Subaru Impreza 2.0 RC 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
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List Price: £19,475
Tax Band: J
Insurance Group: 20
MPG: 33.6
CO2: 199
0-62 Mph: N/A secs
BHP: 148 BHP
Range: 443 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3.5/5
The Subaru Impreza is a car that will attract many people simply because of its name and its racing heritage, but this family hatchback really is a car that is fairly disappointing on the whole. Considering the racing pedigree of the car, the 2.0 litre engine doesn't deliver in terms of performance or fuel efficiency, and in a competitive market like this the Impreza is going to struggle to find buyers.

PROS:  The fact that this car comes with four wheel drive means that it has plenty of traction, and also manages to handle well while having a reasonably good level of equipment.

CONS:  The trim isn't particularly nice and the high running costs make this a fairly disappointing car, which also doesn't perform particularly well and has a ride that is too hard.

Behind the Wheel

One of the problems with the car is that the ride isn't as good as it could be, and while it does take some of the bumps in its stride, it does tend to pitch and bounce when hitting larger bumps. The four wheel drive means that there is plenty of traction, even when driving in wet road conditions, but the handling isn't as quick as some of the rivals, and isn't as agile as it should be. The driving position is generally quite good, and is able to offer a driving seat and steering wheel with plenty of adjustment, but taller drivers may find the lack of headroom disappointing.

Considering that this car boasts a 2.0 litre engine, the acceleration from 0-62mph is quite slow, taking 9.6 seconds to reach that speed. The top speed of 122mph is quite reasonable for a family hatchback, but many drivers will want to avoid going too quickly as things can get very noisy in the cabin, with engine noise and wind noise picking up significantly at motorway speeds.

Looks & Equipment

The looks of the Impreza isn't enough to make this car stand out either, although a vent in the bonnet does hint at the racing pedigree of the brand. The back end of the Impreza is similar to that of the Ford Focus, with a sloping square rear window and an interesting layout of the tail lights. Inside the car the dashboard is quite straightforward, with the blue highlighting on the dials interesting, while the centre console looks quite good too.

This version of the Subaru Impreza does come filled with a good range of equipment included as standard, with satellite navigation and alloy wheels both being welcome additions to the car. The CD stereo comes with a multi-disc changer, and the heated seats and power folding mirrors do add to the high level of equipment included with the car.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Impreza is a fairly practical car, and can accommodate four people quite easily, but the lack of headroom in the front is an issue for some drivers, while legroom may affect larger passengers in the back. The boot is quite well sized, and has ample room for luggage for the occupants. One big selling point for the car is that Subaru has an excellent reliability record, and the Impreza is likely to add to that reputation.

The safety equipment included with the Impreza is quite good, with a number of airbags to protect the driver and passengers, and some driving aids that help to keep the car firmly on the road. However, the Impreza was only able to achieve four stars in the Euro NCAP safety test.

Value for Money

The costs of a car will always be a major factor in buying a new car, and this version of the Impreza hatchback has a list price of £19,475, which does put it in competition with some of the class leaders.

The running costs of the car are also a concern, with the 2.0 litre engine only able to achieve an average 32.8mpg. The insurance group means that premiums should be quite reasonable, but depreciation is likely to be a major issue when it comes to selling the Impreza. Subaru supply the car with a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty, and a three year roadside breakdown assistance policy, which is not bad for cars in this class.

Subaru Impreza 2.0 RC 5dr Car Review - by 
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Medium Family Alternatives

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