2026 Subaru Impreza Performance: Standard AWD and a Freshly Tuned RS Engine

Subaru refined the RS engine for 2026 and trimmed the Impreza lineup down to just two configurations, Sport and RS, so every version on our lot is worth a closer look. Whether you’re merging onto Highway 1 through the fog or working the curves on Highway 17 toward Scotts Valley, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive keeps the Impreza planted. Here’s what the 2026 Subaru Impreza performance numbers actually mean, and why a spec sheet only tells half the story.

Sport: The 2.0-Liter BOXER Engine

The Sport trim runs a 2.0-liter SUBARU BOXER engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. It’s not the quickest engine in the class, but the flat-four layout keeps the Impreza’s center of gravity low, which pays off on the tighter turns climbing out of Capitola. Paired with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters with an 8-speed manual mode, the Sport gives you more control over the drive than a typical CVT commuter car.

RS: A Freshly Tuned 2.5-Liter BOXER Engine

Step up to the RS and you get a revised 2.5-liter BOXER engine making 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, a meaningful jump in torque that shows up most when merging onto Highway 1 or passing on Soquel Drive. The RS uses the same CVT and paddle-shift setup as the Sport, just with more muscle behind it, plus a sport-tuned suspension for sharper response through the curves.

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive: Standard, Not Optional

Every 2026 Impreza, Sport or RS, comes with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The system continuously monitors traction and shifts power to whichever wheels have the most grip, which matters more than most spec sheets suggest when Santa Cruz mornings start with coastal fog on the roads.

Fuel Economy: Efficient Without Sacrificing Standard AWD

• Sport: 27 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG*
• RS: 26 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG*

(*EPA-estimated ratings; actual mileage will vary.)

The RS gives up just 1 mpg in city driving for its extra power, so stepping up to the more powerful engine barely changes what you’ll spend at the pump around Watsonville or Marina.

Experience 2026 Impreza Performance at Santa Cruz Subaru

Specs tell you what the Impreza can do. A test drive tells you how it feels doing it. Stop by our Capitola dealership and get behind the wheel of the Sport or the RS for yourself.