Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza 4 at a glance

The fourth Impreza was nearly the same size as the third, but it was lighter, more economical and had a longer wheelbase. The old 1cars text added two details: the wheelbase grew by 25 mm, and the base of the front pillars moved about 200 mm forward. That gave wider door openings and a roomier cabin. The Subaru XV crossover was built on the same car and reached European dealers in March 2012, a year before the Impreza itself.

FB16 and FB20 boxer engines, gearboxes and performance

Both engines belong to Subaru's FB family of long-stroke flat-fours with chain-driven twin camshafts. In the United States, only the 2.0-litre engine was sold.

The CVT figures come from the old 1cars text. The CVT in US cars had paddle shifters with a six-step manual mode. In Europe, the 2.0i manual had six gears and the 1.6i had five.

By our calculation, a 1.6i manual carries about 15.6 kg per kW, while the 2.0i manual carries about 12.1 kg per kW. The bigger engine adds 31 % more power for only 20 kg more weight, which explains its much stronger overtaking. Try other cars in the 1cars power-to-weight calculator.

How the Symmetrical AWD and chassis work

All-wheel drive was standard in every market. According to the old 1cars text, manual cars use a viscous-coupling centre differential. Lineartronic cars use Active Torque Split, an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch that varies the split between the axles. The engine sits low and in line with the gearbox, which keeps the drivetrain symmetrical from left to right.

The suspension has MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear. The 1.6 used hydraulic power steering and the 2.0 electric power steering, according to the old 1cars text. Disc brakes, ABS, brake assist, stability control and hill-start assist (manual cars) were standard.

Size, cabin and boot of the GJ saloon and GP hatchback

The hatchback's 65/35 split rear seat folds to give 52.4 cu ft (about 1,484 litres) of cargo space by the US measuring method. The cabin is wider and brighter than in the third generation. The old 1cars text noted front seatbacks 60 mm taller than before and rear air vents. Two adults sit comfortably in the back, but the transmission tunnel makes the middle seat tight. Compare the saloon's footprint with other cars using the 1cars size comparison tool.

Fuel economy and running costs

Official European combined figures were 7.2 l/100 km (32.7 mpg US) for the smaller engine with a manual gearbox. The larger engine needed 7.9 l/100 km (29.8 mpg US) with the same type of gearbox. The Lineartronic CVT cut these to 7.0 and 7.6 l/100 km. Urban use pushes the 2.0 up to about 11 l/100 km. All-wheel drive costs fuel compared with front-wheel-drive rivals, and both engines need 95-octane petrol.

The FB engines use timing chains, so there is no belt to replace. The CVT fluid should still be changed on schedule. Use the 1cars fuel cost calculator to estimate yearly spending.

Trims and equipment

Equipment varied by market, from the basic grade in the United States to the Premium and Limited trims. Japanese buyers could choose four grades with the 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre engine, with or without EyeSight. That stereo-camera system, with two cameras beside the rear-view mirror, was offered only in Japan at first. According to the old 1cars text, even the base car had climate control, heated front seats, Bluetooth and a USB port. Higher grades added a touchscreen, a reversing camera, leather and 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels.

The 2015 model-year update brought a new grille, bumpers and door mirrors, plus more sound deadening. The old 1cars text listed a choice of nine paint colours for its market and xenon headlights as an option.

Impreza 4 safety: ANCAP, IIHS and Euro NCAP

ANCAP gave the Impreza five stars in 2012 with 35.33 of 37 points. It scored 14.33 of 16 in the frontal offset test and full marks in the side and pole tests. In the United States, the IIHS rated it "Good" in the moderate overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It named the car a Top Safety Pick+ in 2013. We found no separate Euro NCAP test of the Impreza. The closely related XV earned five stars from Euro NCAP in 2012, with 86 % for adult and 90 % for child protection.

Rivals: how the Impreza 4 compares

The Impreza was rarely the most economical or the quickest car in this class. Its case rested on standard all-wheel drive, good crash results and a long-lived boxer engine.