The Impreza compact hatchback has become a considerably simpler vehicle to spec in Japan. For model year 2027, Subaru has reduced the lineup to one grade, keeping the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-pot boxer while adding satellite navigation as standard equipment.
From there, customers have to choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, plus a handful of factory-installed extras. There is no turbocharged option to speak of, and the lack of a hybrid also speaks volumes about the Impreza’s place in the lineup. Marketed as the Smart Edition, said lone trim level for the Japanese market is paired exclusively with the Lineartronic CVT.
Its numbers are pretty modest, with Subaru claiming 154 ps (152 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 193 Nm (142 lb-ft) at 4,000 rpm. The Japanese automaker further quotes 14.0 kilometers per liter of dinosaur juice in front-drive flavor and 13.6 clicks per liter with Symmetrical AWD under the WLTC test cycle. That works out to approximately 32.9 and 32.0 miles per gallon.
All-wheel drive naturally brings a little more mass to the party, with Subaru listing 1,440 kilograms (3,175 pounds) compared to 1,390 kilograms (3,064 pounds). The gas mileage penalty is worth it once you learn about the additional comfort features of going Symmetrical AWD.
Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard with all-wheel drive, along with LED rear fog lamps. That way, the front-drive car is the more affordable choice of the two. Looking at the bigger picture, all this equipment bundled with all-wheel drive makes for a more complete winter-friendly machine.
Photo: Subaru
Subaru is also bundling a larger equipment package for customers who want to push the Smart Edition closer to full-fat spec. Think full LED high- and low-beam lights, curve-adaptive front lighting, 10-way power adjustments for the driver’s seat, eight ways for the passenger, and driver-seat memory for good measure.
The mirrors get their own collection of tricks: reverse-linked operation, memory, and automatic folding are included, while the driver’s seat automatically retracts to make getting in and out less awkward. And then there is the screen, with navigation functionality becoming standard on the Japanese-market Impreza.
Elsewhere in the cabin, the Smart Edition adds brushed aluminum pedals to its standard equipment roster. Pictured on 17-inch aluminum wheels mounted with 205/50 tires, the Impreza further sweetens the deal with a new available paint color for 2027. Enter Ignition Red, which adds 55,000 yen to the final price.
This color joins Magnetite Gray Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Sapphire Blue Pearl, Citron Yellow Pearl, and Crystal White Pearl. Buyers who want to make the Impreza look a bit less boring can dig into the accessories catalog, where they will find an STI Aero package in either Black or Cherry Red. The package includes a splitter, side skirts, a rear spoiler, and rear bumper extensions.