A drive in the Subaru Impreza 2.0R sedan

MANILA, Philippines - Subaru Impreza owners are some of the most loyal owners in automobiledom. It’s a select group, characterized by people who want that extra something that’ll make their car different – and special – compared to everyone else’s.

People who buy a Subaru want exclusivity. Obviously, the brand “Subaru” is hardly the top-of-mind choice for most people looking for a car or an SUV, hence its position as a “niche” model compared to Toyota and Honda, even though the prices for some of those three car companies’ models are not that much different.

People who buy Subaru normally have performance as high priorities, too. It’s the only model that has a turbo gasoline model regularly on display in its showroom. Ditto full-time all-wheel-drive, even in its cars – not just in its crossovers and SUVs.

Of course, there are those who buy Subarus if only to celebrate the marque’s World Rally Championship-winning exploits of some years back. And Subaru fans know all too well that it was the Impreza sedans – not a hatchback or a wagon – which established that victorious legacy. Which is probably why Subaru decided to resurrect the legendary Impreza sedan body style.

Don’t get me wrong. The current 5-door Impreza is one fine car. It’s certainly more practical and versatile than a sedan can ever hope to be. But there is always something special about sports sedans (think BMW, which practically invented this genre) that makes it irresistibly appealing to many people.

Viewed from the front, the new Impreza sedan looks virtually identical to the hatchback. In fact, both cars are absolutely identical from the front bumper all the way to the rear doors. It’s the rear quarter windows, the rear fenders, and of course, the whole rear end and the roof that are different.

The quarter window aft of the rear door is now a smaller and more conventional shaped one. The crisp character line continues all the way to the tail lamps, just like in the hatchbacks. The tail lamps, on the other hand, are of a totally different design from those in the hatchback, leading one to believe that the two cars are completely different Subaru models.

The rear end with its vertical surfaces and large rear bumper with prominent reflectors actually look more like that of the Subaru Legacy sedan’s. I just find the trunk and rear fender portion of the car too short and stubby – almost like it was added as an afterthought; this despite the sedan being 6 inches longer than the hatchback. The rear spoiler already occupies more than half of the horizontal surface of the trunklid. It detracts from the gracefulness and otherwise formal profile that a sedan should have. The last Impreza sedan (which bowed out in late 2007) had a much more balanced and purposeful look when you look at it from the side.

The new Impreza-with-a-trunk comes in two flavors: hot and hotter. The hot version, which I tested, comes with the smooth-running (and Porsche-sounding) flat-4 non-turbo 2-liter 150-ps/20-kg-m (at 6400 rpm and 3200 rpm, respectively) motor used in the Impreza 2.0R hatchback. Locally it’s available only with a 4-speed automatic transmission with Subaru’s manumatic Sportshift feature. (The hotter version is the 230-hp, 2.5-liter turbo-intercooled WRX model.)

Engine power (i.e. acceleration from low to high rev range) is right up there with the 2-liter competition like the new Mitsubishi Lancer, the Honda Civic, the new top-of-the-line Toyota Corolla Altis, and the Mazda3. Subaru claims a 0-100-kph sprint in 11.6 seconds and a top speed of 182 kph. Get the turbo WRX variant if you want lots more oomph (0-100 kph in 6.5 seconds and a 210-kph top speed).

As with any Subaru, the Impreza sedan comes with the company’s proven Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive with Active Torque Split system, which gives it phenomenal traction and handling, aided and abetted by sport-tuned McPherson front struts and rear double wishbones. The ride/handling balance is a bit biased in favor of handling; but the car is by no means a harsh-riding sedan, even for those who will buy it without any intention of attacking apexes. 

Brakes are via 4-wheel discs, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Stopping power may not be stupendous – the Subaru Forester Turbo seems to be the king in this aspect – but is certainly more than adequate.

Other features and amenities are sporty front bucket seats, a leather steering wheel with audio control switches, a leather gearshift knob, a premium 6-CD in-dash audio system with no less than ten speakers, digital information display, HID xenon headlamps, front and rear fog lamps, 17-inch alloy wheels and high-performance 205/50R-17 tires, front/side/curtain airbags, and an engine-immobilizing keyless security system.

This is one heavily spec’d sedan – and one that gives excellent value for money with its P1.188 million sticker price.

THE GOOD

•           Smooth and torquey drivetrain

•           Lots of comfort, convenience and safety features

•           Outstanding all-weather traction and handling

•           High build quality

•           Greater exclusivity and higher perceived prestige relative to its Japanese competition

THE BAD

•           Trunk lid looks too short and stubby

•           Ear-piercingly annoying and persistent seatbelt warning buzzer

•           Weak AM/FM radio station signal reception

THE VERDICT

•           The Impreza for those who simply must have a trunk.