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August 2, 2007
First Impressions: 2008 Subaru Impreza
It has everything… except style
Buyers never choose a Subaru Impreza for its style. All-wheel drive is obviously at the top of the list, followed by an addictive driving experience (think WRX). But exterior styling? No way. And the new generation, unfortunately, doesn’t even come close to reversing the trend.
Quite frankly, it’s impossible for me to find anything nice to say about the design of the new 2008 Imprezas, even though I had the opportunity to test two different models.
Indeed, the 4-door sedan looks nowhere near like the 5-door wagon. When you put both cars next to each other, you’re actually led to believe that they’re made by two distinct brands.
But no.
They were built on the same platform, the Legacy’s, which has been modified in various places, particularly the front suspension. Both share the same 2,620-mm wheelbase (a 95-mm increase from last year), although the sedan is 165-mm longer overall than the wagon.
This differentiation between the two models has one simple explanation: unlike the 5-door Impreza, the sedan has been specifically designed for the North American market. In fact, you won’t find it anywhere else in the world.
As for other specifications, these two Subarus are identical.
Style? What style?
The old Impreza was not one of the cutest, but its originality had grown on us. The all-new sedan, meanwhile, is purely reminiscent of the Japanese cars of the ’90s. Long nose, Mazda Protegé-inspired front fascia, unimaginative grille… If you want to add a bit of flair, I strongly suggest that you select the optional grille. That being said, there’s nothing to get visually excited about.
The 5-door Impreza does not fare much better. Granted, its European-styled curves are pleasant, but you quickly forget about them because the overall profile is oddly similar to the new Hyundai Accent’s. I’m not saying that the Accent is ugly, but it costs somewhere around $15,000 while the Impreza asks for twice as much (in WRX trim).
The good news
Before going any further, I’d like to talk about pricing because that’s the good news about the 2008 Impreza. With a $2,000 lower base price ($20,695), this compact now finds itself in the sweet spot of the category. Tradition obliges, it comes well equipped and offers all the little things consumers like: heated side mirrors, 16-inch wheels, climate control and — finally! — a rear bench that almost folds completely flat.
The real deal, however, is the Sport model. At $23,195 (plus $1,100 for the automatic transmission), buyers get aluminum wheels, Vehicle Dynamics Control, Reverse Assist, four-wheel disc brakes (that’s right, the base model still relies on rear drum brakes…), fog lights, a wiper de-icer, audio controls on the steering wheel and — God bless — heated seats.
WRX: blending into the mass?
Strangely, while the WRX wagon used to be offered at the same price as the sedan ($35,495), the new model is now more expensive: $33,895 for the 5-door and $32,995 for the 4-door.
What do you get for this kind of money? A 224-hp turbocharged engine, a functional hood scoop, electroluminescent gauges, rally sport-type seats, 17-inch wheels, satellite radio (excluding subscription fees), a telescopic steering wheel and automatic climate control.
That’s a nice list for sure, but few visual elements set the WRX apart from the lesser models. No huge spoiler, no aggressive rims… even the body kit is modest. It’s as if the WRX wanted to blend into the mass or make people forget about its WRC heritage. Mission accomplished!
Let’s get serious
Okay, what kind of beast lies under the hood? There’s nothing really new here. The good old 2.5L horizontally-opposed, 4-cylinder engine is back and I’m glad. This boxer mill has always been loyal and dependable; for 2008, it remains so while benefiting from a redesigned intake, which helps deliver more low- and mid-range torque.
The performance figures are relatively unchanged: the naturally-aspirated engine produces 170 horsepower (3 less) and 170 lb-ft of torque (4 more), while the turbocharged variant stays put at 224 horsepower and 226 lb-ft. The WRX’s turbo has been revised for improved efficiency.
Oh, and Subaru promises a 5-percent increase in fuel economy.
Where are the paddle shifters?
On the winding roads of Vancouver Island, the Impreza stayed true to its reputation. The "little" powerplant is as versatile as ever, especially when mated to the very user-friendly 5-speed manual transmission. I would have liked a shorter shifter and closer ratios, but I’m nitpicking.
Some will argue that the optional 4-speed automatic gearbox should have gained another gear so as to get on par with the competition. I have to disagree: with its new sequential capability, this transmission extracts all the power you need when the "Sport" mode is selected. Shifts are also more dynamic.
On the other hand, I don’t quite understand why Subaru did not incorporate paddle shifters on the steering wheel with the WRX, as is the case with the Legacy GT or, if you want to be sarcastic, with the Mitsubishi Lancer. The company points out that manual-equipped models account for only 10 percent of all WRXs sales and, therefore, paddle shifters are useless.
Oh well…
With solid power and a 10-percent firmer suspension, the new WRX continues to offer the same levels of excitement that we’re used to. No turbo lag affects the engine and accelerations are vigorous.
The throttle feels lighter now that it’s no longer mechanically controlled (hello electronics!). Also, the clutch pedal is less spongy than the base Impreza’s and allows a more energetic manipulation. However, the exhaust system (with single tip on the 5-door model!) no longer produces the same distinctive growl. Like I said earlier, this car is blending into the mass…
It sticks to the tarmac
On the road, the steering benefits from the previous WRX’s quick-reacting settings, offering a good precision and a well-calibrated assistance. The steering wheel, in itself, offers a nice grip and proves to be fun to manipulate during each turn. The driver gets the feeling of being one with the car.
The Impreza easily and nimbly goes where the driver wants to go, providing impressive balance thanks to its rigid chassis. The car’s reactions to driver inputs are predictable and forgiving. In fact, the Impreza makes drivers look smarter than they actually are. Of course, we should all be thankful for Subaru’s permanent AWD system, which keeps offering a stable and reassuring ride without being obstructive.
One complaint, though: by replacing the struts with a double-wishbone setup in hope of increasing cargo room, Subaru made the rear suspension less sharp and responsive. As a result, on bumpy roads, the rear end of the vehicle suffers from small hops and unwanted jolts. Surprisingly, handling remains unaffected and just as tenacious, as if the Potenza tires were glued to the asphalt.
Black.. or black
Inside, the fit and finish, material selection and overall layout have all been improved for 2008. The new Impreza features higher-quality materials, while a smooth arch in the dashboard line (on the passenger side) creates a welcomed airy feel. In addition, noise insulation is better than ever; you almost no longer hear the tires from inside the car.
The front seats have been redesigned (including those in the base model) and offer good side support. While interior dimensions are pretty much the same as last year, the extended wheelbase provides more room for rear passengers. Ingress and egress are also easier thanks to wider-opening rear doors.
Base models are dressed out in Ebony Black cloth while the WRX is appointed with… Anthracite Black cloth. In other words, you can choose between black… and black. Yet, a global ad by Subaru shows an attractive Ivory interior; too bad we won’t be able to get it in Canada.
Another thing that’s missing (though I’m not gonna cry over it) is the leather-wrapped, power-adjustable seats. There is no sunroof either, but Subaru promises to add one next year.
STi on YouTube
One final note: the average weight of Imprezas was reduced by more than 50 kilos, which is considerable. And because their new platform is free from a heavy front sub-frame, they came back to the original steel hood (instead of aluminum). Strange? Katsuyoshi Tanaka, Subaru’s Performance Integration Engineer, claims that a steel hood is much safer for pedestrians in the event of a collision.
I tried my best to get inside scoops on the future STi, but Mr. Tanaka kept his mouth shut. I did learn that he was the one driving a camouflaged 2009 STi on the Nürburging circuit, as seen in a video on YouTube.com. Is it a preview of what we should expect in early 2008? Only time will tell.
by Nadine Filion, Auto123.com
Technorati Tags: subaru, impreza, subaru impreza, wrx, impreza wrx, 2008 subaru, 2008 impreza, 2008 wrx, 2008 subaru impreza, review, subaru review
- Posted in : 2008 Subaru, Articles, Reviews
- Author : admin
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