• Plush interior design & materials. • Sorted ride and handling. • Strong resale value assured.
• CVT-automatic only. • Styling is unadventurous. • Naturally-aspirated engine feels a little gutless.
The Subaru Impreza grows up.
When you say ‘Subaru Impreza’ in the company of car enthusiasts, you are bound to send them on a journey into the land of gold alloy wheels and ‘World Rally Blue Mica’ paint finishes and big rear spoilers. But the high-performance WRX & STi cars build off of what’s always been a perfectly decent family car, in the form of the Impreza. Available in hatch and saloon form, the Impreza has always been the ever-able family car, with middling practicality, economy, safety and technology. Even its design was inoffensive, resulting in the Pleiades-badge landing on a car that was never wrong, but never inspiring either. Add that to relatively steep running costs, and suddenly it just didn’t seem all too appealing.
Subaru, knowing this, decided that a reimagination of the Impreza was needed. One that would address bugbears that were known to plague the Impreza, without alienating loyalists who adored it for its rock-solid reliability and dependability. The result is a brand-new Impreza built on a brand-new architecture, sharing only 5% of its parts with the outgoing car. And if that wasn’t enough to sway buyers, Subaru has also announced that starting with the Impreza, servicing costs will be capped for its new cars, resulting in a savings of roughly $900 over three years. With smart features and better value than ever before, does the Impreza have what it takes to impress?
Exterior
“Car brands habitually overuse the phrase ‘all-new’, but in the case of the Subaru Impreza hatch and sedan range, it’s apt.” - CarAdvice
The Subaru Impreza sees a revision of the Subaru design language, pushing it forward firmly into a new generation. The LED light signatures from the old car have been turned into daytime running lights (available on higher-up models), and there’s a (very) subtle aggression to the fascia of the car. The character lines that run down the sides lend it an air of athleticism, while the rear of the car can be described as a little plain.
But that said, it’s a handsome car overall. There’s a bit more refinement and poise about this new generation over the outgoing car, and it works well here. Subtlety is clearly the name of the game here, because while specific features aren’t particularly standout or interesting, when put together it works together very well indeed. We doubt you’ll ever fall in love with an Impreza, but you certainly won’t dislike it.
Engine & Drivetrain
“Subaru has stayed with its horizontally-opposed piston – or boxer - engine layout; in fact, Porsche is the only other brand to stick with the unusual engine design.” - CarsGuide
Subaru purists can heave a sigh of relief now. Although the Impreza has been refined and revised to reflect the aspirations of the company moving forward, what hasn’t changed (too much) is the drivetrain. Up front, there is still a 2-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine, but its been tuned up slightly to produce 115kW and 196Nm. However, after over two decades of offering a manual gearbox, Subaru Australia has decided to offer the Impreza exclusively as an automatic. As a result, there’s a CVT gearbox sandwiched in the middle of the car.
While the CVT won’t appeal to all, as far as CVTs go it’s not a bad unit. There are 7-stepped ratios to mimic the progress and character of a regular automatic gearbox, and there’s even a torque converter in the drivetrain to make the setup feel more natural. There are even paddle shifters here too, to call upon the gearbox to provide a form of engine braking.
Interior
“Sliding behind the wheel, the improvements to the interior hit you right away. Subaru has copped criticism in the past for its plain, at times cheap-looking cabins, but this new Impreza is a major leap forward.” - Drive
Targeting a younger market from the offset, we reckon the biggest changes to the Impreza have taken place inside the cabin. The design itself is relatively revolutionary (for a Subaru, at least), and the employed materials can even be described as ‘plush.’ If ever the Impreza sought to distance itself from its predecessor, this is where it’s done it best.While there remain some familiar bits and pieces (like the steering wheel and air-conditioner controls), the rest of it has been reworked to feel more upmarket and youthful, which will likely see the Impreza appeal to a much broader market than it did before.
Gone is the dual-screen setup on top of the infotainment screen, replaced by a single 6.3-inch full-colour screen for the climate control and various other driving data. There’s an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment screen below that (a smaller touchscreen sits here in the base 2.0i models), which is a marvel to use and represents a generational leap over the unit fitted to older Subaru cars. There’s Apple CarPlay & Android Auto available as standard, although the interface and system itself is a joy to use. There’s also built-in TomTom navigation available from 2.0i-Premium trim upwards, should you not want to be reliant on a GPS system on your smartphone.
Behind the Wheel
“On a snaking piece of mountain road the Impreza impresses with its cornering ability, its efficacy through quick directional changes and its overall competence when thrown hot into a corner. Back in the city, the car is extremely easy to place on the road, with large side mirrors and decent vision front and rear.” - Motoring
While the Subaru Impreza has never been a slouch, the improved agility and handling certainly sets the new Impreza apart from the rest of the competition. While the segment it competes in does have its share of fun-to-drive competitors (the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus immediately come to mind), the Impreza strikes a balance between backroad fun and motorway calmness that brings the fight up to cars like the Volkswagen Golf too. The brand-standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system ensures there’s grip through all conditions, with only a hint of understeer at the limit, while the steering has a sense of immediacy and agility that isn’t easily found in its competitors.
When you’re not gunning it from one corner to another though, the Impreza remains a great companion. In town, its forgiving ride will allow for decent give over the lumps and bumps on urban roads, and the steering wheel gets a little lighter to aid low-speed manoeuvring. And on motorways, the distinct lack of noise intrusion into the cabin means that it’s a very capable long-distance cruiser. In this regard, the Impreza’s sheer breadth of ability is hard to fault. You could say it’s impressive.
Safety & Technology
“While all Imprezas are rated at a maximum of five ANCAP stars, the base 2.0i does miss out on the EyeSight system.” - CarsGuide
Subaru has, for a number of years, offered its excellent ‘EyeSight’ camera-based driver assistance and active safety technology on its passenger cars. And with constant revisions and updates to the system, Subaru EyeSight remains one of the strongest active safety technology packages available in this segment. With the Impreza, EyeSight is available through the range as standard, except on the value-driven 2.0i model.
Despite this, the Impreza does get seven airbags as standard, along with a stronger and stiffer structure thanks to the new ‘Subaru Global Platform’ (SGP) that underpins the Impreza (and will underpin all future Subaru passenger vehicles). As a result, all Imprezas get a maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating, making it a competitive family car indeed.
Verdict
The Impreza has always been a strong seller for Subaru on our shores, with the marques’ proprietary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive gaining traction among the country types. Its greatest shortcoming has always been its unimaginative interior with its uninviting materials, and we reckon that’s where the new Impreza has really improved. That great new cabin, matched with a more agile and willing drivetrain and chassis means the Impreza may very well double sales the way Subaru reckons it will.
We would suggest steering clear of the base 2.0i, as the walk up to the 2.0i-L bags better kit, nicer interior trim, and the all-important EyeSight driver assistance technology. And the daytime running lights make it look the business. Overall though, the Impreza is a very strong contender in its segment, and this latest generation will likely see it drop its left-field image and move right into the sights of mainstream buyers.
CarAdvice - 80/100 - “But when all is said and done, the 2017 Subaru Impreza family is an impressive step up for the brand. The new iteration looks a little dour and could use more power, but it’s well-made, good value, rides and handles better than the class average and is backed-up by an innovative company, looking at new ways to be experiential with its buyers.”
CarsGuide - 70/100 - “The new Impreza costs no more than the old one, but packs a lot more punch for the money – at least in terms of equipment and safety spec. The new platform that underpins the car is a technological tour de force, and heralds a brave new future for Subaru, too. The majority of users will be perfectly happy with the power delivery of the Impreza around town, but the advent of mild turbocharging in the small car space does, however, show up the Impreza's relative lack of pace.”
Drive - 80/100 - “Overall though the new Impreza represents not only a leap ahead for Subaru but has the potential to be a much greater threat to the likes of the Mazda3, VW Golf and Ford Focus in the highly competitive small car market.”
Motoring - 77/100 - “Subaru has taken aim at Generation Y with a more youthful, vibrant and solid passenger car offering.”
Car & Driver - 80/100 - “The company says the median age of Impreza buyers is 32 and that, industry-wide, Millennials tend to buy more sedans than hatchbacks—except when they come into a Subaru showroom, where it’s the 5-Door that the vast majority want. Why Subaru is special this way we can’t figure; the Mazda 3 hatchback is both practical and gorgeous but doesn’t see nearly as much buyer enthusiasm. Whatever the buyers’ reasoning, with the new Impreza they’re getting a thoroughly updated car that offers both all-wheel drive and above par handling as standard equipment. That seems certain to keep Subaru’s amazing sales tear going for a few more years.”
MotorTrend - 80/100 - “Automotive journalists are often asked, “What car should I buy?” For folks looking for small cars, many of us have answered, “Look at Honda or Mazda, depending on your needs.” Now there’s a reason to add, “But before you whip out your chequebook, be sure to drive an Impreza.””
The Car Connection - 64/100 - "The Subaru Impreza blends sensible road manners with all-wheel drive and a digestible price. It's right in line with compact competitors, all of which offer something different in the segment.”
AutoBlog - 70/100 - “The Subaru Impreza has benefited immensely from its rebirth. The chassis is stiffer, the steering is better, and the interior is larger than before. Like on most Subarus, standard all-wheel drive remains a key selling point. The only thing that's missing is more power.”
