2008 Subaru Impreza Review | Buyer Guide
Bland Styling Masks Good Performance
The Subaru Impreza is a good little car that doesn’t attract a lot of attention. It doesn’t have the appeal of its rivals, like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, or the Mazda3. Even within the Subaru lineup, it is overshadowed by the high performance WRX and WRX STI models with similar bodies.
One of the reasons the Impreza doesn’t standout is that its body styling is really bland, at least in the sedan version. It’s like Subaru set out to design a generic-looking four door. However, once you step inside the car, things improve. My test vehicle was trimmed in a light taupe color that was very attractive. The dash wrapped around gracefully into the doors. Pewter colored accents added an upscale touch to the dash, console and armrests.
The Impreza comes with well-contoured cloth-covered seats, and the driver’s side has a manual height adjuster. Passengers in the rear have adequate head and legroom, even tall adults. They also sit a bit higher than those in front, and have a good view of the road. The trunk has a wide opening and a low lift over, which makes it easy to load. However, the floor does slope up toward the back seat, so containers may slide around.
Subaru powers the Impreza with its trusty 2.5-liter, flat-four engine. It’s a bit noisy, but very responsive, pumping out 170 horsepower. It’s teamed with a standard five-speed manual gearbox, or an optional four-speed automatic. The automatic has a manual shift mode, which can come in handy when you need that extra burst of power. Like other Subarus, the Impreza is equipped with all-wheel drive. Standard AWD may be the most compelling reason for buying an Impreza if you live in, or travel to, snow country.
The Impreza is a lively performer on the road. It accelerates quickly from traffic lights. The steering is quick, which makes it feel nimble, and the all-wheel drive delivers plenty grip to the tires, whether the roads are dry or slick. The ride quality, while not outstanding, is as good as most cars in this class.
The starting price for the 2008 Impreza is $17,640.
Snapshot Review
Bland Styling
Good Performance
All-Wheel Drive
