Subaru has a strong following with people who like to take the road less travelled, be it to the wilderness for some adventure in an Outback or to the race track with a high-powered WRX. Subaru knows that they have a unique appeal but in order to become bigger they need become mass appeal, with a bit more style, all the while staying true to the qualities that garners them such a strong following in the resale market. The Impreza is a perfect example of a Subaru car that hasn't been mass appeal, it had a strong list of qualities but it didn't bubble to the top of shopping lists the way the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra do. In order to move the Impreza into the limelight Subaru has put this compact car thought host of changes and now it is ready for the main stage.
The Skin
Sold as a 4-door sedan or 5-door hatchback, the Impreza now features a similar look to the Legacy sedan with more angles and sharper detail that gives the car more curb appeal. Subaru knows that their AWD system and reliability are the major draws to the brand but with this new design, they hope to have an emotional connection. Practicality has not been thrown out in the name of style, this Impreza is a very easy car to use every day. The door openings are very large, especially the back, making entry into the Impreza easier than ever. The cargo area is taller in the hatchback model for easier access and the trunk is ample in the sedan. On the whole the packaging is very good and with a new look, the Subaru Impreza should garner more attention. The WRX with its wide body kit and boy racer looks is not the same market as the Impreza and over time the two will have less in common.
Doug Marston 11:24 AM on March 17, 2013 Oddly enough the Impreza seems to be a warm weather car when it comes to fuel mileage and the CVT transmission. My Impreza is getting 14 to 15 litres per 100 K when the temperature drops to 15 C or lower and I am driving less than 15 kilometers. Once the transmission warms up mileage is good but for short hauls in cold weather it sucks!
Thomas 9:52 AM on October 1, 2012 INterested in a new vehicle
Thomas Wong 10:43 PM on February 6, 2012 After having just test driven the new model and compared to my own 09 model there has been an incredible number of ergonomic improvements. At just under 6ft I have really had problems with the seating and steering wheel adjustments to get a real comfortable fit to rival a 92 911. The previous models lacked adequate tilt or any telescopic feature to accommodate my knees. The only way to get comfortable is always a compromise in the ideal safe driving position, by dropping the seat position to a point which is not optimum for seeing well over the hood. The new design of the seat including the head rest is a fantastic improvement over the over angled design found previously in Subaru, and other brands. I could never understand why they used a headrest which pushes your head too far forward in a relaxed position, which ends up giving you a pain in the neck when reclining to relax. The manufacturers should test out the Volvo seat/ headrest arrangements for comfort, or any of the European makers to see what is comfortable. The venting arrangements also make sense being higher up in the centre, and the centre console is more functional than in previous models. When I made up a trouble list for my model they must have been listening because it looks like they got it right including the performance and mileage.
Motormouth.ca says: 12:01 AM on February 7, 2012 Great feedback, thanks
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