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The Everything Car
by Barclay Nelson
I went to a
wedding in Colorado a month ago and counted the cars in the lot.
Exactly 1 of 4 cars was a Subaru.
They do sell Subarus in other states and that’s a good thing since
Subarus are known for being reliable and long lasting amongst it’s fervently
loyal band of drivers. I’ll be
considering the Subaru Impreza’s suitability to the urban jungle, where small
bundle utility and weekend getaway versatility are in high demand.
There are a
number of Subaru Impreza models spanning an wide range of prices and features.
First, the Impreza comes in a 4-door (with a trunk) version or a 5-door
hatchback (wagon-ish one). My
review is of the 5-door. There are
a variety of features and engine sizes from the base 2.5i model to the tricked
out rubber-scorching, fast as all get out WRX STI.
Base prices range from $17,495 to $34,995.
The base 2.5, 2.5 Premium and Outback have amply powered 170 hp engines
while the GT, WRX and WRX-STI having 224, 265 and 305 hp respectively.
Fuel economy is middle of the pack ranging from 20/27 to 17/23.
Consumer reports rates the Impreza as excellent for cost of ownership.
Also worth knowing is that the Impreza is a Consumer Reports “Recommended
Buy”.
Safety
prioritization is high at Subaru.
Safety starts with a truly superior Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (AWD) system.
Subaru’s all wheel drive systems are known for somehow managing to get
better traction than many other all wheel drive systems. The Symmetrical AWD
shifts power to wheels with the most traction through 3 separate differentials
allowing it to distribute power front to back, or left to right.
You will be hard pressed to find an AWD
system that works this well especially for as little as $17,495.
The interior
of the Impreza models are tidy and comfortable but I wouldn’t recommend this car
for the 6’7” tall and over crowd.
Seats are comfortable and there are plenty of cup holders, trays and storage
compartments. I felt like the
emergency brake kind of got up in my personal space when activated but not when
down. The back seats fold down
easily and if you remove the headrests you can fold down the front passenger
side seat for hauling long items.
I find this
car very attractive and [this will sound strange] it has a really good looking,
sculpted rear. Some may not like the hood scoop that comes on the turbo engine
models but I think it adds a sportiness and hints that something above ordinary
lurks beneath. Manual and automatic
transmissions were competent and easy on the driver.
The upgraded engines add some worthwhile boost for the speed aspirated
and are worth the premium gasoline and more frequent maintenance.
I’m a big
fan of this car; it’s an everything car.
It has the excellent safety credentials and utility that parents
appreciate as well as AWD, performance and outdoorsy appeal.
All drivers will appreciate it’s good looks and Subaru reliability and
longevity.
Some noteworthy standard features on all models include:
Some other noteworthy optional features include:
Other standard safety features include:
For more
information go to:
http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/impreza/index.html .
Barclay
Nelson is a Financial Marketing & Research Consultant that likes to test drive
cars and write about them when he’s not working, fly fishing or smoking cigars. |
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What’s with Subarus anyway?
Aren’t Subarus just for outdoorsy types, greenies, mountain hippies, forest
rangers, gardeners and bird watchers living in Colorado?