Subaru Impreza Reviews

Even better, annual leave had come around and the Subie was off on an open road trip – 1200 kilometres in three days. Subaru has spent many years perfecting its trademark rally car and it is a nice package, and from $42,490 an affordable one too.We battled the traffic out of town, a trip made easier knowing that in under an hour the Rex would be put through his paces up the often-treacherous Bells Line of Road.This stretch of road has been negotiated in many different cars but none as much fun as the WRX. The combination of the two-litre turbo and the symmetrical all-wheel-drive meant it would be hard to beat, and it was.Winding through the twisting roads of the mountains, the sweet whistle of the turbo was music to the ears while the precise steering made the tight corners feel like a slight bend in the road. The WRX's turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 168Kw of power at 6000rpm and a massive 300Nm of torque at 3600rpm. The WRX is extremely sure-footed, helped by the 215/45 tyres and 17-inch rims, and despite its great handling, ride comfort is not too compromised.Yes, it is a rougher ride than some more expensive cars but it's certainly nowhere near as uncomfortable as several other sports cars of its calibre.The WRX is fitted (as standard) with a high-tech security keypad, an attempt by Subaru to stop the rising theft rate of the Rex. The company says it has resulted in a dramatic drop in the numbers stolen.The system involves putting a four-digit code into a keypad located in the centre console area that cuts the engine immobiliser and allows the driver to start the car. But as with all high-tech gadgets, there's a high-tech instruction booklet and this 25-plus page manual was too much bother, so trial and error was the key.The device has many different settings but the clever anti-hijack mode deserves a mention. When the car's in operation, the system senses that someone may have entered the car if the driver's door is opened – and so shuts it down. Pretty smart.On the open road, meanwhile, the Subie is comfortable and while noise interruption is noticeable it's not intrusive.On the rough highways the WRX felt like it was glued to the road. A particular example was following a standard Commodore along a bumpy section of road.The Commodore bounced all over the road while the Subie did not move off its line.And from the outside there is no mistaking the Subie's sporty looks.Alloys, spoiler kit, fog lamps and body-coloured bumpers, mirrors and handles are all standard, as is the large letterbox that protrudes from the bonnet. This theme is continued inside with sporty seats, Momo steering wheel, silver-rimmed gauges and drilled pedals.Checking the bonnet scoop for leaves soon became a habit – after all, the more air the better.At Dubbo Zoo a peacock was caught dining on the bugs in the grille, but unfortunately ran off before we could capture that Kodak moment. Travelling through the streets of Cowra, Parkes, Canowindra and Dubbo, the bright blue WRX certainly turned heads.Cruising at 100km/h was fine but at 110km/h the revs went up and the turbo came on, which meant the WRX liked a drink and slaking its thirst with premium is a costly exercise – its only downfall.

In a move which will further define the small-car performance market, plans are well advanced to introduce a 220kW 2.5-litre turbo as the stand-alone powerplant for the pink-badged performance star."Yes, that engine will probably be in the next generation of the STi we get," Subaru Australia managing director Trevor Amery says."There are still a few issues with homologation and a couple of ADRs (Australian Design Rules) that have to be adjusted for but they are not insurmountable problems."The primary ADR issues are with emissions and drive-by noise levels but both, Amery believes, can be overcome without major problems.A quick blast in a US-spec car at Subaru's research and development proving ground outside Tokyo recently confirmed that the 2.5 Turbo STi is a generational step forward for the WRX STi. Around the 4.5km oval track, the car topped out at an indicated 250km/h, reeling in the majority of that pace without fuss.On the twisty handling circuit, the additional urge out of corners was clearly apparent with the chassis lapping up the extra power with ease."At this stage, barring other problems, I could see this car in Australia by the end of next year," Amery says. "We would certainly like to have it . . . and are negotiating towards that end."He says there are no plans to put a detuned version of the 2.5-litre turbo into the base WRX.Subaru Australia general manager Nick Senior, who is responsible for Subaru's Australian rally program, says the 2.5-litre WRX engine may endanger the company's rally involvement."Group N is homologated on 2-litres and there would be a risk that if the 2.5-litre was available in the WRX, then it could become so popular that in a relatively short time the 2-litre engine would no longer meet production requirements," Senior says, referring to the rule that 2500 production models of a car must be produced each year before it can be homologated for Group N rally events.While the high-performance version of the 2.5-litre turbo engine is currently exclusive to the US, its garden variety sibling will hit Australia late next month as part of the new Forester range.To be badged as the XT, the 2.5-litre will replace the Forester GT turbo, which was dropped from the top of the model line-up a year ago.The larger capacity engine will sit on top of the Forester range, which also will include the entry-level X and non-turbo XS.Amery also quashed any suggestion that the Baja, a twin-cab ute-style recreational vehicle built in the US, had a future in Australia.

When a cult car comes up for renewal it's a huge event, and the arrival of the new-age Subaru WRX last October was no exception. The 2001 WRX is bigger and better, though it doesn't have the hard, nasty edge of the original. It's a pity the new WRX, nicknamed Bugzilla because of its bulging nose, overshadows the rest of the fresh Impreza family.The ordinary Impreza has done a great job for Subaru and its customers, and the new car is an important move forward. The 2001 Impreza is bigger and more comfortable, with an up-grade in basic engineering. It still comes with Subaru's signature "boxer'' flat-four engine and all-wheel drive, but almost everything has been improved in some way.The latest range opens with the GX sedan, good value at $25,470 and moves through the RX to the shotgun WRX. There is a four-door sedan or a compact wagon, though Subaru still calls it a hatchback. It is a five-door hatch, but most people will see it as a wagon.The change to the new Impreza is a landmark for Subaru, which has had some tough times over the past 10 years, but still managed to succeed in Australia.There was a time when its cars were stripped down to battle a strong Yen, but recently it has led Japanese car manufacturers through four-wheel-drive success and also upgraded its image. That means even the basic GX comes with anti-skid brakes, twin airbags, remote central locking, cruise control, CD player, fog lamps and twin trip meters. The RX picks up air-conditioning, sports seats, alloys and a leather sports wheel, with prices from $29,990.The WRX and Subaru's world rally program have helped, but the basic Impreza shows the company has a solid foundation for the 21st century. The GX and RX come with a fairly basic engine that produces 92kW of power and 184Nm of torque, hooked up to a slick five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed auto with a driver-friendly shift pattern - not one of the gimmicky F1-style changes.The cabin is a little bigger in most directions, and Subaru has mounted the front seats a bit higher to get extra foot space in the back. But there's only one big cup-holder in the centre of the dash, not a pair, and the aluminium-looking plastic looks cheap.The curvy new Impreza body came as a shock last year, especially to WRX fans, but it is getting accepted and the new look lets the car stand out in a crowd - important in an era when so many cars could be clones.Subaru's work runs deep, right down to body-coloured mirrors on all models - many rivals run basic black on their cheaper cars - and even a new style of door handle. But it faces a tough job as Holden's Astra and Vectra are setting the pace for smaller cars. Honda has its new Civic hatch, Ford is about to fight back with a revitalised Laser, and even the VW Golf is about to get a big push from a new factory-owned importer.DRIVINGTime with the WRX is always fun, and the new car is better balanced in turns - even if it feels a little slower in a straight line. It doesn't work the outside-front tyre as hard as the original, which means better cornering grip, and it is more relaxed and less frenetic to drive. But it's the other Imprezas that need a deeper dip, so I've been in GX and RX wagons and sedans to get a proper feel for the car.The best place to start is with the GX auto, which will be popular. The car is comfy and quiet, with a great ride and plenty of equipment. The auto bumps up the price, as will the optional air-conditioning, but the rest of the deal, especially the brakes, airbag and CD, are impressive for the price.The engine is nothing special, with a typically Subaru pull from the bottom end, but not much up top. It's an engine that works well with an automatic, especially with the latest shift pattern, though the manual helps the economy and is fun.The basic seats are supportive, the driving position is good and the level of trim and plastics is a bit more substantial than the previous Impreza. But, and it's a worry for Subaru as it is for Honda with the latest Civic, there were some squeaks and rattles in the test cars.The Impreza has always been a personal benchmark for production line finish, but not now. The GX was a little better than the more expensive RX, with a smoother ride and less road noise, possibly due to the taller tyres with less-aggressive tread.The all-wheel drive is something I almost take for granted, but it means the Impreza is more versatile for weekend work and ahead in lousy weather. All the cars need better headlamps, something Subaru doesn't do as well as its rivals or a Commodore. But it is easy to get in and out of the cars and there is plenty of space for adults in the back and luggage in the tail. The wagon (or hatch) isn't a huge load carrier, but provides some welcome flexibility.Compared with its rivals, the Impreza is value for money, but doesn't have the strength or speed to match the Astra. Its 2-litre engine gives it the edge over the Laser, and the Golf, which has a baby engine and a grown-up price. It's newer and more impressive than the Corolla.After driving the whole family of new Imprezas, from the basic GX sedan to the crackerjack WRX, I'm still split on the verdict. The car is better than the old one, but there were quality glitches that you don't expect with a Subaru. It should be a four-star car, and the GX just gets them on value, but it's only a three-star step forward.SUBARU IMPREZA GX AUTOPrice: $27,840 as testedEngine: 2-litre four cylinder with single-overhead camshafts and fuel injectionPower: 92kW/5600revsTorque: 184Nm/3600revsTransmission: Four-speed auto, all-wheel driveBody: four-door wagonDimensions: length 4405mm, width 1695mm, height 1440mm, wheelbase 2525mm, tracks 1460/1460mm front/rearWeight: 1340kgFuel tank: 50 litresFuel consumption: average on test 8.7 litres/100kmSteering: power-assisted rack-and-pinionSuspension: fully independent with front MacPherson struts and rear trailing arms with coil springs and linksBrakes: anti-skid four-wheel discsWheels: 6x15 steelTyres: 196x60 R15Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmRIVALSHolden Astra from $19,920Toyota Corolla from $20,750Volkswagen Golf from $25,990