Subaru Impreza test drive since 2007 sedan

Impreza

Subaru Impreza a desperate attempt to give an unusual car for the most ordinary.
Japanese can be understood. The segment with compact city cars is the most popular product and the largest feeder, which allows you to establish production on a mass scale and get the largest profit from one model in the absolute. The success recipe in this segment is simple: calm design, front -wheel drive and an economical engine. Many companies offer charged or all -wheel drive modifications of their citizens, but these versions remain niche and satisfy the requests of specific customers, and also work for the prestige of the company. And only in Subaru hot modifications form the basis of the reputation of the main city model. The magic letters of WRX and STI are heard by everyone, and the hearts of fans of the brand begin to beat rapidly from only the form of a huge anti -wing over the trunk and a turbine gerry over the hood. For years, Impreza has been associated with success in the World Rally Championship. But the most interesting thing is that since 1996, all -wheel drive is included in the list of standard equipment of the base model! That is, niche from the point of view of the market modification of Subaru was the main one. She remains the main one. It is no secret that in most automobile companies, traders set tone. Subaru in this regard also remains an exception. Engineers refuel us all, says Hiroki Matswood, director of the European sales department. We, marketers, are pushed very, very far away. Subaru remains the company of engineers. Famous opposite engines and a symmetrical all -wheel drive system of its pride and its symbols. Once again, the company did not want to abandon them. Is it good? Let's figure it out.
Not for boys
The desire to take Impreza away from the image of a street bully was clearly traced in the speeches of Subaru representatives at the European presentation of the new model in Prague. To distract the attention of people from turbo leads, to focus on promoting atmospheric modifications, this is the main task. That is why WRX is mentioned in passing about the modification of WRX. Moreover, in Western Europe, WRX will not appear at all. This version will be delivered only to Russia and the CIS countries. Everyone is already used to the fact that the appearance of almost every new Subaru model becomes a surprise. Remember how many gossip around the appearance of Tribeca with its aviation radiator were. Slowly, they got used to this style and even admitted that the propeller on the previous generation Impreza looked very good. True, by that time the author of the ambiguous idea, Alex Blatinas had left the company, and the Japanese already painted the appearance of the new impreza. Nevertheless, the tradition was not disturbed, and the next turn of the plot caused an ambiguous reaction. Appearance Impreza always appreciated not for special grace, but for the emphasized functionality of the appearance. Perhaps that is why the designer quirks looked somewhat alien here and only annoyed everyone. Therefore, the view of the novelty was a little surprised. This is Subaru?! Before us is an ordinary car. There is nothing to scold him! Only a light hint in the form of a walnut waist and a heavy adjustable hitch remained from the quirks of Blatatinas. The place of the propeller was taken by the radiator grille, reminiscent of the distortion scheme of the spatio-temporal continuum with the gravity of the Subarovsk constellation. In principle, there is also an sketch on the verge of excess, but, in any case, the cosmic theme is quite consistent with the astral motive of the corporate logo.
Otherwise, in the appearance of the new Impreza there is nothing unearthly. The usual combination of licked circuits. There is nothing to cling to the eye, but there is nothing to cling to. Of interesting details, the LED rear lights should be noted. The expressive line of the roof with a small spoiler looks nice, which reduces the aerodynamic resistance by as much as 7%. A large glazing area promises a good review. The third rear window looks comfortable. Everything is very peaceful. No aggression. Even the branded non -ramous glass of doors disappeared (about horror!). But the openings have become larger, and the rear doors open almost at right angles. The novelty of Subaru tells all its appearance to a potential buyer: I am no longer special transport of skiers, I will not provoke dashing at traffic lights with one look, I have become good and correct in any case, outside. The interior was also pleased: the new Impreza will not be the legislator in the style of decoration and will not establish new capitance standards in its class, however the salon became noticeably more spacious (due to the 95 mm base increased by 10 mm, height increased, 45 mm width). Good materials, with the exception of the handle of the reduced row from some kind of military plastic. The Sport version pleased with sports seats, very comfortable and with a good underground. The color display of the navigation system looks nice, it is a pity that in Russia navigation will not even be as an option. Another difference between the Russian version, this time with a plus sign, the presence of a full -sized spare wheel instead of the dok. Red lighting around the ignition lock intrigues. The arrows of the devices when turning the key deviate to the maximum value and then return to zero again. The anticipation of something unusual? We'll see
 
Octopus under the hood
The signs of the unusual are striking as soon as you open the hood: the final cunning of the exhaust manifold is similar to the tentacle of the octopus, which covered the horizontal-opposition engine. However, the motors themselves are well acquainted, although they were subjected to some refinement (in particular, reduced the height of their installation on the chassis), the most significant change in the design compared to the previous model is a multi -link rear suspension. Cunning cinematics benefited both the softness of the stroke and controllability. The suspension swallows all the flaws of the roadway with amazing equanimity. At the same time, the obvious emphasis on comfort in setting up the chassis does not give rise to excessive rolls and allows you to quite enjoy the excellent, with light sports sharpening with a steering system. Especially all these qualities were pleased in a small winding area in the forest near Prague, similar to a nürburgring section. Impreza either shaved or smoothed outs and even allowed a little fuck. And yet her main line is friendliness. Rules reactions, resistance on the road, understandable reviews of the accelerator and brakes, everything somehow allows you to feel good and confident at once. Perhaps it’s better and you won’t say what my multi -hearted colleague expressed with whom we divided the test car on this trip. After a long silence and trial manipulations with controls, he finally said: and you know, I like everything. A common blessed picture from communication with the version of Sport, equipped with a 2-liter engine with a capacity of 150 hp. And a 5-speed gearbox, perhaps, only slightly spoiled the insufficiently intelligible clutch. It would not hurt to add clarity when switching and gearbox. Plus the fact of 5-speed. In recent years, we are already used to the fact that six steps are becoming the standard for more or less dynamic cars. However, all these are trifles that you quickly cease to notice. The engine noise was a real spoon of tar. The assertive roar of the opponent was freely walking around the cabin. Moreover, the noise from the engine with a volume of 1.5 liters was no less. It is clear that a less powerful engine also meant less vigorous dynamics, which is especially insulting with such qualities of the chassis and the steering system. In the torn city rhythm, the 1.5-liter version did not have enough assertiveness, but in other words, traction at low speeds. True, on the highway this deficit is easy to compensate for, maintaining the momentum in the range of 45005000 rpm. Hence the noise. And you have to apply to the pen much more often.
An automatic 4-band gearbox with a manual switching mode of switching neither scold nor praise for nothing. In the urban environment, this is an excellent assistant and natural choice, but it does not contribute to the improvement of accelerated qualities. In a word, an ordinary city car, which, if it grabbed the stars, is only in Crash tests thanks to a tougher body and durable doors with frame windows. However, do not forget that the new Impreza only pretends to be ordinary. Even this 1.5-liter engine with it is emphasized by a calm character and overclocking to hundreds of 15 s only part of the plan, a kind of cover under which Impreza works in the world market. In the end, compliance with Euro 4 requires victims. But all-wheel drive is still included in the basic equipment. Moreover, with the possibility of connecting the lowering row (on versions with a mechanical gearbox and an honest inter-beard differential with Wytheft, the automatic transmission is equipped with an electronic differential). On a sunny day, on good roads in the vicinity of Prague, this competitive advantage of Subaru almost did not show itself (the story of the advantages of a full -wheel drive Subaru with extreme driving is not included in the tasks of this dough). Only once, when we left for gravel, switching to a low row turned the work with gas pedals and clutch from the strain to relaxed. But in the rain, in the slush, in a risk, in snow -littered parking lots, on the lifting and suburban slopes seized with the morning frost, the holder of a symmetrical all -wheel drive and a reduced transmission will be rejoiced more than once or twice. Finishing the conversation about the new Impreza, it is necessary to say what, in principle, it was possible to start: Impreza will be delivered only with the hatchback body. Neither the station wagon nor the sedan will be in the near future, which clearly speaks of the Western European orientation of the new model. By the way, in the USA, where the new Impreza debuted at the beginning of the year at the New York car dealership, the sedan body is also offered, and, much more interesting, the front-wheel drive model. Everything is clear with the choice of a hatchback, but why offer residents of a reduced transmission in the basic configuration rolled to the asphalt and the snowless West, I personally do not understand. But our Penates are completely different. Subaru Impreza is an unusual car that wants to become ordinary. In Russia, the company has a chance to achieve the goal.

Technical characteristics 1.5r 2.0r
Dimensions, mm 4415x1740x1475 4415x1740x1475
Equipped mass, kg 1310/1325 1345/1360
The type of engine is gasoline
opposite
4-cylinder gasoline
opposite
4-cylinder
Max. Power, L.S./O/min 107/6000 150/6400
Max. moment, nm/rpm 142/3200 196/3200
Mechanical transmission 5-speed 5-speed
Automatic transmission 4-band 4-band
The drive is constant full permanent full
Max. Speed, km/h 175/167 193/182
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with 14.0/15.1 9.6/11.6
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km 7.5/7.5 8.4/8.2
Leonid Sitnik
Photo by the author and the manufacturer
 

A source: Avtopanorama magazine