For Subaru the Impreza range is the most popular car. The Impreza has been linked with the boy-racer fans due to its rallying pedigree, giving Subaru, as a niche player on the Irish market, some status. Now Subaru has upgraded the Impreza and converted it to a more sedate looking hatchback. Is there a difference? Michael Moroney reports from his recent test drive

The Subaru Impreza has an iconic appeal among a certain motoring audience. The Impreza as a brand has been linked with rallying and all that brings with it, sometimes to the detriment of its acceptability among the general motoring public.

Subaru has done something about this image. The new Impreza is a result of the change in direction, as Subaru attempts to broaden its market appeal by offering a five-door hatchback version of the Impreza.

The five-door concept has been available in the Impreza before then, called the Impreza Sport. This new model is a significant style improvement over the older one. But is it enough to move Golf drivers or offer a more competitive choice for Audi A3 or BMW 1 Series drivers?

I’ve had the new Subaru Impreza 2.0R model on a recent test drive. The car is fitted with Subaru’s legendary Boxer engine. This means that the four cylinders in the engine operate in a horizontal way, rather than in a vertical motion as in most other car engines.

Look under the bonnet and you won’t see much to tell you this. The system, which is used by Subaru claims to give better road holding, as the engine has a lower centre of gravity in the car’s structure.

The 2.0-litre engine develops 150bhp at a relatively high engine rev level of 6,400rpm. The engine torque output levels are also relatively high, but not extraordinary given the overall engine power.

In pace terms this converts to an acceleration time of 9.6 seconds in a 0 to 1200km/hr race. You expect pace from the Impreza, but, when you compare it with the competition, it’s not that pacey at all.

I’ve looked at comparable models and even the new Fiat Bravo with a 1.4 litre turbo-petrol engine will deliver a 8.5 second performance. Relative to the more expensive competition, such as the Audi A3 or BMW 1 Series, the 2.0-litre Impreza does not deliver the best acceleration performance, but it is price competitive.

Part of the reason for the relatively lower acceleration performance has to be the slight power drain from the All-wheel-Drive (AWD) system used in the Impreza. This system gives drive to all four wheels and ensures excellent road holding. The Subaru Boxer engine design suits this system well as it allows for a straight line drive to all axles.

The design of the AWD system also helps to preserve the lower centre of gravity, while giving four-wheel drive power in challenging driving conditions. And you can feel the difference when you corner on poorer roads, as the car grips the tarmac. This is a part of the Impreza pedigree that always impresses.

The Impreza is another casualty of the new Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) regime. The car comes with a CO2 rating of 199g/km, which pushes it into the F category under the new system, which means a price rise is on the way come July next.

That rating is further confirmed in the fuel economy figures, which show the manual version that I drove to deliver a figure of 8.4 litres/100km (33mpg). That’s a relatively poor performance in economy terms.

The new Impreza hatchback is an average sized car that competes in space and comfort terms with the likes of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. The car seems slightly wider, giving good driver and passenger space with average rear passenger legroom.

The Subaru Impreza deal is different. You are getting a 2.0-litre car, from a niche player in the market, with AWD and excellent road handling for a competitive €27,995 before delivery charges. There is a more competitive 1.5-litre version, with similar looks and AWD for €23,495, your average Focus price.

If you want to drive something that’s a little different then the Impreza can do just that, but it will cost a bit more at the pumps. The overall design effect is not different enough for my taste; I think that Subaru designers should have gone a little further. This is a car that will perform on the road, even if it will stand out in the car park.

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