Back in the early 2000s, the Subaru Impreza was the car community’s biggest obsession. The fierce and aggressive rally car turned road vehicle had critics and customers foaming at the mouth. It was fast, it was passionate, and it looked like nothing else on the road. Fast forward to today, however, and the spark isn’t quite there anymore. Sure, we all still look back fondly at the first generation. But, with the fourth generation model launched in 2012, we were all left a bit cold.
While the original model was a car lover’s dream, it was hardly a commercial success. On a practical, everyday level it didn’t really work. After all, who shows up on the school run in a rally car? So, Subaru began making aesthetic changes and engine tweaks to create a more practical family saloon. In doing so, they lost the charm of the original. Now, in 2015, they are back with a new version. The kind folks at RRG Group let us take the new Impreza for a spin. Here’s what we thought of the plucky new Subaru.
Competition – Chasing the family market puts Subaru in direct competition with the likes of BMW, Audi and Volkswagen. However, the sporty essence of the vehicle puts it much closer to the Mazda 3 or the Jaguar P-Face. It’s the ‘cool’ saloon car, if you will. It is certainly more stylish and faster than the German giants.
Styling – The first thing you notice about the new Impreza is the new nose styling. The iconic front grill doesn’t make a return, but Subaru have given it a sleeker, more stylish finish. Inside, there are a few nice interior touches, making the car feel a little more executive.
Technology – The model we drove came equipped with most of the modern tech you’d expect. There is eyesight driver assist as standard, navigation, keyless entry and push-button start too.
Performance – But, enough about the details, what about the engine? Is that rally spirit still alive, beating and throbbing and bursting out of the bonnet? Well, sort of! The standard model comes with a 2.0 litre engine that will produce a respectable 148 bhp. It’s a little slow off the line though, with a 0-60 time of eight seconds.
Handling – The real beauty of the Subaru Impreza is the handling. This is where the racing spirit lies. The steering is light, responsive and subtle. The tyres grip the road and you can throw it around the corners. That engine might not give you the most horsepower to work with, but you can really unlock the speed in the corners. It’s built for the thrill of driving, and that’s why we love it.
Fuel economy – You don’t buy a Subaru Impreza for its fuel economy credentials, but it’s worth a quick glance. As you’d expect, it’s no Toyota Prius, but it will fetch a respectable 28mpg on the average drive.
Reliability – You certainly can’t fault Suzuki on reliability. They were recently awarded second place on the manufacturer’s reliability index, so you can trust their build quality.
While the 2015 Impreza is no rally car, it’s edging closer to the sweet spot of powerful family vehicle. That racing passion still beats within, and we loved every second.
