Here in Colorado a Subaru isn’t just a car; for many it is a way of life. Whether you are rolling down to the club or heading up to the mountains for some hiking (or outlet shopping), a Subaru with its symmetrical all-wheel drive provides not only flexibility but security. Many know the Impreza because of its fire-breathing brethren, the WRX. However, many people who are not ready to step into the Outback wagon look at the Impreza and Impreza Sport (5-door wagon). Starting at just over $20K, the Impreza Sport is a well priced car and one of the few you will find with all-wheel drive capabilities. In fact, its closest competition in the price range with an all-wheel drive option is the Mitsubishi Lancer. If you asked me last year I might have told you the Lancer had the edge as it was, in my opinion, the better looking car. However, now Subaru has come back with a complete make over for the 2012 Subaru Impreza and Impreza Sport. The result–not so fast, let’s take a closer look.
If you are driving a couple year old Subaru and looking to trade it in or if you are tired of dealing without all-wheel drive in the rainy and winter months, an Impreza Sport mid-size 5-door might fit be a good fit. Subaru fans will be predisposed to like the car as it follows the general design language and price structure of the last couple of years. What has changed is the exterior look of the car; it is more chiseled and sculpted from the previous model, which is a much needed change. The front grille area has been redesign giving prominence to the Subaru badge, the lights are edgy and swoop back in to the line of the front fender. Over all the look is much more aggressive than the outgoing Impreza and much more inline with the feeling of the WRX. I also have to mention the rear; Subaru has done a nice job bringing the belt line of the car all the way along and through the taillights creating integration and a sense of movement. The taillights themselves are much more square than the 2011 Impreza 5-door and the rear hatch has been allowed to curve out more giving the entire car a fuller, larger sense. The irony there is that it feels bigger than the 2011 model, but really it is the same overall length at about 14.5 feet.
The exterior really brings a lot more to the table than the 2011 model, especially with the standard gunmetal wheels on the Sport. But what about the inside? Subaru has been dinged for years on their interiors and the 2012 model probably will suffer the same fate from many critics. Overall, the dashboard and center stack (area with the radio, climate control, etc.) are well designed and we appreciate the soft touch materials on the dashboard. The controls are all easy to use and easy to reach. Even the speedometer and other gauges are visually pleasant to look at and use. Then everything starts to take a u-turn back to the ’90s. In our manual test car the shifter is rubbery and honestly feels cheap. Okay, so you can upgrade that. Then there are the seats; they have nice cloth in the base Sport Premium (why is the base model called Premium?). There are even two different textures and good bolsters to give your sides support. However, for those that need lumbar support, the springy centers of the front seats generally won’t cut it for very long. The backseat was also pretty flat…at least that is what my passengers had to say. Another disappointment is that the radio seems dated. In today’s world the entertainment system is one of the most important parts of the interior experience. Yes, it does have Bluetooth, but it doesn’t have a graphic interface, HD or satellite in the “Premium” model. It just seems like a let down. You can however connect to the radio through the USB or AUX port in the console.
Out on the road it will become apparent that the 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport is no rocket, but our understanding is that doesn’t bother the average Subaru driver. It is much more important to feel safe, stable and arrive where you are going. After all, the Subaru makes the hiking, skiing and other adventures possible; it isn’t necessarily the main attraction. What most will notice about the all-new 148-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is that it is lacking in the lower RPM range. It also explains the 8.6 second 0-60 mph time. Taking off from a light in the manual is a struggle until you get used to it. You can’t really “kill” it, but it will start going without much gusto until about 2,500 RPM. This is a rare case where I believe the CVT automatic transmission might be the better choice as it will keep the car in the power range better. In the automatic you will get a class leading 27 mpg in the city. The manual achieves a little less at 25 mpg in the city. Out on the highway our manual test car was rated at 35 mpg with the automatic getting a similar rating.
From a ride perspective it keeps passengers pretty comfortable with minimal jarring and there is little evidence of swaying around the bends in the road. It might just be one of the best parts of the car besides the all-wheel drive. The Impreza Sport is a solid car and for just over $20K for the base Sport Premium, it will make many people happy. Those looking for more power and luxuries, well, you will have to either fork out more money for a higher-end all-wheel drive or look at a crossover. In the end, our bet is that Subaru lovers will indeed love it. For those not in on the Subaru secret it might be a harder sell. If you are looking for all-wheel drive and features like heated seats and gunmetal colored rims, the 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport is worth-a-look.
