The Impreza advantage: Solid, well-balanced package

THE IMPREZA’S aerodynamic design helps improve fuel efficiency.

If beauty is what’s most important to you when you shop for a new car, chances are you won’t buy a Subaru. Subies are not known for aesthetics and have never won design awards with their traditionally plain and sometimes quirky styling. But if safety, fuel economy and all-weather capability are what matter most to you, then the Subaru Impreza is exceedingly worthy of consideration. Beneath the Impreza’s prosaic exterior lurks the advantage of Subaru’s trademark horizontally opposed boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive.

The 2012 Impreza, the model’s fourth iteration, was fully redesigned inside and out by Subie engineers to be more fuel-efficient, more refined in performance and more visually attractive than before. A new, lighter 2.0-liter flat four boxer engine replaced the 2.5-liter powerplant of the outgoing model, Subaru’s Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) replaced the 4-speed automatic tranny and a new electric power steering system was installed. These, plus the reduction  of weight by as much as 63 pounds, improved fuel economy to an average of 11.36/15.15 kilometers per liter in city/highway driving. This makes the Impreza the most fuel-efficient AWD car on the market.

Quicker. Naturally, switching to an engine that is 500 cc down from the outgoing 2500 cc one means a corresponding decrease in horsepower and torque. Yet the new 2.0-liter engine producing 150 PS (147.95 horsepower)/6,200 rpm and 196 Nm max torque at 4,200 rpm is actually quicker off the line, hitting 100 kph from zero in 11.1 seconds.

That kind of acceleration isn’t exactly sizzling, but hey, the Impreza is a naturally aspirated AWD compact car, not a turbocharged sports sedan. Subie engineers have tuned the engine to offer faster low-end and mid-range torque response and somehow the Impreza feels fast with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters that allow the driver to quickly reach higher revs.

Some car buffs may quibble that CVTs are slow, uninvolved and boring, but Subaru claims that the compact and lightweight configuration of Lineartronic CVT has been tuned to integrate efficiently with the new 2.0-liter boxer engine. Moreover, they say it doesn’t feel like a lifeless elastic rubber band like other CVTs do but feels more linear like a traditional automatic transmission since it has a metal belt instead of a rubber one.

Balance. The Impreza, after all, was not engineered for motor sports but for the exceptional balance, total control and reassuring stability in any weather that only Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD and horizontally opposed boxer engine can provide. A smooth and refined ride quality is guaranteed by the Subaru Dynamic Chassis Control Concept whereby all the components are designed to work in harmony.

THE IMPREZA 2.0i Sport, as seen from behind

The Impreza’s excellently tuned suspension consists of MacPherson struts with support arm in front and a double wishbone rear arrangement. The boxer engine’s flat design is not only rigid, self-balancing and durable, it generates less vibration than V-type or in-line engines and thus contributes further to riding comfort.

The 2012 Impreza looks more aerodynamic and more attractive than preceding models with a new grille, bigger front fog lamp housings and more pronounced wheel arches. The length of the wheelbase has been increased by an inch, thereby enhancing the feeling of spaciousness inside and increasing legroom for rear seat passengers.

Goodies. The instrument cluster is clean, simple and well-organized as is the layout of the dash. A multifunction display, dual zone climate control and audio system with single CD player, six speakers and Bluetooth-compatible hands-free system, USB and two aux audio input jacks show that this Subie is complete and up-to-date in high-tech goodies.  The split-folding rear seats extend luggage space to accommodate long cargo but even with the rear seats in place, the trunk can hold four full course golf bags. A center tray, center console box, four cup holders and door pockets with bottle holders on all side doors offer convenient storage space for small things.

In the United States, the 2012 Impreza aced all the federal government and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests. Aside from the Vehicle Dynamics Control System, its ring-shaped reinforcement frame body and the use of lightweight but high tensile strength steel, the Impreza has—among other safety features—six airbags, disc brakes on all four  17-inch alloy wheels, ABS with EBD, brake assist and brake override, rear vision camera, whiplash reducing front seats.

But the Impreza’s advantage over competitors in its segment is still what it has as standard equipment that the others don’t have: the Subaru boxer engine and Symmetrical AWD. The Impreza is a solid, well-balanced package, a compact AWD 2.0-liter sedan unsurpassed in road manners, driveability, fuel efficiency, refined and comfy ride quality and total safety. No wonder it is pricey: P1.298 million for the 2.0i Sport with Lineartronic CVT and P1.158 million for the 2.0i with 6-speed manual transmission. But that’s real value for money.