Chiseled lines up front give the newly redesigned compact an up-to-date, sophisticated look. I tested the hatchback model, which features two-toned clear and red rear light lenses. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels complete the more grown-up look.
Inside, the cabin featured a well-appointed combination of finishes, including a brushed metallic trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. My test car featured a touch-screen navigation system, which wasn’t always intuitive. It took me a few tries just to figure out how to change between AM and FM radio. In fact, I never did figure out how to insert a CD as pushing the eject button did nothing. There are some A/V jacks located in the center storage console, but no auxiliary jack for an iPod or other MP3 player.
Other than that minor annoyance, the interior is well done. The front sport seats ride low, but still offer a good view around the car. I never felt like I was sitting in the bottom of a cave. The cloth seats were also quite comfortable, and I was able to easily find the position that fit me best.
The rear cargo area is very roomy and even comes with a rubber floor mat, perfect for hauling the occasional dirty cargo. At one point I had a month’s worth of newspapers for the recycling center, a small ice chest, several bags of groceries, and my kids’ county fair entries all within the confines of the cargo area—with room to spare.
The new Impreza rides extremely well, especially compared to other compact cars, thanks to its independent suspension. Some outside noise does find its way into the cabin, but not so much that it becomes overly noticeable.
Powered by a 2.5-liter engine mated to a 4-speed transmission with sport shift, the Impreza is an easy driver. The transmission did seem to work pretty hard when cruising both up and down hills on the freeway. I often found myself using the sport shift option just to get the RPMs down. Around town, the Impreza offers a solid performance of maneuverability, comfort, and style. The Impreza has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20/27 city/highway.
I really like the fact that Subaru has put a lot of focus into safety. Let’s face it. The Impreza is a small car, and it’s important that small cars hold up well in crash tests. The Impreza has five-star government safety ratings in both front and side crash tests and a four-star rating in rollover safety. Safety features include side curtain air bags and anti-lock brakes. Let’s not forget the thing that makes a Subaru all-wheel drive. A little bit of sure-footedness goes a long way.
Priced at just over $23,000 the new Impreza is impressive. A modern look, luxury features, and all-wheel drive make it the car that offers a little something for everyone.
This article is courtesy of www.car-data.com .
