Subaru Impreza test drive since 2007 sedan

Duel of rationalities

Subaru-Imrez had a classmate-rival Mitsubishi-Lenser 4x4. The fight was judged by Sergey Voskresensky.
Subaru Impreza 2.0 liters, 150 hp, a 5-speed manual gearbox, Sport equipment (72), 892 800 rub.
Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 L, 150 hp, variator with 6 fixed gears, Intense+, 745 308 rubles.
The top versions of Mitsubishi-Lenser and Subaru-Imreza, as you know, seriously opposed each other on rally routes. The number of victories was met, the muscles of the turbo engines were increased, all the sophisticated became more important transmission. Well, modifications of easier fought for the sympathy of the consumer with balanced decisions.
Marketers decided to dilute rivals. Lancer today is a bright, but solid sizes, a respectable sedan, on which even a spectacular aerodynamic bag looks like an expensive costume.
Subaru-Imreza, even in the version of the sport, modesty itself, however, is tightly standing on the basic 17-inch wheels. The photographer, accustomed to love with his eyes, muttered something about Korean motives. In his own way he is right, although in the rational appearance of the improvis there is a hint: the external restraint is only a shell.
They have different types of bodies, as well as the design of all -wheel drive transmissions. But under the hoods, 2-liter engines close in capabilities.
Balanced maximalism
Cross, hard plastic, restrained contours of the front panel, large, but completely unstable devices. Impreza is difficult to fall in love with the interior. The gaze glides along the bulges and the hollows of asexual design decisions. But other parts of the body do not agree with a similar assessment: they are very suitable for sports buckets of the front seats, a small grip steering wheel, poured with elastic pedal. The car makes it possible to feel a touch of individuality, cultivated in several generations of improvisation. Of course, not everything is perfect. Too low the steering wheel, under which you have to squeeze, regardless of adjustments, and then dive, to make out the tops of the devices. The mirror is glued exactly in the middle of the windshield, the handbrake in the combat position rests on the knee. In a word, in a driver’s place you sit even too tightly and from this Subaru seems more compact than in fact. Once behind, he noted with surprise: here is much more spacious than expected.
Of course, Lancer is also far from the standard and it looks noticeably easier inside than you expect, looking at the car outside. The same inexpensive, booming plastics, combined with which even the skin on the seats looks quite commonplace. And yet here it is somehow more spacious, brighter, more interesting. Eyes and other parts of the body do not enter into a discussion. A juicy, bright combination of devices, a rich information display, a convenient steering wheel and pedal. The car does not offer exquisite planting, and its controls do not stand out emphasized elasticity and the spirit of sports. Or maybe not? It is spacious, easy to enter-go, change the pose in the unobtrusive coverage of the driver's seat. Of course, it is simpler Subarovsky, but quite convenient, besides, it distributes the loads well and more universally.
Everything seems to be with him: a spacious interior, brightness of colors, the quality of finishes. But something is missing. Yeah: In the interior of Lancer there is not even a hint of what this comparison for all -wheel drive is started. Only a nondescript toggle switch on the central console outwardly distinguishes the most expensive version of the car. In general, if you decide to boast of the non -standard capabilities of the car, you will have to conduct an excursion to the pit or to the lift. Or try to demonstrate features in movement. Let's try?
Stereotypes and realities
Oh sounds dominated by Impreza! Here the opposition motor bumbled Basovito and deliciously, something echoed in the promoting gears of the transmission. By modern standards, all this is superfluous, at least for the usual version of the car, but it starts! Here the leg was springed on the clutch, hands got on the steering wheel. Start!
And here is the first serious disappointment. It seems that everything has been foreseen: an interior penetrated by sports, a combat sound, there is even a light trembling on the steering wheel. Moreover, Subaru willingly breaks off, demonstrating the amazing elasticity of the engine, even at small speeds. The motor performs its work confidently, but completely unemotional. On this Impreza, you can switch to 4000 rpm, or you can at 7000, the engine perceives it the same. Although no! In the latter case, you will have to wait for the engine to leisurely bring the tachometer to the zone of the maximum revolutions. In a word euro IV! Although for everyday driving is not bad.
The confusion add unexpectedly comfortable suspensions. Not yet realizing how logical such settings are, I was surprised to find that the machine is gently rolling at the seams, joints, and minor irregularities. Moreover, at low speeds, it is quite friendly and more serious on the ditches. But it is worth giving gas, Impreza becomes jumping, prone to swing. It turns out that its pendants are not only soft, but also short -term, which means that they are only conditionally adapted to domestic pantobin.
A sharp and impulsive steering wheel, which you first perceive with distrust comes in contradiction with pendants: the machine requires too much attention, does not allow you to relax. Understanding such severity comes gradually when, with the growth of the velocity of Impreza, everything more confident and reliably behaves in corners. Feeling the firmness of intentions, it seems to stick to the road, allowing you to calculate the trajectory up to millimeters. The driver only hints, making an almost invisible movement of the steering wheel, while the car instantly performs the command. Cons are associated with the characteristics of suspensions. Suddenly large rolls and not always stable behavior on irregularities interfere in quick bends.
Universal Ulan
Lancer immediately makes it clear: from his full-wheel drive it is hardly worth waiting for something unusual play by muscles, for example. No flirting with sports. The transmission scheme with automatic connecting the rear wheels is borrowed from the Outlander XL and is focused, first of all, on the reliability of control. You can operate Lancer and front -wheel drive, for the sake of economy. And only if necessary, for example, on a wet or slippery road, remember the second leading axis. Therefore, on the asphalt, first of all, you pay attention to other features of the machine.
The engine and variator seem to study each other. One strains strangles at maximum speeds, and the other smoothly adjusts, diligently smoothing a joint result. At first glance, it is too noisy and monotonous, does not cause emotions. However, little by little it became obvious: the smooth does not mean slow, and 150 horses under the hood of Mitsubishi are simply tuned differently and, in general, no worse than the Subarovskie. Moreover, at high speeds, the Lancer motor is even more emotional. True, sounds with excess! It is worth discarding the gas in Lancer like becoming quiet and flexible. In some modes, he is really not as a vocalist as Impreza, and more comfortable. But there was a bass -shaped roar, caressing pride, here is also a frankly rattling, sharp sound from a silencer, to which, it is worth clicking from the heart, a tangible roar of the motor is added, and at high speed and aerodynamic whistles.
And yet Lancer is much more universal. The pendants are not trying to seem more comfortable than it really is. The car, unlike Impreza, habitually shakes in minor irregularities, it repeats in more detail the profile of the road. But the pendants do not allow swing on deep waves and noticeably confidently cope with serious potholes.
Management is reliable and understandable. Calm, suspended reactions, good feedback, stable behavior on straight lines and in corners. Alas, Lancer does not even like fast beams of Lancer. For the time being, he carefully bites into the asphalt, allowing him to feel the advantages of the second leading axis. But it is worth demanding more, the machine shifts outwardly, making it clear: this is not mine! Impreza allowed to slip, driving a car, calculating the trajectory to the subtleties. Lancer all -wheel drive is more likely for a more rational distribution of forces on wheels. And no sport, no slip!
Rampage
These cars will not unite either a long -standing rivalry, nor similar engines in capabilities, or a four -wheel drive. Looking at prices, I dare to assume that there will be more all -wheel drive lansers on our roads. And the point is not only that Mitsubishi is more universal, and the Subaru-impresus is more likely a car for an individualist. It is even more expensive in a comparable configuration, and this greatly changes the requirements ._x0008_
Cars for the test are provided: Mitsubishi-o-ration Rolf Import, Subaru-Imreza LLC Subaru Motor.
Subaru Impreza
The debut of an all-wheel drive model with a body hatchback took place in the fall of 2007. This spring, the premiere of Impreza version of the WRC was held.
Engines: gasoline 1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 l of turbo (107; 150 and 230 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic.
Complete: seven levels
Price in Russia: 609 0001 166 900 rub.
+ Pleasant for the driver, convenient for passengers, good brakes and handling
- very small trunk, mediocre acoustic comfort, insufficiently energy -intensive pendants
General assessment 7.8
For a cult machine, it is a lot of contradictions in it, for the usual there is not enough practicality. The spacious interior and the protrusion of individual sled opportunities are far from for everyone.
Mitsubishi Lancer 4x4
The expressive sedan appeared in Russia in 2007, in the spring of 2008, the full-wheel drive version was first represented.
Engine: gasoline 2.0 liters (150 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical or variator.
Complete: Intense, Intense+.
Price in Russia: 674 020745 308 rub.
+ Spacious and universal inside, convenient accelerated dynamics, brakes, smoothness.
- Close trunk, mediocre visibility, noise at high speeds.
General assessment 7.9
Full -wheel drive is far from the most important in this car. Lancer is a typical rational middle peasant with good external data.
They argue about appearance
Of course, comparing the exteriors is ungrateful. But some unprotected impersonal impregnating disappointed us in earnest. It would seem that both have bright colors, very similar aerodynamic bags: overlays on the thresholds, bumpers, rear spoilers. You will look closely, everything is done on one candle factory. But Lancer looks, if not perfect, then bright, attractive. There is an energy in it for the soul.
In Subaru, it is not up to sighs on frameless glasses individually by most elements of the appearance: headlights, rear lights, aerodynamic lining on the rear bumper. But you put them together it becomes sad, even dull. The car for almost 900,000 rubles could be more belief.
Sergey Voskresensky: Mitsubishi clearly lacks expressive sledges: they are more modest than the appearance of the car. However, comparison with Subaru showed that the brightness of the settings could not always compensate for other drawbacks.
Sergey Voskresensky
Photo: George Sadkov.
 
 
 
 
 




 

A source: The magazine "Driving"