Down-low Keeping things on the
Sixth-generation Subaru Impreza hatchback is a pleasing surprise in an SUV world
We get the overwhelming preference for all things SUV in New Zealand and of course, we go with the market in the way we review new vehicles.
But a quick digression . . . if you don’t mind. While there are many advantages an SUV body shape brings, no matter how good it is, it would surely be nicer to drive on-road if it was a little lower to the ground. Everything else being equal, that just makes sense.
Enter the sixth-generation Subaru Impreza hatchback. It’s a new version of a family car that has been with us for three decades, although it’s a body type that’s rather niche now. But it remains a great mainstream model that does so much right.
It’s also essentially the same car as the Subaru Crosstrek, which is jacked up with extra plastic bits to make it into an SUV. If that sounds a bit dismissive, it isn’t meant to be: the Crosstrek is an impressive little crossover, with a great AWD system, good ground clearance and even an “X-Mode” to help you get further off the beaten track.
We’re just making the point that the Impreza is essentially a passenger-car version of the Crosstrek; or maybe the Crosstrek is an SUV version of the Impreza, even though it was launched first. Hard to tell these days.
Some extended test time in the Impreza has reminded us just how satisfying a conventional family hatchback can be. It’s a more engaging drive than the equivalent Crosstrek, which is a compliment because that’s rather good too.
The steering, ride and handling are as well sorted as you’d expect from Subaru. It’s not outrageously sporty, but everything feels nicely balanced and because you’re sitting quite low (at least by the standards of our SUV world) in supportive seats, it feels like a very complete dynamic package.
The Impreza is no ordinary family hatch of course, because it also gets the AWD system from the Crosstrek. Which works just as well on wet roads as it does for light off-roading in its SUV cousin.
If there’s a weak point, it’s the engine, which is a classic Subaru boxer but a bit short on power and torque. That’s no different from the Crosstrek petrol, but the latter has an advantage in also offering hybrid versions that have an extra 66Nm from the electric motor. That tech is not offered in the Impreza for NZ. If it’s any consolation, you’re not losing a lot in fuel economy. The Crosstrek hybrid is only 0.7l/100km more thrifty than the standard petrol.
The Impreza is still a really impressive motorway cruiser once you’re up to speed. It’s refined thanks to the continuously variable transmission that drops the revs right down, and the ride soaks up irregular surfaces nicely.
The new Impreza is nearly $10k more expensive than the last model. But at $44,990 it actually feels like a lot of car for the money: the new platform is a strong base and the little Subaru now boasts premium-model levels of standard equipment. It’s also $2k cheaper than the equivalent Crosstrek.
The Impreza cabin is characterful and the car is loaded, from Subaru’s latest EyeSight driver-assist system to the new
360-degree panoramic camera system (which made its debut on the Crosstrek last year) to a great Harman Kardon audio system — which is a first for an Imprezabadged Subaru. All basically the same as the Crosstrek Premium.
You don’t often get to compare hatch and SUV, like-for-like. A Corolla hatch is not really like a Corolla Cross, and a Honda Civic hatch is nothing like a ZR-V. But if you’re in the market for a small Subaru, you do have the choice between the Impreza and the Crosstrek. Don’t dismiss the more traditional model just because SUVs are the fashion; the Impreza might surprise and delight you.