The Subaru Impreza: A Refreshingly Improved Small Sedan

The Subaru Impreza small sedan has long been a decent car, but this latest version brings quite a few improvements. Unlike most cars that go up in horsepower when they get redesigned, the Impreza didn't see an increase in power. Instead, its 2-liter engine now boasts about 20 less horsepower than it did before.

However, despite the decrease in horsepower, the Impreza's performance is surprisingly on par with its predecessor. This can be attributed to lower vehicle weight and a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), which has made a significant impact on fuel economy. The Impreza achieved an impressive 27 mpg overall during our test, which is quite so-so for a small sedan but actually quite impressive considering it comes standard with all-wheel drive.

However, the CVT does have a few annoying traits that detract from the driving experience. One of them is that it holds engine speed up high when accelerating, creating a significant amount of engine noise. Another issue is that when going downhill, it creates quite a bit of engine braking. While some engine braking can be welcome, there's too much of it in this car and you're not able to override it when all you want to do is coast.

Fortunately, the Impreza is still an enjoyable drive. Its handling is nimble and responsive, with a good weight to its steering that provides decent feedback. However, the steering feedback does fall short of other sporty small cars like the Volkswagen Golf or Mazda 3. The emergency handling is quite capable, and stopping distances are impressively short, especially on dry pavement.

One of the standout features of the Impreza is its ride. Subluxur cars would love to have this car's ride, as it's very absorbent and compliant. It does a great job of isolating from bumps, making it quite a bit better than the average small sedan. However, there's an unfortunate trade-off: the Impreza can be a bit noisy inside, with some road noise, wind noise, and engine noise.

Despite these issues, the Impreza has refreshingly good driver visibility. Its styling is a bit upright and conservative compared to other small sedans, but what that gets you is big windows all the way around the windshield. The pillars are also pretty well-shaped, so you don't get significant blind spots from those areas.

The interior of the Impreza is decently finished, with a soft touch dashboard. However, the rest of the interior feels more solid than fancy. The controls are simple and easy to use, with radio and climate controls mounted up high on the dash. One annoyance is that it's hard to find the seat heater switches down low on the console between the seats.

In terms of space, there's plenty in front of the cabin, with lots of headroom and leg room. The rear seat is also one of the most spacious in its class, providing ample room for adults. The sedan's trunk is a decent size, offering good space and loading flexibility. If you want even more space and flexibility, you can opt for an Impreza hatchback.

Finally, there are two additional trim levels to consider: the Impreza Sport model, which adds a few more features, and the XV Crosstrek, a jacked-up hatchback version of the Impreza. Both offer a great combination of ride, interior space, and fuel economy, making them excellent choices for small sedan buyers looking for a reliable and versatile vehicle.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Subaru Impreza small sedan has long been a decent car but something of a wall flower this version of the empreza though it brings quite a few improvements most cars go up in Horsepower when they get redesigned this Impreza didn't it's 2 L engine has about 20 less horsepower than it did before despite that thanks to lower vehicle weight and a new continuously variable transmission or CVT the car's performance is pretty much on par with the last Impreza fact it's pretty much power for the course compared to other small sedans all of these powertrain changes had a big effect on fuel economy the Impreza got 27 m per gallon overall our test that's kind of so so for a small sedan but actually it's quite impressive for a small sedan that has standard all-wheel drive unfortunately the CVT has a few annoying traits one of them is that holds engine speed up high when accelerating that creates quite a bit of engine noise another is that when you go downhill it creates quite a bit of engine braking now some engine braking is welcome but there's too much of it in this car and you're not able to override it when all you want to do is Coast other than that the impress is quite enjoyable to drive handling it's Nimble and responsive steering has a good weight to it and it has decent feedback although the steering feedback does fall short of other sporty small cars like a Volkswagen go off for a Mazda 3 or a Ford Focus emergency handling it's quite capable and stopping distances are impressively short especially on dry pavement a high point of the Impreza is its ride sub luxur cars would love to have this car's ride it's very absorbent very compliant does a really good job of isolating from the bumps it's quite a bit better than the average small sedan it's too bad that the impre can be a bit noisy inside there's some road noise there's some wind noise as well as that engine noise it's fairly typical for a small sedan to be a bit loud inside but there are other competitors out there that are quieter the Impreza has refreshingly good driver visibility now it styling is a bit upright and conservative compared to some other small sedans but what that gets you are big Windows all the way around the windshield pillars are also pretty well shaped so you don't get big blind spots from those the interior is decently finished there is a soft touch dashboard but the rest of the Interior it's more solid than fancy the controls are really really simple the radio and climate controls they're mounted up high on the dash simple buttons simple knobs one annoyance is that it's hard to find the seat heater switches down low on the console between the seats the impressive Falls a bit short though when it comes to Modern Interior Electronics pretty easy to get Bluetooth but there's no voice control for iPods and in order to get satellite radio you have to buy a lot of other options there's plenty of room in the front of the cabin lots of headro lots of leg room good room all around you the wide front seats they're well padded the rear seat is one of the most spacious in this class there's plenty of room in the back even for adults the sedan's trunk is a decent size if you want more space and loading flexibility though you can also get an Impreza hatchback this Impreza Sport model adds a few more features there will also be a jacked up hatchback version called the XV cross Trek the Impreza has a whole lot going for it a great ride a spacious interior and impressive fuel economy given the car standard all-wheel drive these all combined to make the empreza a great choice for a small sedanthe Subaru Impreza small sedan has long been a decent car but something of a wall flower this version of the empreza though it brings quite a few improvements most cars go up in Horsepower when they get redesigned this Impreza didn't it's 2 L engine has about 20 less horsepower than it did before despite that thanks to lower vehicle weight and a new continuously variable transmission or CVT the car's performance is pretty much on par with the last Impreza fact it's pretty much power for the course compared to other small sedans all of these powertrain changes had a big effect on fuel economy the Impreza got 27 m per gallon overall our test that's kind of so so for a small sedan but actually it's quite impressive for a small sedan that has standard all-wheel drive unfortunately the CVT has a few annoying traits one of them is that holds engine speed up high when accelerating that creates quite a bit of engine noise another is that when you go downhill it creates quite a bit of engine braking now some engine braking is welcome but there's too much of it in this car and you're not able to override it when all you want to do is Coast other than that the impress is quite enjoyable to drive handling it's Nimble and responsive steering has a good weight to it and it has decent feedback although the steering feedback does fall short of other sporty small cars like a Volkswagen go off for a Mazda 3 or a Ford Focus emergency handling it's quite capable and stopping distances are impressively short especially on dry pavement a high point of the Impreza is its ride sub luxur cars would love to have this car's ride it's very absorbent very compliant does a really good job of isolating from the bumps it's quite a bit better than the average small sedan it's too bad that the impre can be a bit noisy inside there's some road noise there's some wind noise as well as that engine noise it's fairly typical for a small sedan to be a bit loud inside but there are other competitors out there that are quieter the Impreza has refreshingly good driver visibility now it styling is a bit upright and conservative compared to some other small sedans but what that gets you are big Windows all the way around the windshield pillars are also pretty well shaped so you don't get big blind spots from those the interior is decently finished there is a soft touch dashboard but the rest of the Interior it's more solid than fancy the controls are really really simple the radio and climate controls they're mounted up high on the dash simple buttons simple knobs one annoyance is that it's hard to find the seat heater switches down low on the console between the seats the impressive Falls a bit short though when it comes to Modern Interior Electronics pretty easy to get Bluetooth but there's no voice control for iPods and in order to get satellite radio you have to buy a lot of other options there's plenty of room in the front of the cabin lots of headro lots of leg room good room all around you the wide front seats they're well padded the rear seat is one of the most spacious in this class there's plenty of room in the back even for adults the sedan's trunk is a decent size if you want more space and loading flexibility though you can also get an Impreza hatchback this Impreza Sport model adds a few more features there will also be a jacked up hatchback version called the XV cross Trek the Impreza has a whole lot going for it a great ride a spacious interior and impressive fuel economy given the car standard all-wheel drive these all combined to make the empreza a great choice for a small sedan\n"