THE SECRET’S OUT

With the 2017 Impreza 2.0i Sport sedan, Subaru lands a solid punch to the solar plexus of the compact class, plus all-wheel drive comes standard

Subaru is like the indie band you loved when nobody knew them, and the 4-star 2018 Impreza 2.0i Sport compact sedan just might be the crossover hit that takes them big time.

Subaru has been the incrowd’s secret for years. Now it also makes several excellent cars. Get used to seeing more Subarus.

The Impreza compact sedan and hatchback were all-new for the 2017 model year. The 2018 model year brought a few more safety features and a slight price increase that reflects the car’s status as a hit: Impreza sales are up 48.3 percent versus a year ago.

All-wheel-drive is standard on all models. All Imprezas have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder horizontally opposed “boxer” engine that produces 152 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque.

Prices start at $18,495 for a four-door sedan with a fivespeed manual transmission. Hatchbacks start at $18,995. Subaru’s continuously variable automatic transmission adds $1,000. A 2018 Impreza Sport equipped like my mid-level 2017 Impreza Sport sedan model costs $25,145.

My car had a large and useful touch screen; voice recognition; Apple CarPlay; Bluetooth compatibility; Android Auto; backup camera; 18-inch alloy wheels; high-definition radio; a four-month satellite radio trial; power locks, mirrors and windows; power sunroof; Harman Kardon audio; blind spot and cross-traffic alerts.

The Impreza’s passenger compartment is roomy and comfortable, with plenty of storage for cups, smartphones and the like. The rear seat is accommodating.

The boxer engine and CVT deliver decent performance despite only average power. The suspension manages bumps and keeps the car stable in quick maneuvers.

Subaru offers a wide range of safety features in an option package called EyeSight. You can equip an Impreza with adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, automatic high beam lights and lane-keeping assist, in addition to the standard features on my car. That package of features costs $2,150 on an Impreza Sport.

It’s hard to find any real shortcomings in the Impreza. Fuel economy is in the middle of the pack, but it’s quite good for an all-wheel-drive vehicle. The EPA rates the CVTequipped Impreza at 28 m.p.g. in the city, 38 on the highway

The Impreza brings the goodies that made Subaru a cult favorite to the mass market, at affordable prices. It should raise the ante for every other brand that sells compact cars.