I can’t find fault with fit and finish either: all the details are there, no inadequate openings, and the pieces seem to fit firmly together. If only Subaru had understood that the quality of the materials is as important as the assembly, it would all be perfect. Unfortunately, the plastics running along the door handles and the shifter are of poor quality and easy to get caught on. As a result, after clocking a few thousand kilometres at most, my tester sported long scratch marks inside.
And lastly, rear room is a little tight. Sure, the cargo area is decent, compliments of the hatch, but passengers suffer from limited legroom.
Long live AWD
The greatest quality of any Subaru, whatever the model, is unquestionably its all-wheel drive. Utterly transparent, efficient and quick, it tackles any conditions the road throws at it without ever stumbling. Which no doubt explains Subaru’s success here in the Northeast, where the mountains of snow we get each year particularly justify the need for such technology.
But that’s not the Impreza’s only strong suit. The four-cylinder Boxer engine is dynamic, efficiently climbs the rpm scale and offers more than adequate accelerations. Of course, the rather limp four-speed autobox does put a damper on our sporty aspirations, but it does an excellent job nonetheless.
And the car feels so solid on the road that you’ll even find yourself wishing for a little extra grunt. It must be said that Subaru has considerably improved the chassis, now unequivocally stiffer. It’s a far cry from the Subaru I drove on the ice at the Sherbrooke Grand Prix a few years ago, which unceasingly swayed from left to right the entire time.
The steering is precise and requires few corrections. And the suspension is just stiff enough to make the ride enjoyable and not overly uncomfortable. Only the brakes seem a little too soft to be truly efficient.
Conclusion
Honestly, the week I spent with the Subaru Impreza left me impressed. I used to swear only by the power of this Asian machine’s engine, but now I’ve come to appreciate its driving dynamics and comfort as well. I’ve no doubt grown up some in between.
But truly, I’m still astounded that young thrill-seeking drivers don’t consider this Impreza an option. It gives a lot of bang for much less buck than it deserves.
And lastly, rear room is a little tight. Sure, the cargo area is decent, compliments of the hatch, but passengers suffer from limited legroom.
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| The four-cylinder Boxer engine is dynamic, efficiently climbs the rpm scale and offers more than adequate accelerations. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Long live AWD
The greatest quality of any Subaru, whatever the model, is unquestionably its all-wheel drive. Utterly transparent, efficient and quick, it tackles any conditions the road throws at it without ever stumbling. Which no doubt explains Subaru’s success here in the Northeast, where the mountains of snow we get each year particularly justify the need for such technology.
But that’s not the Impreza’s only strong suit. The four-cylinder Boxer engine is dynamic, efficiently climbs the rpm scale and offers more than adequate accelerations. Of course, the rather limp four-speed autobox does put a damper on our sporty aspirations, but it does an excellent job nonetheless.
And the car feels so solid on the road that you’ll even find yourself wishing for a little extra grunt. It must be said that Subaru has considerably improved the chassis, now unequivocally stiffer. It’s a far cry from the Subaru I drove on the ice at the Sherbrooke Grand Prix a few years ago, which unceasingly swayed from left to right the entire time.
The steering is precise and requires few corrections. And the suspension is just stiff enough to make the ride enjoyable and not overly uncomfortable. Only the brakes seem a little too soft to be truly efficient.
Conclusion
Honestly, the week I spent with the Subaru Impreza left me impressed. I used to swear only by the power of this Asian machine’s engine, but now I’ve come to appreciate its driving dynamics and comfort as well. I’ve no doubt grown up some in between.
But truly, I’m still astounded that young thrill-seeking drivers don’t consider this Impreza an option. It gives a lot of bang for much less buck than it deserves.
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