The Drive 2026 Subaru Impreza RS Review 

Possibly the most insightful part of The Drive’s review of the 2026 Impreza RS is in the headline, where they describe the Impreza RS as “An Honest Little Car.” They expand in the subhead with: “Everything is trying to be something more these days, but the Impreza hatchback is content with being itself.” Ewing Subaru of Plano and likely Subaru of America are both comfortable with the honesty label.

After all, Subaru is the brand that openly admitted that crossover SUVs were essentially raised wagons with AWD and that smaller crossovers were mainly raised compact hatchbacks with AWD. They produced vehicles that fit that description, both of which became popular. 

The Impreza exists for those who plan on staying on the pavement and appreciate AWD for helping them do so. The hatchback body style enables compact crossover-level utility without the higher center of gravity and the punch of a larger hole in the air when simply driving on the highway. As the sportier model in the Impreza lineup, the RS generates 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft. of torque. That is an upgrade over the 152 hp and 145 lb-ft from the 2.0-liter engine in the base Impreza. Because it is not turbocharged, the throttle response is linear, and it runs well on regular-grade gas. 

The engine is paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which is rarely a favorite among automotive reviewers. However, it does have 8-speed preset ratios for manual shifting, allowing you to pass traffic on your terms or control engine revs in hilly areas. EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy is 26/33/29, which is nearly identical to the MAZDA3, the only other compact hatchback available with AWD.

The Drive notes the boxer engine configuration, meaning that instead of the crankshaft coming out of the bottom of the engine, the entire engine is right down there with it. They found that this lower center of gravity up front improves turn-in response and consequently “allows Subaru to tune the suspension a bit softer than its competitors for the same level of responsiveness.” In fact, they were impressed by the RS’s handling overall, stating, “the RS delights with its on-rails handling. A Miata this is not, but the Impreza rewards the driver who appreciates the value of momentum. If you don’t find it fun to toss this thing around on a back road, you’re probably using the brakes too much.”

The Drive appreciated the added color the RS brings to the generally black interior. There is added color to the seats and metallic-surfaced pedals, including the “dead pedal” left footrest. The 11.6 portrait-oriented center touchscreen also adds some color with its graphics. 

The Drive considers the Impreza RS a practical commuter that offers the confidence of AWD in wet weather, the versatility of a hatchback, and all the safety ratings and features Subaru is known for. That is its purpose; it doesn’t pretend to be anything else and is priced accordingly. If that straightforward approach to transportation appeals to you, visit Ewing Subaru of Plano for a test drive in an Impreza RS.