The Impreza definitely stands out in the compact sedan/hatchback category in its own way. Symmetrical AWD is standard which no other car in the segment offers, and it’s pretty fun to drive as well. Styling of the Impreza is good, the interior finish is solid, and overall you can tell that the Impreza is near the top of the class in its driving dynamics as soon as you get it out on the road.
The first thing I noticed about the Impreza is the steering. The steering in this car feels premium and expensive, more so than I would expect out of a compact car. Most modern cars going after that sporty, premium feel in the steering usually just end up feeling numb and artificially weighted, but the Impreza’s steering delivers solid communication between the rubber and the road, especially for an electric power steering setup. The steering weight has more of that chunky, sturdy character that you typically associate with Subaru products. Very solid and assured steering feel, and the on-center dynamic of the steering is great. You can really feel what the car is doing through the steering, and the Impreza steers itself around corners with exceptional smoothness and composure. Granted, the steering doesn’t give you sport sedan levels of engagement, but I would say the steering in the Impreza feels right on par with the Mazda 3. Call my crazy, but I actually think the steering in this car feels slightly better than the Mazda.
The interior is also very unique. The panels are all well sculpted, and the interior has this retro boxy look to it. It gives the interior a really nice aura that separates the Impreza from the rest of the competition. Everything feels nice to the touch, and I like the aesthetic of the orange gauges, along with the small screen on the upper portion of the dash combined with the bigger screen in the center. It all flows really well, and all the main touch points feel solid.
Looking out of the Impreza, the visibility is also pretty good. The front hood does stick out far in your line of vision and it looks more imposing than I would have imagined, but I didn’t mind it. Because this is a hatchback, your rear visibility is clear and unobstructed, and the side mirrors provide good sight lines.
The engine and CVT combo work well together. I wasn’t sure how well a Subaru CVT would perform, given that CVTs are usually not built for sportiness or engagement, but the CVT in this car works really well. The boxer four cylinder engine sounds decent, has a nice aggressive growl, and with 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, the power is somewhat weak but adequate. The Impreza is definitely not a fast car, but it is enough for everyday driving situations. The power from this engine comes on smoothly, and the torque curve remains linear and consistent all the way to redline. You can also really hear the engine in this car. It’s not loud and obnoxious, but you can hear more of the engine compared to other cars in the class, which is something that I personally appreciate.
The CVT feels more like a traditional automatic as well. The engine doesn’t drone like other vehicles with CVT powertrains, and the transmission shifts between ratios more like a traditional automatic. Unlike Nissan’s CVTs with their fake shifting characteristics, the CVT in the Impreza feels very natural. It reminds me of a Honda designed CVT, just with a slightly more traditional feel. I didn’t notice any lagginess or a rubber band effect from the transmission, and again, it really does a good job at mimicking an automatic transmission with smoother shifts. It downshifts quickly, it listens to your foot, and overall it feels solid. Would I rather have a traditional automatic? Of course. But the CVT in the Impreza doesn’t come with many sacrifices. A 5-speed manual is also offered, but only on the base 2.0i and 2.0i Sport trims. If you want the Premium or the Limited, you’ll be stuck with the CVT. If you prefer the feel of a harder shifting stepped automatic, the Mazda 3 should satisfy that bill.
Handling is class competitive as well. Being that the Impreza has AWD, it does feel slightly heavier than the rest of the entries, so it doesn’t quite have that sprightly feel to it. The Impreza didn’t feel as heavy as I thought it would be, though. You notice the added weight a little, but overall this car feels more engaging compared to most other entries in this segment. The chassis feels solid, and the ride and handling are composed. The Impreza handles itself really well for a compact car, and you can take corners much faster than most other compact cars. There is a small amount of sway around harder turns, but that’s nothing to complain about. Vehicles like the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Volkswagen Jetta feel a bit more sprightly and aggressive, and while the Impreza’s handling is right on par with those vehicles, it doesn’t quite have that feel like it wants to be challenged and tossed around. That is just a minor gripe though, as the solidity of the chassis combined with the premium steering feel more than make up for that. I’ve driven the Mazda 3, the Civic, the Jetta, as well as a few of the lesser known entires. I would say that the Impreza has the most balanced, secured ride out of all of them. The AWD also adds a nice level of security and helps the Impreza grip the road, and the ride quality has a good blend of comfort and rigidity. Highway driving is really easy and the Impreza doesn’t mind speeding around a little.
The overall feel and responsiveness out of this car is top-notch as well. The accelerator responds immediately when you put your foot down, so there’s no deadzone where that’s concerned. There’s a good response in the beginning of the travel, but if you want to accelerate harder you need to put just slightly more pressure into it. The Impreza just glides down the road, and its really easy to pick a speed and stick to it.
The brakes feel about normal as well. The pedal response is somewhat light, but the brakes react with solidity. The braking feel is about the same you get from a Civic or a Mazda 3, so it’s not anything revolutionary, but the Impreza does have a good braking feel nonetheless.
Overall, I would definitely recommend the Impreza for those of you looking for something a little different that separates itself from the other compact entries. It’s a great alternative if you feel iffy towards getting a Mazda 3 or a Honda Civic. Projected reliability is solid, it sips fuel, plenty of cargo room, unique styling, and it feels like a more expensive car than it really is. Subaru really stepped up their game with this new Impreza, it’s so much better than the previous generations with their dated interiors full of hard plastics. The only thing that would stop me from getting this car is maybe the slightly underpowered engine and the use of a CVT over a traditional automatic, but I had no problems accelerating and passing in this vehicle, and I think the CVT used in the Impreza is among the best in the business. The Impreza is a car that really just does everything well. If you’re thinking about getting an Impreza, you certainly have my seal of approval.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_dBHM0paV4