Subaru farewells Impreza with special S-Edition

SUBARU Australia has announced a new special edition Impreza variant, released to coincide with the nameplate’s 30th anniversary and as a sign-off to the fifth-generation small car range.

Equipped with a bevy of STI and genuine Subaru accessories, the Impreza AWD S-Edition is priced from $36,290 plus on-road costs and will be available “in limited numbers”.

Based on a top-spec 2.0i-S Impreza hatch, the limited-edition variant offers STI Enkei 18-inch alloy wheels, STI front lip and skirt spoilers, a sports grille, STI gear selector knob and S-Edition badging.

The variant is offered in four exterior colours – Pure Red, Crystal White, Black Silica and Magnetite Grey – all complemented with black interior trim.

Speaking on the release of the 2022 Subaru Impreza AWD S-Edition, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read said the variant celebrates both the arrival of the Impreza in 1991, and the almost 170,000 units sold since.

“Impreza has been an important part of the Subaru family for 30 years now, and this new special edition is our way of celebrating that legacy,” he said.

“The added styling enhancements provide enhanced sports styling to match the Impreza’s symmetrical all-wheel drive capability.”

Despite its past success, the Impreza is now one of the slowest-selling vehicles in its segment. In 2022, Subaru sold just 3013 examples of the Impreza Down Under, well short of popular Japanese rivals like the Toyota Corolla (25,284 units) and Mazda 3 (21,116).

The forthcoming sixth-generation Impreza made its public debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show late last year. Its arrival is hoped to turn around waning sales for the Japanese marque, and will be offered in hatchback format when the model goes on sale later this year.

Both 2.0- and 2.5-litre petrol engines will be offered under the bonnet of the Impreza globally, though it is unclear if Australia will receive the latter. The 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre unit is unchanged from its current form; however, the 2.5-litre unit receives a handy 20kW/45Nm bump, taking output to 135kW/241Nm. Each is paired with a continuously variable transmission.

Upon its debut, Subaru said the forthcoming Impreza will offer “more exciting acceleration, nimble response, and performance hatchback style for the (2.5-litre powered) RS variant that features sports cloth upholstery, exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension and exterior styling elements that appear to borrow from the WRX’s sporting stance”.

The Impreza range will once more compete with the likes of the Honda Civic, Hyundai i30, Kia Cerato, Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla, but will once more be available with all-wheel drive, giving the model a substantial handling and safety leg-up.

Subaru Impreza hatch pricing*:

Subaru Impreza sedan pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.