FirstDrive: Subaru ImprezaFirst the good news: the Impreza is not as ugly in the metal as it looks in most photographs. Not that it's good looking or stylish: it's just not as ugly as you might imagine.
In truth, the fact that a Subaru will not win any style awards will come as no surprise to many, but the fact that they could revamp the range from saloon to hatchback format and still not put a little panache in their styling leaves you in no doubt where the design studio ranks in the overall structure of the car firm. This is an engineering company first and last: body metal serves an aerodynamic purpose, and protects parts and passengers from the rain. That's the total sum of its raison d'être in Subaru's eyes.
When it does attempt aesthetic design, the end result is rather over the top, such as the rear LED lights that would be better suited to a feature car in "pimp my ride".
The new Impreza shape does grow on you, however. It's a strange combination of low ground clearance and high roof. It might not offer up much in terms of looks, but inside the cabin benefits from the high roof and the car's impressive length. It might be a hatchback, but the car retains a saloon car footprint, measuring over 200mm longer than competitors like the VW Golf.
There's plenty of legroom both front and rear, and headroom is not an issue, given the relatively low seating position.
The interior plastics and finish are typical of the brand, offering good functionality if little in the way of quality feel. Quirky features include an enormous lever on the floor that opens the petrol cap, and the low position of the rearview mirror in the middle of the windscreen and in the eyeline of the driver. At first we thought it was a mistake on our test car, but apparently that's where it is supposed to be. No doubt you would get used to it, but it's annoying at the start.
Another rather odd feature is the addition of a dual-ratio transfer box, allowing low-range gears to be selected by a second gear lever. This is located prominently next to the handbrake.
We can only assume that it was seen as a worthy addition to the four-wheel-drive system already fitted. A low-ratio transfer box would therefore be useful for off-roading and towing, so the thinking goes.
However, it does beg the question as to whether owners would ever contemplate going off-road in a car that has the ground clearance of a dachshund? We mounted a grass verge to help a photographer during the test, and nearly left the car's spoiler kit behind.
It will, admittedly, come in useful for those who tow, but surely it would have been better as an optional extra. Certainly the money spent on this would have been better allocated on other features, like designers or a better quality interior trim.
The good news is that the engines remain the crowning glory of the brand.
Subaru's pedigree in the rally world is unquestioned, and the combination of a low-positioned boxer engine and four-wheel-drive make their cars some of the most stable cars on the road. The basic physics of it all means that the low centre of gravity gives it incredible cornering ability.
Subaru is hoping to retain the Impreza's performance credentials, while at the same time breaking free from the performance niche, and competing directly with the mainstream hatchback market, targeting Ford Focus and VW Golf owners.
The downside here is that with no diesel engines, the choice is pretty limited. For now there are two petrol engines on offer - a 106bhp 1.5-litre and 148bhp 2-litre - with the 2.5-litre WRX version arriving next summer.
Even though Subaru has created the world's first boxer-style diesel engine, it will not make it into the Impreza for some time. That's another limitation to future model sales.
With all this change under way, it's good to know that the 2-litre 148bhp normally aspirated engine makes up for all our qualms about the rest of the car. While it drops 10bhp on the outgoing version and lacks turbo power, it does offer plenty of punch all the way up to 7,000rpm.
THERE'S A LOVELY RASPY engine note to accompany it, and though there is only a five-speed manual gearbox - or automatic transmission - on offer, and it's not the short-shift box we expected, the long rev range means that a six-speed transmission is not missed here. Pulling off from a standing start the Impreza is not as impressive as we would have hoped, though it does record an official 0-100km/h time of 9.6 seconds. Where the Impreza really excels is in mid-range punch and handling.
While there's a significant degree of wind noise, particularly from the large wing mirrors, the combination of engine note and sharp, responsive handling will win over most enthusiastic drivers. Whether the same can be said for the passengers remains to be seen.
Subaru has a tough task ahead of it in trying to retain its performance image, while expanding into the mainstream. A limited engine range and several features that aren't needed by most hatchback owners - four-wheel-drive and low ratio transmission to name but two - won't help the Japanese firm in a market that's incredibly crowded already.
Yet the overall package is strong. Both versions come with a good degree of standard features, including xenon lights, alloys and air-conditioning, making the price more competitive, particularly compared with many mainstream rivals. Prices for the 1.5-litre start at €24,495, pitting it against 1.6-litre rivals that offer slightly less room, but slightly more performance. The 1.8-litre Honda Civic, for example, is €2,000 more but with a lot more power. The 2-litre version is better priced at €28,995, giving it a competitive edge over other rivals and it's the better buy of the two variants.
The new Impreza is typical of a brand that has often been something of a curate's egg on the Irish market, excelling in certain areas while completely missing the point in others.Engine: 1.5-litre 105bhp normally aspirated petrol engine: 142Nm of torque
Factfile: Subaru Impreza
0-100km/h: 14 secs (15.1 for auto)
Top speed: 175km/h
Official combined fuel consumption: 7.5 L/100km (37.7mpg)
CO2: 176g/km
Price: 1.5R - €24,495
Engine: 2-litre 148bhp normally aspirated petrol engine: 196Nm of torque
0-100km/h: 9.6 secs (11.6 for auto)
Top speed: 193km/h
Official combined fuel consumption: 8.4 L/100km (33.6mpg)
CO2: 199g/km
Price: 2.0R - €28,995