Subaru’s Newest Sporty Gas-Saving Wagon Is the Impreza America Should Be Getting

An affordable, practical and sporty hybrid wagon sounds great right about now.

Front view of a silver Subaru Layback with a black grille and LED headlights on a road.

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Published June 5, 2026

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Updated June 8, 2026

Many Subaru fans and enthusiasts here in America have been counting their blessings for all the cars we’re lucky enough to get, like the current WRX and BRZ.

But there’s obviously no shortage of vehicles that we Yanks are missing out on. One such model is the Levorg, which is basically the Japanese Domestic Market equivalent of a full-fledged Impreza wagon.

Just recently, Subaru rolled out an update. It also adds a new powertrain for the Levorg Layback, which would really come in handy these days, especially given gas prices.

The Levorg Layback goes hybrid for the first time

While we do get Impreza models here in the States to a degree, the nameplate isn’t as diverse as it is in other markets. For instance, our Crosstrek is basically a lifted, Outback-ified five-door Impreza hatchback.

The WRX is also basically an up-spec Impreza sedan. Yes, we still get a standard Impreza five-door hatchback. We’re very fortunate to get it, considering hatchbacks and wagons in general are very niche and don’t come with the same demand as SUVs.

White Subaru Layback SUV parked on stone pavement in front of a modern wooden building with trees in the background. — Say hello to Japan’s Subaru Levorg Layback, or what’s basically a lifted Impreza wagon.

Subaru dropped the standard Impreza sedan from the American market a while back, all to consolidate and simplify the range and optimize sales. It continues to refrain from selling a regular Impreza wagon here in the States.

All that is to say, we’re lusting over the Levorg from the other side of the planet. Especially now.

White Subaru SUV driving on a road with blurred green trees in the background. — Unlike our Crosstrek, the Levorg sports more space and sportier road-going styling.

The current Levorg has been around since 2020. It’s old enough to constitute a replacement with a next-gen model. But that’s still apparently a little bit away.

So Subaru rolled out another update for the Levorg in Japan. And the biggest one is the addition of a hybrid powertrain for the Levorg Layback wagon for the first time ever.

Subaru also restyled the Levorg Layback’s front end, which could provide a clue for what we could expect when our Impreza-based Crosstrek and WRX models get redesigned.

An affordable Impreza hybrid wagon sounds lovely right about now

Silver Subaru SUV driving on a shaded road with trees reflected on the windshield. — The Levorg Layback gets a hybrid powertrain for the first time, which is perfect timing for today’s gas prices.

According to Subaru’s latest release, the new Levorg Layback S:HEV hybrid gains the same powertrain as other gas-electric models sold elsewhere. That lot includes our own Forester, Outback and Crosstrek hybrid models.

The Levorg Layback is basically Japan’s equivalent to our Crosstrek. Except, it’s slightly larger as the Layback is based on the regular Levorg wagon.

The Levorg’s interior is even much more upscale.

Subaru

The Layback essentially raises the Levorg wagon’s ground clearance, standardizes all-wheel drive, adds plastic wheel well cladding and more.

The hybrid powertrain consists of Subaru’s venerable “FB25D” boxer-four. When paired with an electric motor, total system output is around 194 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque.

Car interior with tan leather seats featuring black side panels and a large vertical touchscreen on the dashboard. — Who doesn’t want a regular Impreza wagon here in the States?

Though, according to Subaru Japan’s figures, the Levorg Layback can return up to 44.7 miles per gallon combined on the global WLTC testing cycle standard. That sounds lovely for those who want an affordable, practical and cool Subaru wagon but don’t need the rugged add-ons of the Crosstrek.

Metallic gray Subaru SUV parked on a glossy blue floor near a modern house with mountains in the background. — The Levorg continues being the standard Impreza wagon that everyone in America lusts after. Especially now that it has a fuel-sipping gas-electric powertrain.

But because America continues to be overtly SUV savvy, it’s highly unlikely we’ll ever see a Levorg come to the States as a normal Impreza wagon.

One can only dream.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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