The 2026 Subaru Impreza comes in three trim levels - Base, Premium, and Sport - and each serves a distinct buyer. For Long Island buyers in Hicksville, Syosset, and Plainview, picking the right Impreza trim means matching features to your daily use rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.
Bottom Line: The Premium trim delivers the best all-around value for most Long Island commuters, adding EyeSight safety tech, heated seats, and an upgraded display. The Sport adds style; the Base covers essentials. Every trim includes standard Subaru AWD.
- Base starts at $23,995 with standard Symmetrical AWD and Apple CarPlay
- Premium adds EyeSight Driver Assist, heated front seats, and larger touchscreen
- Sport (hatchback only) adds firmer suspension, 18-inch wheels, and blacked-out trim
Impreza Base: The Starting Point
The Base Impreza is more capable than its entry price implies. Standard equipment includes Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a 2.0L Boxer engine with 152 hp, a Lineartronic CVT, and an 8-inch Starlink multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A reversing camera is standard. Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are also included.
What the Base lacks is notable for Nassau County commuters who want a truly stress-free drive: EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is not available on the Base trim, so automatic emergency braking with pre-collision braking is absent. Heated front seats and the larger display are also not offered at this level.
The Base is the right choice for budget-focused buyers who need reliable AWD transportation and don’t require active safety tech or heated seats. For the full Impreza lineup overview, see our complete Subaru Impreza guide for South Shore buyers.
Impreza Premium: The Sweet Spot
The Premium is the trim most Long Island buyers land on, and it makes sense on several levels. It adds EyeSight Driver Assist Technology - Subaru’s suite of pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and lead vehicle start alert. These features matter on the Long Island Expressway, where stop-and-go commuting and distracted highway driving make active safety tech genuinely useful.
The Premium also adds heated front seats, a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. These are the comfort features that make daily driving in Hicksville and Plainview meaningfully more comfortable on cold November mornings or summer heat.
Pricing for the Premium sedan runs approximately $27,495 and the Premium hatchback runs $28,495. With the heated seats and EyeSight, the Premium is the Impreza experience at the level most buyers expect from a modern compact car.
"In Nassau County, the Premium hatchback is our most consistent Impreza seller. Buyers want EyeSight for the commute - the LIE and Northern State are exactly the kind of roads where that system earns its keep every day. And heated seats in a Nassau County winter are basically non-negotiable for most of our customers."
General Manager, Grand Prix Subaru
Impreza Sport: Style and Substance
The Sport targets buyers who want a more aggressive appearance. Available only as a hatchback, the Sport adds 18-inch alloy wheels with a black finish, a sport-tuned suspension, unique Sport badging, and an updated front fascia with dark exterior accents. The interior adds heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob with silver stitching.
The Sport’s suspension tuning gives it noticeably firmer handling than the Premium on curving roads. Most Nassau County commuters won’t feel the difference on flat expressway driving, but the added body control is noticeable on winding Syosset or Woodbury roads. The firmer ride also means slightly less isolation over road imperfections than the softer Premium tune.
At $29,495 for the hatchback, the Sport is $2,000 more than the Premium hatchback. The added cost buys the styling package and suspension tune - not additional safety or technology features, which are already included on both trims. If Sport aesthetics matter, it is worth the step up; if they don’t, the Premium hatchback is the smarter value.
Trim Level Comparison
| Feature | Base | Premium | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| EyeSight Driver Assist | No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Heated Front Seats | No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| 11.6-inch Display | No (8 in) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sport Suspension | No | No | ✓ Yes |
| Symmetrical AWD | ✓ Standard | ✓ Standard | ✓ Standard |
Ready to compare Impreza trims in person? Browse Subaru Impreza inventory at Grand Prix Subaru or see current new Subaru specials for Nassau County pricing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Impreza trim is best for Long Island commuters? The Premium is the best overall choice for Nassau and Suffolk County commuters. EyeSight’s adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking are particularly useful on the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway, and heated seats add daily comfort for the colder months.
Is the Sport trim worth it over the Premium? If the Sport’s styling - blacked-out trim, 18-inch wheels, firmer suspension - appeals to you, the $2,000 premium is justified. If you primarily want safety features and comfort, the Premium delivers the same active safety and heated seats at a lower price.
Can I get the Sport trim as a sedan? No. The Impreza Sport trim is available only as a five-door hatchback. If sedan body style is important to you, the Premium is the highest available trim.
Does the Impreza Base have blind-spot monitoring? Yes. Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert come standard on the Impreza Base. The key safety omission on the Base is EyeSight Driver Assist, which includes pre-collision braking and adaptive cruise control.
What is the Impreza’s fuel economy across all trims? All Impreza trims use the same 2.0L Boxer engine and CVT, so fuel economy is essentially the same across Base, Premium, and Sport: approximately 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway with AWD standard on all variants.