Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
The Volkswagen Golf and Toyota Corolla may be the most popular compact cars in the world, but when it comes to Subaru, the Impreza is anything but conventional. An original take on the segment since its introduction in the early 1990s, the Impreza story welcomed the fifth chapter back in March 2016.
That’s when the Japanese automaker introduced the all-new Impreza at the New York Auto Show, with sales in the U.S. commencing for the 2017 model year. As North America prepares for MY 2018, the Old Continent finally gets the hatchback it has been waiting for almost one and a half years now.
Introduced in Europe at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 2018 Subaru Impreza for Europe comes exclusively in five-door hatchback configuration and with a choice of two Boxer engines. Both the 1.6- and 2.0-liter four-cylinder plants are part of the FB family, and both rely on natural aspiration for the suck-squeeze-bang-blow job that happens inside the engine.
When it comes to output, the engines develop 114 PS (84 kW) / 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) and 156 PS (115 kW) / 196 Nm (145 lb-ft), respectively. Compared to the former generation, the all-new model in European specification makes do without the horizontally-opposed turbo diesel of yesteryear. Symmetrical AWD comes standard, whereas the transmission list is topped by the Lineartronic CVT. 7.8 kilograms lighter than the old unit, the revised tranny takes pride in a damper whose purpose is to reduce torque fluctuation.
Riding on the Subaru Global Platform, the Euro-spec Impreza will be available in a set of five exterior colors: Venetian Red Pearl (pictured), Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Blue Pearl, and Dark Grey Metallic. Stepping in the driver’s seat reveals an improvement in terms of plastics and finishes, an area where Subaru has always been lacking when compared to its rivals.
35 millimeters wider and with a 25-millimeter longer wheelbase, the Impreza features more room for the occupants and their belongings. Trunk capacity, for example, has increased by 10 liters compared to the previous model. Safety is another key area with improvements, comprising of superior torsional and lateral bending rigidity, plus the latest EyeSight system.
Introduced in Europe at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 2018 Subaru Impreza for Europe comes exclusively in five-door hatchback configuration and with a choice of two Boxer engines. Both the 1.6- and 2.0-liter four-cylinder plants are part of the FB family, and both rely on natural aspiration for the suck-squeeze-bang-blow job that happens inside the engine.
When it comes to output, the engines develop 114 PS (84 kW) / 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) and 156 PS (115 kW) / 196 Nm (145 lb-ft), respectively. Compared to the former generation, the all-new model in European specification makes do without the horizontally-opposed turbo diesel of yesteryear. Symmetrical AWD comes standard, whereas the transmission list is topped by the Lineartronic CVT. 7.8 kilograms lighter than the old unit, the revised tranny takes pride in a damper whose purpose is to reduce torque fluctuation.
Riding on the Subaru Global Platform, the Euro-spec Impreza will be available in a set of five exterior colors: Venetian Red Pearl (pictured), Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Blue Pearl, and Dark Grey Metallic. Stepping in the driver’s seat reveals an improvement in terms of plastics and finishes, an area where Subaru has always been lacking when compared to its rivals.
35 millimeters wider and with a 25-millimeter longer wheelbase, the Impreza features more room for the occupants and their belongings. Trunk capacity, for example, has increased by 10 liters compared to the previous model. Safety is another key area with improvements, comprising of superior torsional and lateral bending rigidity, plus the latest EyeSight system.
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