Subaru Impreza - The All-New Impreza

01-12-2007 14:46

The Impreza does not exactly jump out at you but is far more subtle in terms of design with 15 inch alloy wheels, body coloured door handles, door mirrors and bumpers with integrated fog lights, but the sporty feel comes out in the wide track over the wheels, coupled with broad shoulder lines and side body creases.

Inside is a pretty spacious interior with plenty of room for five adults and on board toys include air conditioning, a radio/CD player, electric windows, an in depth information display including the fuel consumption used per journey and height adjustable steering wheel. There are a few storage solutions dotted around the cabin and the boot is certainly large enough for the weekly shopping with 301 litres of space increasing to 1216 litres when the rear seats are folded flat.

Safety wise, the Impreza comes with driver and passenger airbags, plus curtain and side airbags, the front seats have pre-tensioners, there are two ISOFIX mountings in the rear while the brake pedal is energy absorbing to protect the drivers lower limbs. ABS with EBD is standard but if all hell lets loose, throughout the body is an extensive use of high tensile steel of varying thickness that provides good crushability where needed to protect the passengers. To reduce pedestrian injuries, the front bumper has a more rounded contour on the top, a more gentle curved bonnet and wipers that collapse, hence soften any impact.

So, was I impressed with the new Impreza? Apart from the rather sluggish uptake and time it took to really get going, yes I was impressed with the rest of the technology under the bonnet ensuring I was safe, as was the Impreza. Her looks would not win any beauty contest, she is far too subtle for that but I knew other Suborn fanatics would recognise her as the new sibling and at the end of the day, the street cred in owning a Subaru is worth every penny.

FemaleFirst Jackie Violet

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