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When you think Subaru, you probably
think of their popular Outback or Forester.
Their impressive compact sedan probably doesn't jump to mind.
After all, competitors like the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra,
and Chevy Cruze far outsell it.
But the redesigned 2017 Impreza actually very, very important
to Subaru.
All future Subarus, including the upcoming mid-sized three
row SUV, are going to be based off of the new platform that's
introduced right here.
That means that the Impreza shows us where Subaru
is heading in the future.
First off, safety remains a priority.
The new structure is much stronger,
aimed improve on the previous cars already
impressive crash test results.
Easy visibility is another Subaru hallmark.
The windows are large, and the windshield
pillars-- they're pretty narrow.
A backup camera is standard, and blind spot monitoring
is available.
Subaru's popular camera-based eyesight safety suite,
including forward collision warning and automatic emergency
braking, is now option on all but the most basic Imprezas.
We do wish the safety gear was standard on all cars,
just like it is on a lowly Toyota Corolla.
Practicality is another Subaru strong suit.
A longer wheelbase makes for a spacious rear seat.
Get pass the sedan's short trunk opening,
and there's good room inside.
Lots of impressive buyers go for the hatchback
instead which now has a wider opening to its cargo bay.
So Subaru has logical things like practicality and safety
down pat.
But the brand wants to make cars that are just more nice,
that are less utilitarian.
Those changes start outside.
Gone is the slab-sided styling of the previous car.
The new car is more sculpted, going for a lower, wider,
longer look, but it doesn't sacrifice practicality.
Inside, the cabin is much less spartan,
with more soft touch surfaces and stitched details.
The front seats are more supportive too.
Subaru has also improved their infotainment systems.
All have standard Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
While a 6 and 1/2-inch screen is standard,
this is the top end system with an 8-inch screen.
On screen buttons are big, and the screen is easy to reach.
Thing is though, a nicer interior
doesn't count for much of a car feels chintzy to drive.
It turns out that the new stronger platform
gives the Impreza a new-found feeling of substance that it's
never really had before.
Imprezas have long ranked among the best writing compact cars.
This one sticks in that tradition,
soaking up imperfect roads with ease.
We're glad that Subaru broke their tradition
of having too much road noise.
Thicker glass and better insulation
makes for a relatively quiet cabin.
Compare the solid feeling with the composed ride
and controlled noise, and you wind up with a car
that masks highway speed very well.
Steering is quick and responsive,
although it doesn't deliver the same drive
or connection as a Volkswagen Golf or Mazda 3.
Over the years, the Impreza has defined the word sport
in a lot of different ways.
Models like the Outback sport and impreza sport
defines sport as those outdoorsy things
you did with these hatchbacks they featured two tone paint
and a bit more ground clearance the popular cross trek now
fully assumes this role.
And it will eventually move to the new platform.
Now, the Impreza Sport defines sport as being sporty.
That explains the red stitching inside,
black trimmed 18-inch wheels, and an overdone spoiler.
But it doesn't really drive much differently
from the normal Impreza.
It also has the same 152 horsepower
from the same engine and updated two liter flat four.
It gets the job done, helped by a retuned,
continuously variable transmission, or CBT.
Compared to normal automatic, CBT's can help fuel economy,
but often their throttle response feels non-linear.
Instead, the Impreza shifts like a regular
automatic during brisk acceleration,
keeping the engine from revving high and reducing engine noise.
You can also get a manual transmission.
You'll notice that I've gone all the way through this video
without mentioning the all-wheel drive that comes standard
on every Impreza.
That's a big draw for owners who live down dirt roads
or where it snows or who do things outdoors.
But Subaru sales have exponentially
grown in the last 10 years.
That means that cars like the Impreza
need to appeal to people who live where it doesn't snow,
who don't own kayaks or hiking boots.
It means that having all-wheel drive
has to come without having a sacrifice.
One place we're all wheel drive usually
cost you is at the gas pump.
EPA fuel economy for the automatic Impreza sudan
is 32 miles per gallon overall, tying the Mazda 3.
Another place where all-wheel drive typically
cost you is in your pocket book, but the Impreza's
all-wheel drive doesn't really come with a price premium.
A base 2.00 I sit down with an automatic cost $20,215.
That's similar to a Honda Civic LX or comparably equipped
Hyundai Elantra SE.
Going with a mid-level premium sedan
and adding eyesight and blind spot monitoring
brings the price to $23,410.
Appropriately enough, the fifth door adds $500 more.
Getting a Sport adds a push button ignition, the bigger
touchscreen and all those go faster looking bits.
A Limited adds a power driver's seat, leather,
and automatic climate control.
This top trim limited hatchback with eye sight, the Harman
Kardon stereo, and a moonroof costs $29,260.
That seems like a lot, but a loaded Volkswagen Golf or Mazda
3 or Chevy Cruze hatchback costs about the same.
The Impreza suggest a bright future for Subaru,
combining the brand's traditional values of safety
and practicality with new found levels of refinement and well,
just plain niceness.
For more on compact cars, check out consumerreports.org.