, a new color, and a sharper price. For shoppers who want a practical hatch instead of another crossover, that is the story that matters.

2027 Subaru Impreza at a glance

Destination is $1,245 in most states and $1,395 in Alaska; some Northeast states vary. Citron Yellow Pearl paint is $395 extra. An RS option package (Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio, power moonroof, 10-way power driver’s seat) is $2,070.

What’s new for 2027

The biggest changes are mechanical and financial, not cosmetic.

1. The 2.5-liter is now standard.
Last year the base Sport used a 152-hp 2.0-liter. For 2027 that engine is gone in the U.S. Every Impreza gets the refined 2.5-liter BOXER previously reserved for the RS: 180 hp at 5,800 rpm and 178 lb-ft at 3,700 rpm. That is +28 hp and +33 lb-ft versus the old base car.

2. The price drops $2,000.
The 2026 Sport started at $26,595. The 2027 base Impreza (the Sport name is dropped) starts at $24,595. After destination, the typical out-the-door figure is about $25,840—roughly $1,950 less than last year. The RS holds at $29,495 MSRP.

3. A simpler two-trim lineup.
U.S. buyers now choose Impreza or Impreza RS. No more Sport badge on the entry car.

4. Cabin and color updates.
Subaru improved center-console stitching and door-panel materials. Ignition Red joins the palette alongside Crystal Black Silica, Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Magnetite Gray Metallic, and Sapphire Blue Pearl. Citron Yellow Pearl remains a $395 premium option.

5. Same practical hatchback package.
Cargo is unchanged and still a strength: 20.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.0 cubic feet with them folded. The car is built in Gunma, Japan.

Engine, transmission, and how it drives

The 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder is the same family used in the Crosstrek and Forester. It is naturally aspirated, runs on regular gas, and is paired only with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT.

Both trims include:

• Steering-wheel paddle shifters
• An 8-speed manual mode with preset ratios
• Dual-mode SI-DRIVE (Intelligent and Sport)

EPA ratings for the outgoing 2.5-liter Impreza RS were 26 mpg city / 33 highway / 29 combined. Official 2027 figures have not been separately published yet, but they should land in the same neighborhood because the powertrain is carryover. A 16.6-gallon tank gives a real-world highway range well over 500 miles.

The Impreza is not a WRX. Acceleration is adequate rather than quick. What it does well is confidence in rain, snow, and gravel: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard, not a $2,000 option. That is the feature that still separates this hatch from a Civic or Corolla.

Trim comparison: base vs. RS

2027 Impreza (base) — $24,595

This is the value play. Subaru cut content in a few places to hit the new price, but the essentials stay.

Standard highlights:

• 180-hp 2.5-liter + AWD + CVT
• Dark gray 17-inch alloys
• Keyless access and push-button start
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Dual 7.0-inch touchscreens (upper infotainment, lower climate/vehicle)
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• USB-A and USB-C ports
• Tricot cloth seats
• LED steering-responsive headlights with high-beam assist
• Full EyeSight suite: pre-collision braking, lane-departure and sway warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise with lane centering, emergency stop assist

What you give up versus last year’s Sport: smaller wheels, a split-screen instead of the big portrait display, wired phone mirroring, and a simpler audio setup. For many buyers that trade is worth $2,000 plus 28 extra horsepower.

2027 Impreza RS — $29,495

The RS is the one that looks and feels like a “loaded compact.”

Adds over base:

• 18-inch alloys, fog lights, Crystal Black Silica roof spoiler
• Black RS cloth seats, heated front seats, heated mirrors, wiper de-icer
• 11.6-inch Multimedia system with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• Blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert and emergency lane-keep assist
• MySubaru Connected Companion (5-year trial)
• Sportier interior trim and leather-wrapped wheel/shifter on typical RS spec

Option package 33 ($2,070): Harman Kardon 10-speaker / 432-watt audio, power moonroof, 10-way power driver’s seat with lumbar.

A fully optioned RS with yellow paint sits in the low $32,000s before tax—still cheaper than many compact crossovers with less cargo versatility.

Safety and driver assistance

Every 2027 Impreza includes Subaru EyeSight as standard. That is a genuine advantage at this price.

Standard on both trims:

• Pre-Collision Braking
• Lane Departure and Sway Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering
• Emergency Stop Assist
• LED steering-responsive headlights with high-beam assist

RS adds:

• Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Emergency Lane Keep Assist

Subaru’s camera-based system is not the flashiest on the market, but it has a long reliability record and does not require a subscription to keep the core functions working.

How it stacks up against rivals

Shoppers cross-shopping the 2027 Impreza usually look at the Honda Civic Hatchback, Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Mazda3 Hatchback, and small crossovers such as the Nissan Kicks or Chevy Trailblazer.

Where the Impreza wins

• Cheapest AWD compact in the U.S. Civic and Corolla hatches can undercut it as FWD cars; they cannot match the AWD price. Even some subcompact crossovers start higher once AWD is added.
• More power than last year’s base Impreza and competitive with base Civic/Corolla hatches.
• Hatch utility: 20.4 / 56.0 cu ft is more useful day-to-day than a compact sedan trunk.
• Weather capability without stepping into a taller, thirstier crossover.

Where it loses

• The CVT is smooth but not engaging. Enthusiasts will still want a Civic Si, GR Corolla, or Mazda3 Turbo.
• Interior plastics remain more durable than luxurious.
• No hybrid in the U.S. Impreza. The related Crosstrek Hybrid is the electrified sibling if fuel economy is the priority.
• The base car’s dual 7-inch screens look dated next to the Civic’s single wide display.

Impreza vs. Crosstrek: Same platform family. The Crosstrek sits higher, costs more, and now offers a hybrid. Choose the Impreza if you want a lower price, a lower roofline, and easier parking. Choose the Crosstrek if you need extra ground clearance or want hybrid efficiency.

Japan’s 2027 Impreza is a different car

In Japan, Subaru simplified the Impreza even further. The 2027 JDM model is a single Smart Edition with the 2.0-liter (154 PS / 152 hp), Lineartronic CVT, and a choice of FWD or AWD. Navigation is now standard. Mild-hybrid e-Boxer is gone. Prices start around ¥2,865,500 for FWD and ¥3,135,000 for AWD. Ignition Red is a paid color there as well.

U.S. buyers get the opposite strategy: one engine (the stronger 2.5), AWD only, and a two-trim ladder.

Is a hotter Impreza coming?

Separately from this 2027 refresh, Subaru has confirmed it is developing three manual, petrol performance models for around 2027, including a five-door hatch based on the Performance-B STI concept shown in Japan. Reports point to a turbo boxer, a strengthened six-speed (possibly the old STI TY85 gearbox on the WRX side), and a car positioned apart from both the regular Impreza and the WRX sedan.

That car is not the 2027 Impreza arriving this fall. Treat it as a future halo, not as the hatch you can order in late 2026.

Release date and how to buy

• On-sale window: late 2026 at U.S. Subaru retailers
• Built in: Gunma, Japan
• Body style: 5-door hatchback only (no sedan)
• Fuel: regular unleaded

If you are shopping now, the decision is mostly trim, not generation. The 2027 base car is the one that changes the math: last year’s RS engine at last year’s Sport-minus-$2,000 price.

Ask the dealer to confirm destination, any remaining 2026 Sport inventory (which still uses the weaker 2.0), and whether Ignition Red or Citron Yellow is allocated to your region.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027 Subaru Impreza all-new?
No. It is a mid-cycle update of the sixth-generation hatch introduced for 2024. The meaningful changes are price, standard 2.5-liter power, trim structure, and minor interior/color updates.

What is the 2027 Subaru Impreza starting price?
$24,595 MSRP, or about $25,840 with destination in most states.

Does every 2027 Impreza have all-wheel drive?
Yes. Symmetrical AWD is standard. There is no FWD U.S. model.

What engine does the 2027 Impreza use?
A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT.

When does the 2027 Impreza arrive at dealers?
Late 2026.

Should I buy the base or the RS?
Buy the base if you want the cheapest AWD hatch with the strong engine and EyeSight. Buy the RS if you want the 11.6-inch screen, wireless phone integration, heated seats, 18-inch wheels, and extra safety sensors.

Bottom line

The 2027 Subaru Impreza is not a redesign. It is a rare thing in 2026: a compact car that got cheaper and more powerful at the same time. Standard AWD, 180 horsepower, 56 cubic feet of cargo with the seats down, and a $24,595 starting MSRP put it in a lane almost no one else occupies.

If you need a daily hatch that will shrug off winter and still fit a bike with the seats folded, this is the Impreza to wait for. If you want a turbo, a manual, or an STI badge, keep watching Subaru’s separate 2027 performance program—that car is still in the wings.