What We Like
Firmly planted corner carver
Premium cabin
Plenty of safety equipment and driver assistance features
What We Dislike
1.6-litre Boxer and CVT require a fair bit of runway to get up to speed
Subaru takes off with a completely revamped Impreza for 2017. It is the brand's first model to come equipped with the all new Subaru Global Platform (SGP) and boasts enhanced driving dynamics, new styling, as well as plenty of safety equipment and driver assistance features.
The test car we drove - the Subaru Impreza 4D 1.6 - comes in at $105,800 while its 2.0-litre brethren will set you back $120,800 (both prices as of 17th March 2017).
Getting behind the wheel of the 2017 Impreza was an other-worldly experience, reminding us of how strangely the interior of the car resembles a fighter jet cockpit. But will this Flight Cadet receive its wings?
Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby
A plethora of controls and instruments greet you as you step inside the fifth generation Subaru Impreza, which can be daunting at first. But once you get used to them, you'll be as adept as Maverick was in his F-14 Tomcat.
The Impreza's modern and upmarket cabin features not one, not two, but three information displays. An electronic instrument cluster and central display come as no surprise but Subaru has added a secondary central display, which augments the driving experience.
It is situated above the infotainment unit and displays information - including average fuel consumption, oil and water temperature, and angle of elevation - in a minimalist layout for easy viewing and a more engaging drive.
The test car we drove - the Subaru Impreza 4D 1.6 - comes in at $105,800 while its 2.0-litre brethren will set you back $120,800 (both prices as of 17th March 2017).
Getting behind the wheel of the 2017 Impreza was an other-worldly experience, reminding us of how strangely the interior of the car resembles a fighter jet cockpit. But will this Flight Cadet receive its wings?
Tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a flyby
A plethora of controls and instruments greet you as you step inside the fifth generation Subaru Impreza, which can be daunting at first. But once you get used to them, you'll be as adept as Maverick was in his F-14 Tomcat.
The Impreza's modern and upmarket cabin features not one, not two, but three information displays. An electronic instrument cluster and central display come as no surprise but Subaru has added a secondary central display, which augments the driving experience.
It is situated above the infotainment unit and displays information - including average fuel consumption, oil and water temperature, and angle of elevation - in a minimalist layout for easy viewing and a more engaging drive.
An intuitive 8.0-inch touchscreen takes centre stage on the dashboard, offering standard features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, as well as shortcuts to your favourite apps.
Other driver assistance systems include a built-in Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Blindspot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist and a Rear Vision Camera.
High-quality soft touch materials strewn about the Impreza's cabin give it a premium feel, comparable to more luxurious European sedans.
Leather seats, which come standard in both engine variants, offer adequate back support and comfort during long journeys. Other premium bits include aluminium pedals and a leather-wrapped gear shifter.
Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full
There's something about being in the driver's seat of the Impreza that makes you want to break the sound barrier.
Unfortunately, you won't be breaking any land speed records with its 1.6-litre Boxer engine and Lineartronic CVT gearbox, which require a fair bit of runway in order to take flight.
Other driver assistance systems include a built-in Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Blindspot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist and a Rear Vision Camera.
High-quality soft touch materials strewn about the Impreza's cabin give it a premium feel, comparable to more luxurious European sedans.
Leather seats, which come standard in both engine variants, offer adequate back support and comfort during long journeys. Other premium bits include aluminium pedals and a leather-wrapped gear shifter.
Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full
There's something about being in the driver's seat of the Impreza that makes you want to break the sound barrier.
Unfortunately, you won't be breaking any land speed records with its 1.6-litre Boxer engine and Lineartronic CVT gearbox, which require a fair bit of runway in order to take flight.
Sporting a slightly tweaked version of its predecessor's flat-four, the Impreza puts out 112 horses and 150Nm of twisting force that accelerates to 100km/h in 12.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 185km/h.
Let's turn and burn
Thanks to the SGP, the Impreza now sports a 5mm lower centre of gravity and improved rigidity. Couple that with the Japanese marque's symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), alongside with its sharp and precise steering, what you'll get is a firmly planted corner carver. A quicker rack also inspires confidence while manoeuvring around tight bends.
A tighter and stiffer chassis results in a firm yet comfortable ride. Subaru's symmetrically designed AWD drivetrain limits rolling and pitching of the chassis, which in turn allows the suspension to do its job properly and soaks up bumps in the road with surety.
Your ego is writing cheques your body can't cash
Goose lost his life in a training accident, which left Maverick flying solo. Thankfully, the SGP's active and passive safety features render the job of a co-pilot moot.
Its lower centre of gravity, as well as improved structural and suspension rigidity, offer outstanding obstacle avoidance capabilities and a 40 percent improvement in impact absorption.
Let's turn and burn
Thanks to the SGP, the Impreza now sports a 5mm lower centre of gravity and improved rigidity. Couple that with the Japanese marque's symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), alongside with its sharp and precise steering, what you'll get is a firmly planted corner carver. A quicker rack also inspires confidence while manoeuvring around tight bends.
A tighter and stiffer chassis results in a firm yet comfortable ride. Subaru's symmetrically designed AWD drivetrain limits rolling and pitching of the chassis, which in turn allows the suspension to do its job properly and soaks up bumps in the road with surety.
Your ego is writing cheques your body can't cash
Goose lost his life in a training accident, which left Maverick flying solo. Thankfully, the SGP's active and passive safety features render the job of a co-pilot moot.
Its lower centre of gravity, as well as improved structural and suspension rigidity, offer outstanding obstacle avoidance capabilities and a 40 percent improvement in impact absorption.
A 1dB reduction in acceleration noise and minimised resonance in the SGP also result in a more refined cabin that places the Impreza on par with rivals above its class.
You can be my wingman anytime
Besides a manual mode, the 1.6-litre variant of the Impreza comes with the same features as its 2.0-litre sibling. More relevantly, it also costs $15,000 less. Between the two, the smaller engine variant is the more sensible option.
If you're looking for insane amounts of power and driving dynamics, we'd recommend you hold out for Subaru's next generation of the WRX and STI.
But if you want a well-built sedan with confidence-inspiring handling that's easy to live with day-to-day, look no further. The Impreza has got your back in any dogfight.
This Flight Cadet just got promoted to Squadron Leader.
You can be my wingman anytime
Besides a manual mode, the 1.6-litre variant of the Impreza comes with the same features as its 2.0-litre sibling. More relevantly, it also costs $15,000 less. Between the two, the smaller engine variant is the more sensible option.
If you're looking for insane amounts of power and driving dynamics, we'd recommend you hold out for Subaru's next generation of the WRX and STI.
But if you want a well-built sedan with confidence-inspiring handling that's easy to live with day-to-day, look no further. The Impreza has got your back in any dogfight.
This Flight Cadet just got promoted to Squadron Leader.
