Subaru Impreza Hatchback

ON THE ROAD

Performance
Two petrol engines form the range, a 1.5-litre with 106bhp and a 2.0-litre with 148bhp. The 1.5 isn’t very quick, and it needs to be worked hard for best effect. The 2.0-litre is gutsier, but you still have to pile the revs on. A 297bhp 2.5-litre engine arrives for the WRX STi model in spring.

Ride & handling
All Imprezas come with four-wheel drive, so traction is never in short supply, but it doesn’t feel as nimble as the best cars in the class. The suspension is very good at taking the sting out of bumps, although the body tends to pitch and float over crests in the road.

Refinement
The engines give off a loud, thrummy sound at high revs, but settle down once you get up to speed. You can hear the wind whistling round the large door mirrors at 70mph, but it’s only noticeable because road noise is so effectively isolated

OWNERSHIP

Buying & owning
You can buy an Impreza for a lot less than the equivalent Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf, and Subaru dealers aren’t shy about giving discounts, either. Running costs will be steep, though. The petrol engines are thirsty and high emissions will mean hefty company car tax bills.

Quality & reliability
The Impreza’s interior plastics simply don’t cut the mustard on quality – they’re cheap, easily marked and unappealing, and that’s not good enough in the small family car class. Everything feels solidly assembled, and the switches work with a neat precision. Subaru’s reliability record is pretty good, too.

Safety & security
Standard four-wheel drive across the range means handling should always be secure in slippery conditions, but only the 2.0-litre models have the added assurance of stability control. All Imprezas get six airbags to protect you if the worst should happen.

IN THE CABIN

Behind the wheel
The seat and steering wheel both have extensive two-way adjustment, so it’s easy to get comfortable. Headroom is a little tight up front, though, and the steeply angled windscreen makes you feel a bit hemmed-in. The dashboard layout is simple and clearly marked, so it’s easy to use.

Space & practicality
Rear-seat passengers get plenty of head and leg space, so there’s room for a pair of six-footers to travel comfortably. Don’t attempt to squeeze a third in, though, because the middle seat is narrow and there’s a bulky transmission tunnel to straddle. The boot is shallow and it loses space to the rear wheelarches. It’s also topped by a fabric cover instead of a conventional parcel shelf.

Equipment
The range starts with the 1.5R, which gets alloy wheels, climate control, four powered windows, foglamps and a CD player. The 2.0R adds bigger alloys, xenon headlamps, and heated door mirrors. The 2.0RX adds even bigger alloys, a sporty bodykit, a push-button engine starter, cruise control and satellite-navigation. An automatic gearbox costs £1000 more on any version.

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