Subaru Impreza 4D 2.0i-S EyeSight (A) Facelift Review

If you're looking for a mid-sized family sedan, there is no looking past the crowd favourites such as the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Hyundai Avante.

But after taking a good look at the Subaru Impreza, we realised that the car could well be a compelling competitor in this segment.

All grown up

During our time with the Impreza, there were a few instances where we referred to the car as a Legacy, the Impreza's bigger sibling.

That's because at 1,775mm wide, the Impreza you see here is wider than the Legacy from two generations ago by some 45mm. It even shares the same wheelbase as the old car at 2,670mm, too.

The facelift Impreza also adds 15mm to the car's overall length, at 4,640mm. This is thanks to slight changes on the car's sheet metal. Most notably is the updated front bumper and radiator grille, which compliment the new LED headlamps. The test car also came dressed up with optional STI accessories, which add a bit of appeal over the base Impreza.

An improved space

Subaru has taken big steps in improving its interior, and the Impreza is no exception. Welcoming and spacious, it feels cushy and premium, with a significant amount of soft-touch and glossy materials that rival premium European competitors such as the Skoda Octavia.  

The Impreza doesn't fall short on equipment, either. The 8.0-inch infotainment system has been updated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And while one USB port is hooked up to the infotainment system, there's still three more for other passengers to charge their devices.

There is ample amount of room inside, which offers quite a bit of practicality. Lanky individuals will find it hard to fault, with enough legroom to fit three in the rear comfortably. Boot space is also reasonable at 460 litres, which is just 15 litres short when compared to the Toyota Corolla Altis.

The increased space on offer is quite a big feat for the Impreza, as one might remember previous generations lacking, no thanks to the space robbing all-wheel drive drivetrain.

A tidy drive

Since this isn't a turbocharged, fire-breathing WRX STI, one shouldn't expect the Impreza to be breaking any land speed records.

The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine makes a modest 154bhp and 190Nm of torque to all four wheels, with a 100km/h timing dispatched in 9.8 seconds.

For sure, it is no sports sedan. But the Impreza has more than enough pace for daily driving and the occasional overtaking manoeuvre.

And in its segment, only the Skoda Octavia and the Seat Toledo are able to better its century sprint timing, thanks to both cars having turbocharged lumps.

The only qualm we had with the Impreza's powerplant was the CVT transmission being lethargic at times with hard throttle inputs. Putting the drive mode to Sport negates that behaviour to a certain degree.

While outright performance is adequate, the Impreza impresses more with its cornering abilities.

With almost no hint of body roll, coupled with its sharp and direct steering, we found ourselves enjoying the drive much more than one would expect from a family sedan.

Complimenting the Impreza's relaxed behaviour behind the wheel is Subaru's EyeSight safety tech. We found ourselves using its adaptive cruise control function at every instance we could.

Unlike other cars, the system doesn't brake aggressively whenever traffic is ahead of you. Instead, it gradually slows you down, and even indicates that the brake lights of the car are on.

While there is a lot to like about the Impreza behind the wheel, its biggest Achilles heel is fuel consumption. With a bit of effort, we managed only 10.2km/L over our 50km test drive with the car.

An option to consider

With its well-appointed interior, its suite of safety assistance features and a good drive to boot, the Impreza continues to prove that it can be a compelling family sedan.

Priced at $99,800 (as of 2 February 2020), it also sits between the more traditional family sedan options like the Hyundai Avante ($98,999) and the Toyota Corolla Altis ($102,888). While most buyers would probably go for these options, we highly suggest you take a look at the Impreza.

For if you're in the market for a family sedan, it might just leave a pretty good impression.