The Star: July 30, 2020

38 The Star Thursday July 30 2020
Impreza still carries bargain price
FOR AS LONG as there has been
a Subaru Impreza, there’s also been
an affordable way into buying one.
Subaru New Zealand has always
listed a budget model, it started off
around 2006 with a $25k figure for
the mid-size liftback/wagon with
permanently engaged four-wheeldrive
and, yes, a high and low
transfer case.
Of course, over the years, and
with inflation, the Impreza is now
listed at $32,490 for the one and
only Sport model, but that is still
an amazing price for what you get,
Subaru’s problem with this car over
the years is continuation of supply.
It’s certainly the company’s best
kept secret, it is a package that has
stuck with me over the years, and
although I’ve never had the outlay
to buy one I have been responsible
for several sales, and I still see it
as the first choice if I was in the
market for new car.
The Impreza has just undergone
a very mild facelift, it gets a little bit
of extra tech and has had a minor
cosmetic facelift.
Elsewhere it is still the
same versatile model that has
commanded healthy sales. Cars
which have longevity on their side
only get there by being desirable,
and the Impreza over the years has
succeeded against big odds – the
sport utility vehicle market.
Part of what makes the Impreza
desirable is its driveline, even
though the high/low gearing
system has long since gone, it is
still four-wheel-drive, and the
horizontally-opposed engine layout
is, in itself, a point of difference.
Boxer engines have been
Subaru’s design choice since the
Omega/Leone of the 70s. Today,
the company builds both fourcylinder
and six-cylinder flat
engines in varying capacities, and
some with turbochargers, in the
base model Impreza’s case it is a
naturally-aspirated 2-litre unit with
quad camshafts.
It is rated by Subaru with 115kw
(6000rpm) and 196Nm of torque
developed at 4000rpm. While
these figures don’t seem anything
special you have to bear in mind
that boxer engines are honest
and torquey from low down and
that’s what makes them appealing,
they feel strong from beneath the
accelerator pedal. Drive is delivered
through a seven-step continuously
variable transmission.
Subaru have developed this
gearbox to the point where it
doesn’t feel like CVT. It works
much like a traditional torque
converter automatic, and there are
even paddle shifters so that the
driver can manipulate the gearing
for every likely driving situation.
Left to its own engine
management protocols, the
transition of power through the
CVT is smooth, and seamless and
STYLE: The Subaru Impreza has a traditional hatchback
rear.
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SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT: Four-wheel-drive and boxer engine is a tempting mix.
power is relatively unimpeded; of
course, there are driver operated
push-button intelligent drive
mechanisms which can alter the
flow of power – intelligent or sport.
Sport mode does tend to keep the
engine unnecessarily busy, while
the intelligent setting works out
the best engine operating pattern
depending on accelerator pressure.
Subaru have also been proactive
in keeping the boxer desirable in
terms of fuel usage. Today, the
2-litre unit is rated with a 6.6-litre
per 100km combined cycle average,
that’s as good as any 2-litre petrol
inline engine and adds desirability
into the equation. I was relatively
gentle with the Impreza during
the time it was in my care, and
it was used mostly in central
city conditions, but with one
lengthy open road journey west to
Hororata.
On the highway, the fuel usage
readouts list at around 5l/100km
with the engine loping over at
just 1600rpm in the tallest part of
the gearing. When I took the car
back to the dealership my average
was showing around 7.4l/100km,
which makes Subaru’s claim quite
realistic.
Even though the Impreza is an
easy car to drive at all speeds, it
punches above its weight when it
comes time to accepting the back
road challenges and the twisty
• Price – Subaru Impreza
Sport, $32,490
• Dimensions – Length,
4460mm; width, 1775mm;
height, 1480mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
four-wheel-drive,
1995cc, 115kW, 196Nm,
seven-step automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 11.1sec
• Fuel usage – 6.6l/100km
nature of our high country corners.
Four-wheel-drive adds an element
of extra grip all of the time, not
just on slippery surfaces. With
that comes the benefit of fourcorner
independent suspension,
and with high grade spring and
damper technology the Impreza
feels nimble and agile. There is
little body movement in a corner,
and the suspension does a quality
job of balancing ride comfort with
the firming needed to control
gravitation force.
Directed into a tight corner,
the front steers with direct turnin
and solid feedback at the
steering wheel, grip to the rear
is pronounced as the suspension
can be felt working dealing to any
uneven surface.
The Impreza also gets high grade
Bridgestone Turanza tyres (205/50
x 17in), and while their diameter is
a little on the small side, you don’t
need low profile tyres on this car,
it handles beautifully and is kind
to the occupants in terms of on
comfort.
Those on board also get the
benefit of all the features you’d
expect in a 2020 car. Major
features include keyless entry and
ignition, auto stop-start, multifunction
displays and smartphone
adaptability. All new Subaru’s
sold in this country get the clever
Eyesight technology which is a
camera-based driver assist safety
system which goes a long way to
earning the Impreza a five-star
Australasian New Car Assessment
Program rating.
The Impreza represents amazing
value, and benefits from Subarus
determination to make cars that
are just that little bit different yet
are engineered to capably fill many
roles.
There are few cars in today’s
market that compete with the
concept of Impreza, and they sit
near what you would describe as a
crossover or SUV.
I like traditional sedans and
liftbacks, the Impreza would suit
me fine, I’ve always regretted
not buying one of the entry-level
models, I guess it’s not too late,
but it’s a matter of lining up all the
financial ducks in a row.
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