Subaru has just launched the new Impreza facelift in the United States with better equipment and safety features. On the outside, both the sedan and five-door hatch get new front bumper and grille design, while the redesigned tail lights are only available for the hatch. A new Ocean Blue Pearl paint has also been introduced.

There are four variants – Base, Premium, Sport and Limited – on offer, and all are powered by the same 2.0 litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, developing 152 hp and 196 Nm of torque. A five-speed short-throw manual transmission is standard, though upgradable to the Lineartronic CVT with seven-speed manual mode and paddle shifters.


The Impreza Sport sits on new 18-inch machine-finish alloys, and gets unique suspension tuning and Active Torque Vectoring. It also gets the automaker’s SI-Drive drive mode selector, with Intelligent and Sport modes to choose from. Special exterior finishes for the Impreza Sport are gloss black front grille, body-coloured rocker panels, gloss black tailgate trim (hatch only), rear spoiler (sedan only), and unique interior finishes such as black/grey upholstery with red stitching, Sport gauges, and a multi-function display.

As standard, alL variants get Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with screen sizes ranging from 6.5 inches in the base model, to eight inches for more expensive variants. The touchscreen system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free, and audio streaming. Eight-inch units add on WiFi hotspot and NFC capabilities, as well as voice-activated GPS navigation.


Safety gets a huge bump for the 2020 Impreza. To start, all CVT-equipped Imprezas get Subaru EyeSight driver assist tech as standard, which includes Automatic Pre-Collision Braking and Throttle Management, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure and Sway Warning as well as Lead Vehicle Start Alert. Automatic power door locks with collision detection unlock function, seven airbags, and reverse camera are standard across the board.

Those who want more kit can opt for features like powered moonroof, Harman Kardon sound system, blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. Lastly, customers who purchase the Starlink Safety and Security packages will gain benefits like SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, remote engine start with climate control and heated seats, stolen vehicle recovery service, vehicle security alarm notification, remote lock/unlock, remote vehicle locator and parenting features including boundary, speed and curfew alerts.