North Americans love small cars, so it should be no surprise that the compact car segment represents a substantial portion of the new car market. As a result, the offerings in this category are a hot property for the manufacturers and, as such, are reasonably priced, well-equipped, and ideally suited to meet the driving needs of most consumers.
Impreza 2012 Model is Completly New
Subaru enters the 2012 model year with an all-new Impreza. This is the fourth generation of the brand’s ultra-successful, bread-and-butter model, which has always been popular with buyers. With this car, Subaru hopes to expand its brand appeal and promote that the company produces high-quality vehicles that are reliable, comfortable, and efficient vehicles. The biggest news is that the new power train has been engineered to both maximize fuel efficiency and preserve the car’s reputation as a car that is fun to drive.
“More than you’d expect in a compact car.” This is the tagline being used to market the Subaru Impreza. After having spent the better part of a day behind the wheel of a couple of examples of this surefooted machine, I am happy to report that, for once, there seems to be some truth in advertising. The new car features a much more refined design, improved fit-and-finish, and an impressive level of standard equipment across the board. Add to this crisp handling, improved ergonomics, a responsive power-train, and improved fuel economy, and I am certain Subaru will attract a host of new customers to the fold.
Impreza 5-Door Styling
The Impreza features new styling from bumper to bumper. Still, it is evident up front, where a hexagonal grille and stylish new headlights sporting a “hawk-eye” design (similar to those on the current Legacy) dominate the real estate. The car now features a more angular body shape, and it’s evident that Subaru’s design team sought to give the car its own identity so there are fewer styling similarities to its traditional WRX siblings. The Impreza’s new look is still surprisingly muscular, as a wide stance and prominent fender flares hint at the car’s increased size.
2012 Subaru Impreza Interior
Once I slipped behind the wheel, it was apparent that the car was roomier than the previous iteration. I am a rather large individual but still fit comfortably in both front seating positions. I did not want more leg, hip, head or shoulder room.
I also tried the rear compartment on for size. The longer wheelbase allowed me to squeeze into the two outboard seating positions as long as the front seats weren’t set back on their slides. The centre position was not a valid option for my 6’2″, 260lb frame. Ingress and egress are much improved as front and rear side door openings have been made larger to accommodate North American buyers better.
Cabin Feel and Impressions
The fit-and-finish throughout the car was very refined and upmarket, and the materials’ quality is top-notch. I found the placement of vital switchgear and controls well thought out, and the three-spoke (tilt/telescoping) steering wheel provided excellent feedback. The instrumentation and gauges were readily visible, as was the compact information displayed in the centre dash.
Visibility was exceptional as the new cabin-forward design utilizes thin pillars, elevated seating, and taller windows to give the passenger compartment an airy feel. This leads to improved sightlines, promoting situational awareness and making time behind the wheel much less stressful.
As before, there are two body styles available. A traditional, four-door sedan or a five-door offering for those buyers looking to maximize cargo space. The list of standard equipment is lengthy and stacked in favour of the consumer, even if you select a base model. There are four trim levels- 2.0i, Touring, Sport, and Limited – to choose from, so it is easy to find the perfect model for your needs, and with the low entry price of $19,995, you get behind the wheel of the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive car sold in North America.
2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0L Performance and Handling
- Engine Type: 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder BOXER engine
- Horsepower: Approximately 148 hp @ 6,200 rpm
- Torque: Approximately 145 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm
- Transmission Options:
- 5-speed manual transmission (standard)
- Lineartronic® CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) (available)
- Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive (AWD) as standard
- Acceleration (0 to 60 mph): Estimated 9.0 seconds (varies by source)
- Top Speed: Approximately 120 mph (electronically limited)
Under the hood, you will find an all-new, 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine that generates 148 horsepower and 145lb.-ft. of torque. This compact engine replaces the outgoing cars’ venerable 2.5-litre four-cylinder and, when partnered with the optional Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), it is said to deliver a vast improvement in fuel economy over the 2011 model.
This is the second generation of Subaru’s new “Lineartronic” CVT, a lighter and more compact version of the one first introduced in the 2010 Legacy and Outback models. Subaru’s goal is to make their CVT provide smooth, linear acceleration like a conventional automatic transmission while offering “shiftless” operation and better fuel efficiency. The new CVT also features a “second-gear” start to avoid wheel spin on slippery surfaces. Drivers can shift the CVT manually with the shift lever or the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel – there are six simulated “gears.”
Driving Dynamics
The one thing lacking from many of today’s small cars is an invigorating driving experience. Sure, they are great for getting you from point A to point B every day, but it just isn’t in the cards when it comes to putting the occasional smile on your face. Subarus has always been fun to drive, and with this all-new platform, Subaru’s engineers have worked hard to ensure that drivers will enjoy getting behind the wheel of the Impreza.
The car is lighter than the outgoing model and now incorporates a stiffer chassis and an improved suspension system. Ride quality was more refined than I expected, and the suspension does an excellent job of keeping the car planted to the pavement when cornering.
During my short time with the Impreza, I took the car to West Vancouver and explored Cypress Mountain. The car came alive in the tight radius turns and handled the climb to the ski area without any drama. The upper parking area was blanketed in snow, so I took the opportunity to play a little and put the all-weather capabilities of the car to the test. The car retained traction despite my best efforts to upset it in the snow, and it was only wearing all-season rubber!
I love an excellent manual transmission, but most Impreza buyers will probably purchase the optional Lineartronic CVT transmission. This is the second generation of this transmission, so it has been reworked with improved gear ratios to suit the torque characteristics of the new engine, and it is said to be 10% more efficient than its forbearer. If you wish to make your own gear selections, you can manually shift the lever or utilize the shift paddles mounted to the steering wheel. This proved most effective during my romp up Cypress Mountain, as I could stroll through the six simulated gears to fully evaluate the car’s handling and performance potential.
Around town, the new CVT quickly reacted to the stresses of stop-and-go driving. Throttle response was instantaneous, and acceleration was commendable, given the car’s relatively low power rating. A unique feature of this new CVT is a novel “second-gear” start function, which will go a long way to help avoid wheel spin when the vehicle is operating in slippery conditions.
Subaru’s All-wheel Drive
One thing that has set Subaru apart from the other Japanese brands over the years is the fact that all of the company’s models come equipped with Subaru’s proven symmetrical all-wheel drive system. For buyers willing to pay the premium (compared to similar-sized offerings), this guarantees their car will be a strong performer year-round. The drawback with this system has always been that it adds weight and additional operating costs (due to servicing requirements and increased fuel consumption). With the arrival of the 2012 model, Subaru has levelled the playing field to such an extent that the car is as fuel-efficient as most of its most popular front-wheel-drive competitors while still offering all-wheel-drive! Now that is impressive!
Takeaway
Pros:
- All-wheel-drive traction gives you the confidence that you will make it to your destination in any weather
- As fuel-efficient as most comparable front-wheel-drive models
- More equipment for a lower price
Cons:
- Some buyers might be put off by lower horsepower and torque ratings
- The driving dynamics of CVT transmissions take a while to get used to
The team behind the Impreza knew that this vehicle had to be exceptional to gain market share in a very crowded marketplace. Subaru needs to showcase the type of quality product that the Japanese company can produce. Its success now falls on the shoulders of the marketing personnel, who must work hard to attract new buyers to the showroom and get people behind the wheel of this world-class vehicle. Once this happens, the Impreza will sell itself. It is that good.
The vehicle feels roomier and more luxurious than many competitors and is accessible on fuel, but best of all, it offers the company’s superb all-wheel-drive system. Buyers of the Impreza also benefit from the knowledge that the model has held the highest predicted residual resale value in the compact car segment for the past three model years and that it has demonstrated top results regarding passenger safety. In short, if you happen to be shopping for a compact car, you would make a huge mistake if you overlooked this car.
Technical Specifications: 2012 Subaru Impreza
- Type: 5-passenger, 4- or 5-door, compact sedan
- Engine: 2.0-litre, horizontally-opposed, four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine
- Horsepower: 148 @ 6,200 rpm
- Torque: 145 lb.-ft. @ 4,200 rpm
- Transmission: 5-speed manual or optional Lineartronic CVT
- Brakes (front/rear): Disc/disc with ABS
- Cargo capacity (L): 4-door: 340 / 5-door: 648 (1,485 with seats folded flat)
