All Subarus are highly capable cars, and the Impreza will be the backbone of the line. It deserves to be a top choice in foul weather or on rough roads. But it is an easy automobile to live with even in the best of conditions. It’s comfy and straightforward to drive. The interior is simple and straightforward, and every thing is effortless to operate. Cargo capacity after the 60/40 rear seats are dropped is superb.
The Impreza is solid and safe, the perfect size for running around town even though holding its own on the freeway with trucks and large SUVs. Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 20/27 mpg with manual, 20/26 mpg with automatic.
The Impreza comes in 4-Door sedan and 5-Door hatchback versions.
For 2011, the turbocharged Impreza GT has been discontinued, as attention has turned toward the hot WRX, which we review separately.
The four-door sedan looks traditional, while the styling of the five-door is sporty and somewhat edgy. The 5-door expenses $500 much more, but it delivers more utility than the sedan with its bigger cargo capacity, less difficult parking with its shorter overall length, and even far better cornering with much less rear overhang. A lot of people nonetheless prefer the lines of a straightforward sedan.
The Impreza Outback Sport comes only as a five-door. It’s ready for travel on unpaved roads and can quickly carry gear for outdoor work or activities, from sports to dogs. Outback Sport includes 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, a raised suspension, foglights, all-weather package, and cargo tray. The new 2011 Outback Sport Unique Edition adds a power moonroof and removable TomTom navigation system, the audio system upgrade such as Bluetooth and USB, iPod and satellite radio capability, and it is value priced.
The Impreza has a smooth highway ride and responsive cornering, thanks in some part to its comparatively lengthy wheelbase (103.1 inches), along with the low engine placement, an benefit of the horizontally opposed position of the four cylinders. This lowers the center of gravity and improves the balance, contributing to agile cornering. What’s more, the Impreza shares the quick WRX steering rack, with 2.8 turns lock-to-lock, and a tight 34.8-foot turning circle. You are able to certainly feel it, and it’s good.
Out on the highway, there’s lots of speed from the 170-horsepower engine, with 170 pound-feet of torque at 4400 rpm, for very good acceleration. There is no lacking in power at any rpm range.
The standard 5-speed manual gearbox works well. The optional 4-speed automatic works okay, too, such as whenever you have to floor it, passing trucks or slower visitors on a two-lane highway. Most cars have 5-speed automatics nowadays, but the Subaru engine has sufficient flexibility in its power band to work well having a 4-speed.
Model Lineup 2011 Subaru Impreza
The 2011 Subaru Impreza models come with all-wheel drive, 2.5-liter SOHC four-cylinder, creating 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, along with a choice of 5-speed manual transmission with Incline Start Assist or 4-speed automatic with SportShift ($1,000).
Impreza 2.5i sedan ($17,495) and 5-door ($17,995) come with cloth upholstery, 60/40 split folding rear seat, four-speaker AM/FM/CD, power doors, locks and mirrors, 16-inch steel wheels with all-season tires, along with a 5-speed manual transmission with Incline Commence Assist. Impreza 2.5i Premium ($18,495) and 5-door ($18,995) upgrade to a new AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD player and six speakers, auxiliary input jack, Bluetooth hands-free calling, iPod, USB port and satellite radio capability. Choices include 17-inch 12-spoke alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and TomTom navigation system.
Outback Sport ($19,995) consists of a heavy duty raised suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, front and rear bumper underguards, projector beam foglights, crossbars for the roofrails, heated front seats and sideview mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, and a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel with audio and cruise controls. Rearview camera is optional.
Safety equipment on all Impreza models consists of the Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbag System featuring side-impact air bags and full-length airbag curtains. Active safety attributes consist of ABS with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution and Brake Assist, electronic stability control with traction control, and all-wheel drive. The Impreza earned Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a lobbying organization for the insurance industry, with the highest rating in frontal offset, side and rear impact tests.
