SUBARU Impreza 2007-2011 Photos, engines & full specs

Subaru introduced the third generation of the Impreza at the New York Auto Show, and it was a shock for everybody since it was no longer a three-box sedan.

Subaru finally decided to give more money to the design department when it started to work on the third-generation Impreza. Gone were the bug-eye and the weird design language, which nobody understood. But being a hatchback also had its drawbacks, most notorious being that it wasn't usual for the Impreza. For Subaru fans, it was a shock.

The design was, obviously, the biggest step forward. At the front, the hawkeye-style headlights and the narrow grille flanked by chromed trims looked so much better than the bland-looking styling of its predecessor. But it looked so tamed, not aggressive as before. From its sides, the curved upper windows' line emerged into the C-pillar into a descending shape, something that reminded of the Mazda3. But the biggest drawback was the new doors with regular frames for windows. Subaru claimed that it had to do that for the sake of safety.

Inside, the cabin featured curved lines on the dashboard and an integrated infotainment system atop the center stack. Depending on the version, the center console was occupied by gearstick lever, low-range lever, and the manual handbrake. One of the advantages of being a hatchback was the split-folding rear bench that expanded the trunk from 11.3 cu-ft (320 liters) up to 44.4 cu-ft (1,257 liters).

Under the hood, apart from the STI version, the carmaker installed a choice of four engines. The biggest novelty was a 2.0-liter turbodiesel flat-four. For the naturally aspirated engines, Subaru provided a two-speed transfer case with high- and low-range.