The Subaru Impreza comes in two body styles - a traditional four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback - and the choice between them is more practical than it might seem. For South Shore Long Island drivers in Lindenhurst, Babylon, and Amityville, the decision comes down to how you actually use your car: daily commuting, weekend hauling, or a mix of both.
Bottom Line: The hatchback is the better choice for most South Shore buyers who want maximum cargo flexibility and don’t mind paying a small premium. The sedan is right for buyers who prefer traditional trunk privacy, a slightly quieter cabin, and a lower price point.
- Hatchback adds roughly 6 more cubic feet of maximum cargo space over the sedan
- Sedan offers a more private trunk with a hard lid - useful in Lindenhurst street parking scenarios
- Both body styles come with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
Cargo Space: Where the Hatchback Wins
The hatchback’s primary advantage is loading flexibility. Its 20.8 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seats up is meaningfully more than the sedan’s 12.3-cubic-foot trunk. More importantly, the hatchback’s rear opening allows longer, taller items that simply won’t fit through a sedan’s narrow trunk opening - surfboards, flat-pack furniture, or sports equipment common on South Shore weekends.
With the rear seats folded, the hatchback opens up to approximately 55 cubic feet of flat load floor. The sedan cannot match this configuration because the rear seats don’t fold flat and the trunk passage is restricted. If you’re heading to Gilgo Beach or Jones Beach with gear, the hatchback hauls more.
The sedan’s 12.3-cubic-foot trunk is still practical for daily grocery runs and commuter use. Many buyers in Lindenhurst and Copiague find it perfectly sufficient for how they actually use their car week to week. For the complete Impreza model overview, see our complete Subaru Impreza guide for South Shore buyers.
Why the Sedan Has Its Own Advantages
Privacy matters in high-density parking areas. The sedan’s hard trunk lid keeps cargo hidden from view, which is worth something in Suffolk County parking lots and urban street situations. The hatchback’s glass rear hatch reveals everything in the cargo area, which can be a concern if you regularly leave valuables or sports gear visible overnight.
The sedan is also slightly lighter and offers marginally better fuel economy in real-world testing, though the difference is minor - typically 1-2 mpg in combined use. At current Long Island gas prices, that gap is about $50-$80 per year for a 12,000-mile driver.
Cabin noise is another factor. The sedan’s separate trunk creates better sound isolation from road noise entering through the rear of the vehicle. On the Southern State Parkway at highway speeds, the difference is subtle but measurable - the sedan’s cabin is slightly quieter than the hatchback’s.
"On the South Shore, the hatchback outsells the sedan by a solid margin. Between beach days, home improvement runs, and the lifestyle of families in Babylon and Amityville, people want that cargo flexibility. But we see plenty of sedan buyers too - commuters heading to LIRR stations who want a clean, traditional look."
General Manager, South Shore Subaru
AWD in Both Body Styles
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard on every Impreza regardless of body style - sedan or hatchback. This is the Impreza’s biggest competitive advantage over Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, neither of which offers AWD at any trim. For South Shore drivers who deal with wet roads along the coast, occasional flooding on Ocean Parkway, or any Nassau/Suffolk County winter storm, AWD provides genuine traction confidence that FWD competitors can’t match.
Both body styles use the same 2.0L horizontally-opposed Boxer engine paired with a Lineartronic CVT. Power output is identical at 152 hp. Fuel economy is effectively the same. The AWD system performs identically in both configurations.
This means the body style choice is purely practical - it comes down to cargo needs and personal aesthetic preference. The drivetrain is not a differentiating factor.
Price and Trim Availability
The hatchback carries a $1,000 starting-price premium over the sedan at each comparable trim level. For a Premium hatchback versus a Premium sedan, the gap remains approximately $1,000. Over a 60-month loan, that difference is roughly $18/month - a modest premium for the added cargo utility.
Both body styles are available in Base, Premium, and Sport trims. The Sport hatchback adds sporty exterior cues and a firmer suspension tune, which distinguishes it visually from the standard hatchback lineup. There is no Sport sedan - so if the Sport trim’s appearance matters to you, the hatchback is the only path.
Ready to compare both body styles in person? Browse Subaru Impreza inventory at South Shore Subaru or see current new Subaru specials for South Shore pricing today.
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Fuel economy figures from EPA fuel economy estimates. Actual mileage varies with driving conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Impreza hatchback bigger than the sedan inside? The rear cargo area is significantly larger in the hatchback, but passenger cabin dimensions are essentially identical. Both body styles seat five and offer the same rear-seat legroom of 37.4 inches.
Does the hatchback cost more than the sedan in every trim? Yes. The hatchback carries approximately a $1,000 premium over the equivalent sedan trim. Both are available in Base, Premium, and Sport - but the Sport trim is hatchback only.
Which body style is better for South Shore Long Island winters? Both are equally capable in winter because both come with standard Subaru Symmetrical AWD. The AWD system is the same regardless of body style, so winter performance is not a differentiating factor between them.
Can the Impreza sedan’s rear seat fold down for extra cargo? The sedan’s rear seatbacks can fold down to create a pass-through to the trunk, but they don’t create a flat load floor. The hatchback’s rear seats fold flat, creating substantially more usable cargo space for bulky items.
Is the Impreza Sport trim worth the extra cost for South Shore drivers? The Sport trim adds a sport-tuned suspension, unique 18-inch wheels, and updated exterior styling. For buyers who commute regularly on the Southern State Parkway, the suspension tune provides a sportier feel. It’s available only as a hatchback, which settles the body style question if Sport aesthetics matter to you.