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- Reliability
- Quick, good handling
- Highly customizable
- Styling inside and out
- Gas mileage and suspension
- Parts are expensive and hard to obtain
Other sources say the four-speed automatic on the base-model Subaru Impreza is an uninspiring performer. Gas mileage is unimpressive, and the interior fit and finish are inconsistent. Some reviewers also note the potentially problematic limited availability of Subaru parts and repairs. The Impreza comes in sedan and hatchback body styles with a wagon variant, the Outback Sport. In general, reviewers feel the Impreza doesn't perform to the level set by the class-leading Honda Accord (*est. $20,360 to $28,060) or Toyota Camry (*est. $18,720 to $28,270), but the performance-tuned WRX version has a niche following.
Motor Trend magazine's exhaustive road testing and careful analysis of the results make the accompanying Car of the Year article one of the better reviews we found. ConsumerGuide.com provides an analysis that shows how the Impreza ranks against the compact-car segment as a whole. The WRX version of the Subaru Impreza makes the 2008 list of the "Best New Cars" at About.com, and both the Impreza and the Impreza WRX STI are named as two of this year's "Best Bets" at Cars.com. At this writing, Consumer Reports magazine hasn't tested the 2008 Impreza, but it has enough information on past years' models. Editors of Edmunds.com offer a helpful summary of their evaluation. The Car Family, a branch of the National Motorists Association, publishes blog-based reviews evaluating the Impreza and other vehicles on their family functionality.
A major restyle for 2008 puts the Subaru Impreza in the spotlight. Most sources say the Impreza offers a compliant ride with agreeable handling and good steering feedback. Seats provide good lateral support, and six airbags are standard. Acceleration is a particular strength of the WRX version of the Impreza, and other versions offer adequate (if not as impressive) get-up-and-go. Reliability for past years' Imprezas has been consistently above average, and experts predict that trend will continue. Many reviewers don't care for the 2008 Impreza's exterior styling, though, especially on the sedan version.
Our Sources
1. Motor TrendDetails/Subscribe
The 2008 Subaru Impreza doesn't make it to the final round of Motor Trend's Car of the Year testing. Evaluators state that they're more than impressed with the performance of the four-cylinder engine, but they're less-enthusiastic about changes to the styling and suspension tuning.
Review: 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Contenders, Ron Kiino
ConsumerGuide.com editors test out many of the top-selling family sedans on the U.S. market, ranking them against a class average. The 2008 Subaru Impreza's overall score comes in just below the average for the compact-car segment, though only WRX models appear to have been tested.
Review: 2008 Subaru Impreza, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Sept. 18, 2008
3. About.com
About.com's car guide, Aaron Gold, relies on experience to choose the best new and redesigned cars for each model year. The 2008 Subaru Impreza makes his list. Gold has actually tested the models he recommends, and his reviews are well-balanced and filled with useful information. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Best New Cars of 2008, Aaron Gold
4. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
One of the best aspects of Consumer Reports' reviews is the documentation on reliability, which allows them to predict future performance. Consumer Reports analysis also focuses mainly on ride quality, handling and safety.
Review: Subaru Impreza Review, Editors of Consumer Reports
5. Edmunds.com
Editors conclude that the mainstreaming of the Subaru Impreza has resulted in some significant improvements, but at the cost of this model's distinctive character -- only the WRX STI version retains its sporty feel, they say.
Review: 2008 Subaru Impreza Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
The Car Family's perspective is unique in that evaluators thoroughly test each model for family functionality and practicality; everyone is along for the ride. The Subaru Impreza is fun to drive, but repair costs and middling fuel economy prevent the Impreza from earning a grade higher than C+.
Review: The Complete Guide to Family Sedans: Finding the Best Car, Editors of The Car Family, Mar. 21, 2008
7. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the 2008 Subaru Impreza a "Top Safety Pick." In order to earn this designation, a car must get the highest rating of "good" in all three crash tests, plus offer electronic stability control.
Review: Top Safety Picks 2008, Editors of IIHS.org
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