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2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Road Test

Subaru has certainly taken a different approach with its 2008 Impreza 2.5i than with the outgoing model. Now, instead of raising the flag of controversy brought about by its three-vent,

New Impreza 2.5i looks much more conventional in four-door guise... (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

aeronautically inspired grille treatment and boxy overall shape, the new model is almost conventional, with body lines that look as if they've been penned by aerodynamicists rather than mechanical engineers. From the front it's pleasantly attractive, nothing with any particular shock value and therefore nothing that should be offensive to the majority of men or women. The same goes for its profile and rear design. And then there's the new five-door.

Replacing the sporty wagon, the five-door is an extremely attractive vehicle from the rear, highlighted by flashy, clear lenses with integrated LEDs, and portraying a sleek shape from profile. It receives the same nose, so from up front its pretty well impossible to tell the two cars apart, and being that you can still get the top-line WRX model in four-door and five-door guises the optional intercooler hood scoop, a massive duct that gives the car an overtly aggressive appearance, juxtaposed by its new smiling grille ... now a mischievous grin instead of a welcoming greeting, it really comes down to whether or

.... or five-door hatchback, which from this angle looks pretty sporty. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

not you want a trunk or a hatchback. But for the time being I'm not going to talk about the WRX, and rather leave it for a subsequent review. The 2.5i is so good, actually, and considering that the majority of Impreza buyers will opt for this less expensive, comfort-oriented version, that it deserves attention all on its own.

As the changes to its exterior make clear, this is a very different Impreza than the car it replaces. Bucking with new model tradition, the car's overall length is actually less than the outgoing model by 2.0 inches. OK, Subaru was being tricky when they made this claim, because while this may be true for the new five-door version the four-door sedan has actually grown 4.5 inches longer, 1.4 inches taller, and rides on a wheelbase that stretches 3.7 inches more from axle to axle. Oddly it is 4.2 inches narrower from mirror tip to mirror tip, but this must be due to the new mirror design because track has actually increased from 58.5 inches up front and 58.1 inches in the rear to 58.9 inches across the board.

It's hard to say if any width gain has increased interior room, but the longer wheelbase certainly has, especially in back where legroom, something the old car was short on, is now truly impressive. The longer rear door allows for better ingress and egress too, especially helpful if loading in a child safety seat (yes in my mid-forties I'm still doing that). The trunk area has been made marginally more accommodating too, up 0.3 cubic feet to 11.3 cubic feet although halfway back the cargo floor strangely angles upward reducing its usefulness. As for the new five-door, its sloping rear hatch robs cargo capacity as expected, with the new car capable of hauling 19.0 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and 44.4 cubic feet if they're folded flat, compared to

It certainly is nicer inside. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

27.9 cubic feet upright in the old car and 61.6 cubic feet when tumbled forward. Such is the trade-off for style. At least the rear seats completely fold flat this time around, even in the sedan, so I suppose for many this will be reasonable compensation, and a new valet feature in the sedan won't allow them to be folded forward if set in the locked position, heightening security.

More than just larger, the Impreza's cabin is put together with higher quality materials. The plastics, while not particularly soft to the touch, are made of a higher grade and finished in a nice, non-glossy texture. The seats are extremely comfortable, something Subaru's design and engineering team put a great deal of effort into achieving and something they stressed more than once during the morning presentation and walk-around that followed. I felt better lower cushion support and more pressure on the lower back via stronger lumbar bolstering, something that suits my body type just fine. The cloth covering them is soft and fuzzy like a plush toy, but not particularly upscale unless you're still big on '70s velor. The roof liner will be disappointing too, as it felt more like fuzz on pressed cardboard than anything remotely premium, but I'm probably being too picky with what is Subaru's entry-level car. After all, its switchgear, especially the radio and HVAC controls feel really rich, and look pricey as well.

Those three-dial heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls are not automatic in base form, but air con is standard and it, and everything else, works well. The same for the stereo, in that it isn't particularly high-end stuff, but

A nicely laid out center stack puts everything within close reach. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

considering that an auxiliary plug, located under the center armrest is available, and that XM satellite radio is as well, it's not a bad setup. The top-line audio system is much better, and can be had bundled into the Premium or Satellite Radio and Navigation Packages, but more on that in a minute.

Those who previously made use of the nifty lidded dash-top storage bin in the old car will have to find somewhere else to stow their wallet, keys or gas cards now, as it gets replaced with a trip computer sporting an integrated clock and outside temperature gauge that will probably be handier for the majority of owners.

There's also new cupholders in the doors (5 seats and 6 cupholders, go figure), plus blue ambient light in the CD storage compartment that looks really cool. And a trip computer isn't necessarily common in the Impreza's compact segment, but one comes standard just the same.

The standard five-speed shifter fits naturally to the hand, and shifts are easy and executable in a fairly precise manner. The clutch take-up is also a non-issue, and therefore anyone who regularly drives a manual should find it easy to get used to. For getting the most from the engine the stick is the way to go, although the 2.5-liter unit's strong torque, at 170 lb-ft, and impressive standard output, also at 170 horsepower, moves the car along quickly enough even with the optional automatic. This four-speed gearbox might be missing one or two forward gears to be optimally efficient, but nevertheless features manual mode,

Much more room in the rear quarters. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

giving it a sportier nature than most rivals in this class. It should be mentioned that almost all contenders come to the party with only four-speed automatic transmissions, so the Subie's autobox is nothing out of the ordinary, and like I was mentioning a minute ago, helped along considerably by the engine's fat torque curve. What's more, the autobox's sport mode reacts to shifts quicker and holds the gears longer, a step up from the outgoing four-speed automatic.

The engine has been given a few subtle mods for this 2008 car, but more or less is the same 2.5-liter horizontally opposed mill that's been with the Impreza for some time now. Actually, if you're a faithful Subie fan you probably noticed a decline in claimed horsepower from 173 to 170, which is due to the change in SAE ratings. In actual fact the new engine creates more usable output than last year's car due to a new intake manifold and a few additional upgrades, with all-important torque now up from 166 lb-ft to 170 and peaking further down in the rev range. And that, however, with a slight increase in overall fuel consumption of 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, compared to the 2007 Impreza's 23 in the city and 28 on the highway with the 4-speed automatic (or 22 in the city and 29 on the highway with the 5-speed manual).

You won't hear any of us complain too much about a slight decline in fuel economy when mixed with a stronger engine, or the somewhat utilitarian sound it makes when zipping past 3,000 rpm, although the negligible increase in torque is somewhat negated by its slightly heavier curb weight (or lighter curb weight, depending on which models are being compared). For 2008, according to www.subaru.com, both 4-door and 5-door Impreza models will weigh exactly the same when comparing trims with equally equipped transmissions. That's good news for you 5-door fans out there, as you won't be hauling any more weight than the guy beside you driving the 4-door. As such, the new 2008 Impreza increased by 64 pounds from 3,067 pounds to 3,131 pounds in four-door automatic trim (manual: increase of 48 pounds from 3,016 to 3,064) – unless my notes are incorrect Subaru stated that it has dropped by 50.7 pounds,

Flat four makes plenty of power, but suspension isn't as sporty as the previous model's undercarriage... smooth though. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

but they must be referring to the wagon, not the sedan. No, the new five-door is also heavier than the outgoing wagon, increasing from 3,120 pounds to 3,131 pounds, which is 11 pounds more (manual: decrease of 7 pounds from 3,071 to 3,064). Does it really matter? Only motorsport fanatics will notice the difference in curb weight when on the road anyway, but I'm pretty certain most everyone else will be able to feel the changes made to the suspension setup.

Gone are the trusty old MacPherson struts up front, replaced by a more sophisticated double-wishbone suspension that does wonders to flatten out bumps and dips. Yes, the new Impreza is a vastly superior car when it comes to ride quality, and I don't think most buyers will notice the trade-off it's paid in cornering ability. Before you get your feathers in a tussle let me make this point clear;

The hatchback is the storage king... (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

the new Impreza handles quite well and the majority of compact car buyers will appreciate the changes made because it's a much nicer car to live with from day to day. This said there has to be payment made for the nice ride unless the engineers and product planners were to have bucked up for expensive upgrades like an air suspension with magnetic control, currently found on Cadillacs amongst other premium brands, or a fully active suspension system like Maserati uses. Being that this is an under $20-something car, the trade-off is in tossability. Where the old car could be thrown into right-angle corners with wild abandon, the new one requires greater forethought and, realistically, less speed in order to execute a turn without significant nose dive and the associated tire-screeching understeer despite a 0.4-inch lower center of gravity. Sure the engineers quickened up the steering ratio for a more linear response, but this isn't the same kind of car as its predecessor. After all, if double-wishbones were beneficial to handling, BMW would have switched away from struts years ago. And that brings us to Subaru's nifty advertising slogan claiming the Impreza to be “The Japanese Car the German's Wish They Made”; a cute ad spot but like most TV, hardly real. Then again, being that it's pretty clear Subaru regularly targets clients who drive more responsibly than teenage boys trying to impress teenage girls, this change shouldn't be too much of a problem overall. It's possible, however, that some of its core performance buyers will be put off by the modifications in the same way that Honda now has some disenfranchised “Civic Nation” zealots upset with their car's change from struts to double-wishbones. Clearly, it's impossible to please everyone, but no doubt Subaru has done its homework and is prepared to take the heat from a select (read small)

....but the four-door gets a rear pass-through that makes it ideal for skiers. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

group of worshipers in order to entertain a much wider mainstream audience. The change to double-wishbones certainly hasn't hurt Honda's Civic sales.

Rather than mull over what the new Impreza is not, I continued my drive appreciating what it is. For instance, the frameless side windows are gone, hopefully forever, as they never gave a feeling of solidity and without doubt weren't as safe during side-impact accidents as the new fully-framed doors are. The new ones are sealed around the windows better too, so road and wind noise has been reduced.

Additionally the new Impreza should be, if previous models are anything to go by, one of the more reliable cars in its class, and on a similar family-friendly note is filled with more standard safety features than the majority of rivals. Even base cars come

There's a lot to like with the new Impreza. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

with front dual-stage airbags, front-seat side-impact thorax bags, side-curtain airbags for all outside occupants, active headrests, four-channel ABS-enhanced front-disc and rear-drum brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), not to mention those things unseen and unfelt until they're necessary, like a collapsible steering wheel column, steel reinforcements in those new fully-framed doors, a large cross-section main frame to absorb energy in a collision, the rear bumper height having been increased to meet larger vehicles like SUVs, and crumple zones everywhere else. Subaru says that it's been designed to ensure the highest IIHS safety ratings, and with this list of standard safety features it would be surprising to see it rated anywhere below the top.

Many

Electronic driving aids and symmetrical all-wheel drive keep the new Impreza in its lane no matter the weather... as long as you respect its limitations. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

will attest that Subaru's standard symmetrical all-wheel drive is also a safety feature, and as far as sticking to the road when a normal front-wheel or rear-wheel drive car might lose grip, it's hard to argue against it. And just in case you're thinking that many cars offer all-wheel drive, not all systems are created equal, with Subaru's regularly lauded for being a step above the rest in the entry-level crowd.

Just a little bit above base is the Premium Package, which comes with an extra set of disc brakes in the back, an inch larger in diameter no less, plus traction control and stability control, taking care of everyone onboard by bringing a skidding vehicle back on track. To me, this is worth the extra $1,500 alone, despite the fact that you get a heck of a lot more for that money than just traction and stability control. Actually, when factoring in the Premium Package the new Impreza will cost you just $500 more than the same model did last year, without it. Yes, Subaru is really getting serious about gobbling up market share, and the Impreza 2.5i's new $16,995 base price is a whole $1,000 less than when I last reported on it, as a 2006 model. Even with the Premium Package it slots in significantly lower at $18,495, answering critics that have regularly said, “Nice cars but a bit pricey.” Certainly you're going to pay more for a four-wheel drive Impreza than you will for a similarly sized Corolla or Civic, or Mazda3 for that matter, but not much more, and when counting up the standard features, which over and above all that I've already mentioned include air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and locks, plus floor mats, it becomes a pretty strong value proposition.

Oh, and that upgrade to the Premium Package also adds a better audio system, including a 6-CD changer, RDS, an auxiliary jack for your portable music player and redundant steering wheel controls, plus 3D sound and standard Sirius satellite radio capability. What else? How about a leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob, fog lights, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, brake assist (BA), a “hill-holder” system

Subaru dealers have numerous accessories to personalize your Impreza. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

that basically keeps you from rolling back if starting on an incline, and let me not forget traction control and electronic stability control, which I've already mentioned ad nauseam. And finally, the five-door gets a rear roof spoiler that looks pretty sweet. It'd look even sweeter if it had the underbody rear aerodynamic diffuser and ground effects body kit as seen available in other markets.

If want more you can look to your dealer to supply your Impreza with a few accessories, like a sportier black mesh grille, a rear spoiler for the four-door (that reportedly reduces drag by seven percent and fuel efficiency by one percent when traveling at 60 mph), an under spoiler, snowboard rack, bike rack and more.

For those needing a navigation system, you can opt for the $3,500 Satellite Radio and Navigation Package. It includes all of the features of the aforementioned Premium Package, a GPS navigation system with a touch-screen high-res LED screen that also displays your trip computer information, and

Clearly, positive sales response shows that Subaru's new direction was a good idea. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Sirius satellite radio. If directions are challenging to you a good portable nav system can be purchased at just about any electronics store starting from $250 to $500, and you can take it hiking and kayaking to boot. But I digress.

In summation, this new Impreza is a much better car than the outgoing one, and I believe most new car buyers will be impressed with all that's been done. The fact that it's now a much better deal as well brings the car into the crosshairs of many more potential customers, and this reality is already bearing fruit as last month saw the best Impreza sales ever. If it now falls within your means and therefore makes it on your shopping list, make sure not to forget to factor in the Impreza's extremely strong resale value when tallying up your comparison notes, and how easy it is to sell when it comes time to move up to a newer model. As any decent realtor, stock broker or business owner will tell you, you make your money when you buy.

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