√2023 Subaru Impreza teased ahead of upcoming reveal

A new Subaru Impreza hatchback will be revealed in the US, expected to draw cues from the new Subaru XV – now known as the Crosstrek globally. Here’s what it could look like.

The next-generation 2024 Subaru Impreza hatchback will be revealed in the US later this month, at the Los Angeles motor show – ahead of showroom arrivals next year.

The teaser image released by Subaru USA gives little away – however using the recently unveiled Subaru Crosstrek small SUV as a guide (it shares its bodywork with the Subaru Impreza), these computer illustrations were created to show what the new Subaru hatchback could look like.

The current Subaru Impreza hatchback and sedan arrived in Australia six years ago, and are the oldest models in Subaru showrooms – meaning they’re due for replacement, with new styling and features from the company’s latest models.

Today’s Impreza hatchback launched a year before its SUV sibling, the XV – with the two cars sharing their body panels and floorpans.

They differ only in wheels, tyres, suspension (riding higher in the XV). The high-riding version of the Subaru hatch also has plastic wheel-arch cladding, and tougher-looking front and rear bumpers.

For timing of the new models, Subaru has switched the arrival timing, launching the XV – now known as the Crosstrek globally, phasing out the XV name – ahead of the regular Impreza line-up.

Arrival timing for the new Subaru Impreza is yet to be confirmed, however the Subaru Crosstrek is due in Australian showrooms early next year.

Respected Japanese magazine Best Car reports the next Impreza could launch in its home market in the northern spring of 2023 (March to May) – shortly after the Crosstrek.

It remains to be seen if hatchback and sedan body styles are offered; the hatch accounts for 80 per cent of sales in Japan, according to Best Car, however small sedans remain popular in the US.

It also remains to be seen when the new Impreza arrives in Australia. While the car will be revealed before November 18, the debut will be for the US market – which sources its vehicles from Subaru’s Indiana, USA factory, rather than Japan where Australian cars are built.

As with the Crosstrek, the new Impreza is expected to be a development of its predecessor, not an all-new model – underpinned by the same architecture (the Subaru Global Platform) as before, with evolutionary exterior and interior design.

Prototypes have yet to be spied on the road, however using the differences between past Imprezas and XVs as a guide, Drive Photoshop guru Theophilus Chin has illustrated what the new car could look like.

Inside, expect the next Impreza to reflect the Crosstrek, with an 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen on a dashboard and instrument binnacle largely similar to the outgoing model.

Best Car reports the Impreza may offer the Crosstrek’s 2.0-litre ‘e-Boxer’ hybrid system alongside one or two turbocharged engines: a new 1.5-litre developing 110kW/245Nm, and/or a 1.8-litre from the Japanese-market Levorg (sold as the WRX Sportswagon here) with 130kW/300Nm.

It’s rumoured to offer a choice of front- or all-wheel drive in Japan – though standard all-wheel drive in export markets is likely – with a continuously-variable automatic transmissions (CVT).

In line with the Crosstrek’s mild growth spurt, the Impreza is rumoured to be only slightly larger than its predecessor, measuring 4500mm long, 1800mm wide and 1480mm tall, on a 2670mm wheelbase – about 25mm longer overall and 25mm wider than the current hatchback.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza will be revealed before Los Angeles motor show doors open on November 18. Stay tuned to Drive for more.

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