The Impreza is certainly not the most well known vehicle in its
segment; it has higher-than-average pricing and a lack of brand
awareness regarding Subaru vehicles. But for the right kind of
buyer, the Subaru Impreza can be an excellent choice among compact
cars. The 2009 Subaru Impreza benefits from a distinctive
powertrain, including its all-wheel drive and its unusual
horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, which emits a distinctive
growl during acceleration. The major downside to the Impreza is its
lower than average mileage. For 2008 Subaru gave the Impreza a
new interior, chassis, suspension, brakes and body around a largely
unchanged engine and drivetrain. The naturally-aspirated sedan
represents one-fifth of the Impreza line-up. For 2009, the Impreza
sedan gets brake assist and incline-start assist. All trim
levels for the sedan can be had with a manual or automatic
transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard. The Subaru Impreza
sedan has a starting MSRP of $17,495 - $27,495.
Power for the Impreza
The 2.5i model has a horizontally opposed 2.5-liter
four-cylinder engine. It's rated at 170 horsepower and 170
pound-feet of torque, and comes with either a five-speed manual or
four-speed automatic. Sedan Drive and Handling
The Subaru Impreza provides levels of performance that aid to
the overall driving experience. Thanks to all-wheel drive, there's
plenty of traction, and the Impreza has no problems with adverse
weather conditions. Road noise is elevated at highway speeds, but
otherwise the Impreza makes for a comfortable driving companion. The
sedan is now 4.5 inches longer than the previous generation Impreza.
The Impreza is available with 16- or 17-inch wheels, and comes
standard dual tailpipes, body-colored door handles and mirrors,
power mirrors (heated on 2.5GT), and a functional hood scoop on
2.5GT
Impreza Cabin
Metallic inlays flank the center controls, and the center console
houses an optional navigation system. All models come with a
60/40-split fold-down backseat. The sedan provides 94.4 cubic feet
of passenger volume, and there's 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space in
the sedan's trunk. The Impreza cargo and passenger room is right on
par with competition.
Impreza Lineup and Options
The Impreza sedan is available in, the 2.5i, the 2.5i Premium,
and the 2.5 GT. Standard equipment includes four-wheel anti-lock
brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, 16-inch steel wheels
with covers, a rear spoiler, remote keyless entry system, a 60/40
split rear seatback and an 80 Watt, 4-speaker AM/FM/CD radio capable
of MP3 and WMA format playback. There are just two option packages
on the 2.5i: a Premium Package or a Satellite Radio and Navigation
bundle, which also includes equipment in the Premium Package.
The Premium Package includes Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC),
brake assist, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes to replace
drums, fog lights, body-color mirrors and door handles, a
leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel with integrated audio and
cruise control switches and an 80 Watt, 10-speaker audio system with
a six-disc in-dash changer with MP3/WMA capability with SRS Circle
Surround Automotive enhancement.
The Navigation bundle replaces the sound system in the Premium
package with a 100 Watt, 10-speaker audio system with MP3/WMA
capability integrated into the multifunction 7-inch touchscreen
screen for navigation that also acts as a display for a trip
computer, current and average fuel economy, driving range, ambient
temperature, calculator and maintenance indicator. The head unit
includes auxiliary inputs for portable multimedia devices and Sirius
satellite radio.
Summary
The Subaru Impreza is a unique sedan, along with its other Subaru
siblings, in that it comes standard with full time all wheel drive,
making it a vehicle that is very capable in a variety of driving
conditions. The other benefits of the Impreza include its
excellent handling, the available turbocharged power on the GT, and
excellent automatic transmission performance. The major
downsides to the Impreza include an interior quality that lags
behind the competition, poor gas mileage (due to AWD), and the high
price of the 2.5 GT model.