Subaru IMPREZA RANGE
Subarus Latest Impreza Adds Interior Quality And Even Sharper Looks And Handling To An Appealing Package. Jonathan Crouch Reports
Subarus Impreza has grown very much into a kind of cult car in the UK. True, there was a minor hiccup with the bug eye styling of the post-2000 second generation car, but a 2003 facelift cured that. Only quality issues with the rather low rent interior remained and these have now been sorted with the most recent package of changes.
All the latest Imprezas get smaller diameter 3-spoke steering wheels, plusher and extended cloth door trim, plusher roof lining, a new, flush-fit centre console, new air-conditioning controls and new, quality-feeling switchgear. All right, so hardly a ground-breaking package but in Impreza terms, it all means an awful lot. Previously, youd have struggled to choose the
Subaru over and equivalent
Audi,
BMW or Mercedes. Now, with the Japanese having obviously spent some time in comparable German models and made the appropriate changes, the decision is a whole lot harder.
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Especially when you factor in the much sportier look and feel of the Impreza. To that end, a whole range of other changes have been introduced to make the car appear and act like the kind of German sporting saloon or estate that would cost you thousands more from a German marque. Even the entry-level 2.0 GX gets larger 7-spoke 16x6.
5 ins alloy wheels with 205/50 tyres and a rear anti-roll bar to exploit extra grip and sharpen handling. The much faster WRX models meanwhile, borrow shamelessly from the flagship STi variant to sharpen the driving experience on offer. So you can expect inverted suspension struts just like STi for precise handling, revised, sharper-feeling steering and aluminium front suspension lateral links. And the STi itself? Well its now called the WRX STi Type-UK rather a mouthful but then so are the changes incorporated.
For a start, theres a heavily revised chassis for even more involving handling, a longer wheelbase with a wider rear track, major suspension geometry and caster angle changes, a new helical front limited-slip differential (LSD), a standard drivers control centre differential (DCCD) and a standard yaw rate sensor. On top of that, theres more rigid steering and front suspension mountings, wider wheels (now 17x8 ins with 225/45 tyres) and improved aerodynamics thanks to engine and floor covers.
"Previously, youd have struggled to choose the
Subaru over and equivalent
Audi,
BMW or Mercedes. Now, its different.."
The good news is that all of this hasnt had much effect on prices. The three models on offer (each in saloon or five-door form) are pretty much as before, with the 2.0-litre GX actually less expensive, priced from £14,800. Above this car sits the potent WRX priced from £20,300 and the even faster STi Type-UK, priced at £26,400.
All models come decently equipped with air conditioning, a CD stereo, all-round electric windows, central locking and an alarm/immobiliser as standard. Go for the STi Type-UK and youll be buying into quite a package. This car is powered by a 265bhp 2.0-litre flat four engine that now features better cooling and a higher 151mph top speed.
The STi can also be fitted with a 305 PS performance pack giving a 155 mph top speed and 0-60 mph time of only 4.6 seconds. Developed by Banbury-based Prodrive, the power boost costs £1,995 including 2.5 hours for dealer fitment.
Not only does power leap from 265 PS (261.5 bhp) to 305 PS (300 bhp) at the same 6,000 rpm but torque rises from the standard STis 253 lb ft to 299 lb ft, also at the same 4,000 rpm. The result is not only startling high-rev performance but also more low and mid-speed flexibility. In other words, the car becomes swifter at any speed and in any gear.
Either way, this is a good deal more engine than that of the 225bhp standard WRX model - but dont be fooled into thinking that the power increase has been achieved by merely plugging in a more aggressive engine management chip or a bucket-sized turbocharger. Nearly 80% of the STis all-alloy powerplant is unique. The piston head has been reshaped to form tougher semi-closed-deck cylinder blocks. Screw-in conrods and forged pistons combine with shimless valve lifters, sodium-filled exhaust valves and hollow valve intakes.
Every moving part is either stronger, lighter or both. This reduces inertia and gives the engine a manic free-revving feel thats missing from the standard WRX. A larger intercooler and air intake help keep things from meltdown. If you havent tried an Impreza since the 2003 package of changes, you should be pleasantly surprised.
Back then, Subaru focused on making the car both more powerful and an even neater handler. The WRX model that most customers choose received a power boost from 218 to 225bhp, more than offsetting a slight gain in weight. Many owners also now buy a power boost package taking output up to 265bhp. Safety has been carefully examined in recent times.
Even the door mirrors have come in for attention, now featuring an anti-raindrop system to ensure they stay clearer and aid visibility. In common with the latest Forester range, the Impreza has active front head restraints designed to reduce the risk of whiplash injuries. The brake pedal is energy absorbing too, detaching itself under in the event of a severe impact, protecting the drivers legs. In the rear
seat are two ISOFIX-compatible child seat mountings.
Pedestrian safety has been carefully considered with a more rounded contour to the front bumper and windscreen wipers that are designed to collapse under impact. Laudable stuff. Despite the raft of changes introduced, its unlikely the Impreza will ever reach the heady heights of its mid-Nineties heyday. What we have now is a spectacularly competent car, a better car and a more resolved offering.
Buyers are more demanding. They want quality, safety and performance. The Impreza has to deliver on all counts. If a little of the rawness has been lost, so be it.
Most will view the latest car as more than adequate compensation. Saloon or wagon, entry-level or range topper, the Impreza can be guaranteed to deliver the goods. Some things never change.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Subaru Impreza range
PRICES: £14,800-£26,400 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-19
PERFORMANCE: [WRX] Max Speed 143mph/ 0-60mph 5.8s ECONOMY: [WRX] (combined) 30mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver and passenger airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] Length/Width/Height, 175/68/57" [est]
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