Subaru gets sporty
NEW IMPREZA A NEAR CLONE OF THE CROSSTREK, WITH SOME GARNISHES AND A LOWER RIDE HEIGHT
To the surprise of no one, Subaru’s new Impreza is pretty much a clone of the company’s recently revised Crosstrek. Oh, it’s been lowered and there’s a whole bunch less cladding adorning fender arches and bumpers. But apart from the aforementioned garnishes and ride height, the Impreza is the same stylish-but-squinty-eyed sloped-roof design as the popular sport-cute.
That’s because, thanks to our love of anything even remotely sport-ute(ish), the Crosstrek vastly outsells its car-like alternative. Where SUVS used to be styled to mimic mainstream sedans, now the opposite prevails, and the Impreza’s body line — not to mention most of its mechanics — mimic the faux-by-faux.
That means the base engine is the same 2.0-litre Boxer four — Subaru officially calls it an “H4” — as the Crosstrek. Good for 152 horsepower and 145 poundfeet of torque, the naturally-aspirated four has numerous detail changes — the cylinder head, piston rings, and crankshaft have all been upgraded — to enhance reliability. There’s no word on fuel economy, but range has been improved by the simple expediency of increasing the gas tank’s capacity from 50 to 63 litres.
The new-for-impreza 2.5L H4 is likewise liberated from the Crosstrek, which means it ups the ante to 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. However, like the 2.0L, it boasts a number of improvements, including new piston rings, camshaft, and engine mounts.
In both cases, engines are mated to a Lineartronic CVT. Subaru says that at least 80 per cent of its componentry has been upgraded, and it contributes to the improved fuel economy through things like reduced internal friction. Subaru says that, thanks to the CVT’S expanded ratio spread, both acceleration (thanks to lower initial gearing) and fuel economy (grace of taller final gearing) are improved. There’s also a manual mode that allows the CVT to mimic an eightspeed manumatic with its paddle shifters. Subaru also says the Active Torque Split AWD (ACT-4) improves steering via superior torque management.
Speaking of steering, Subaru says the dual-pinion electric steering system is lifted straight from the WRX. Since steering systems are now electrically boosted, the company claims that by separating the resistance of the motor input shaft and reducing the friction on the operation shaft, the result is a more direct and natural steering feel. Not only is the steering boosted, but so too now are the brakes. Subaru says the result is increased stopping power and brake feel.
Subaru has not forgotten the interior appointments, which are much improved. While a seven-inch display is standard, upscale Imprezas get a huge 11.6-inch tablet-like infotainment screen that dominates the dashboard. Wireless charging remains optional, but Android Auto and Apple Carplay are standard across the board. Ditto for USB charging points — Type A and C — in the front, but the same charging points are optional for the rear seats.
On the safety front, the new Impreza boasts Active Torque vectoring as standard equipment on all models (it was previously only available on the top Sporttech trim). Subaru’s version of hill control, meanwhile, is called Auto Vehicle Hold, and it keeps the vehicle still even when the brake pedal is released.
The fourth version of Eyesight, meanwhile, boasts a new stereo camera, a wide-angle mono-camera, and improved functionality for the pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, and autonomous emergency braking. Meanwhile, a new Driverfocus system — available only in the range-topping Sport-tech trim — “bathes the driver in near-infrared LEDS” to measure attentiveness. As an added convenience, the same information is used to set seating and mirror preferences if drivers’ profiles are entered into the system.
Canada will be getting four trim levels, including a Canadian exclusive, the topof-the-line Sport-tech (yes, the Yankees don’t get this one). The base Convenience and Touring version come with the base 2.0L H4; while the RS and Sport-tech get upgraded to the larger 2.5L.
Subaru is not yet releasing official pricing and availability information for the new Impreza, but, reading between the lines, Q4 of 2023 would be a good bet.