2012 is a watershed year for the Impreza lineup. This year, the Impreza and WRX become separate lines. The 2012 Subaru Impreza is an all-new car, while the WRX versions retain the older platform for now, before eventually being split apart from the regular Impreza line-up. As a new “platform”, there have been significant changes to the driving feel of the Impreza sedan and five-door hatchback.
Engineers stiffened the chassis, hung an improved suspension under the car, put a new engine in, significantly changed the optional CVT, and improved the interior and seats. A good rhetorical question is “why go to these lengths to improve an already good car”.
Two main reasons exist. Technology improves and the requirements of the class improve at the same time. The biggest reason, though, is that the Subaru engineers take pride in what they do and if you give them a basically blank sheet of paper, they will figure out how to make improvements.
Some of these improvements, such as making the car stronger and lighter do not seem to affect you, but it does do three things; first up is the fact that the car is safer. Second is that a stronger car flexes less so the suspension can be calibrated better. Third on the list is that a lighter car is easier to make handle better and it will get better fuel economy.
Mechanical components
Other changes that affect our perception of handling include a new 2.0-litre undersquare flat-4 engine and a 2nd-generation CVT automatic transmission (a 5-speed manual is standard) with improved gear ratios (to better match the torque characteristics of the new 2.0L mill.
Next on the improvements to handling list comes suspension components, brake and tires. Enhancements here require a significant amount of engineering because not only is the component design different, but the suspension geometry is as well. If the engineers have done everything correctly, you will never notice the individual changes because under normal circumstances, the handling of the car will put you at ease.
Hitting the street
Actually getting in and going for a drive is, as expected, relaxing. The CVT is matched to the new 2.0-litre’s 148 horsepower very well. There is no delay coming off a stoplight and with the low-down torque of the engine, starts can be done quite quickly. When reaching town speeds, if you need a quick burst of acceleration, the powertrain responds immediately and much quicker than you think.
Still in town, the steering seems well calibrated for the slow turns needed at intersections and steps the game up when handling the sweepers that merge into the busier streets. At the same time, the new suspension keeps the car pretty much flat, while the seat holds you in place so that you remain comfortable.
Highway happiness
Ramp up (pun intended) to highway speeds, and the new Impreza obliges quite nicely. Stability at speed over the average paved road with tar strips, the occasional soft spot and frost heaves is very good. Other than the necessary thumps of the tires and minor movement of the steering wheel to let you know what is going on, the Impreza is easy to control and relaxing to drive. At legal speeds, corners are comforting with little suspension action unless you hit one of the potholes that occasionally grace our roads.
If you enjoy a bit of spirited driving, you will actually be able to feel the full-time all-wheel drive system shuffle power about to the wheels that can use it. This aids in getting cornering speeds up, which means you need to really start paying attention to what is going on.
Fortunately, the VDS (Vehicle Dynamic Stability) system will interfere long before you get to the point of sliding into the ditch. Done properly, driving fast will rarely cause the system to interfere in your fun.
Going fast is only part of the equation. Stopping fast is equally important. I can’t say that the Impreza incorporates the latest in anti-dive suspension control, but what I can tell you is that if you brake hard enough to get the ABS to cut in, the nose does go down, but you don’t get the feeling that you are about to do a “stoppie” like on a sport bike.
Driver environment
If the driver isn’t happy inside the Impreza, all the improvements to the chassis will not be worthwhile. Arguably, this is where Subaru made a giant leap forward. The front seats have been improved with better side and thigh bolsters. This makes short-term goals such as hard cornering easier to bear, while in the long term, you are going to be comfortable in the seat for hours.
At the same time, Subaru brought their “A” game to the rest of interior. New materials and colors make you think you’ve stepped into a Legacy by accident. In addition, both materials and switches have an improved tactile feel that makes the car seem even more expensive than it really is.
Subaru has put the time and effort into giving the Impreza a boulevard cruiser ride without giving up any of the pleasurable aspects of performance driving in car of this class.
The 2012 Subaru Impreza starts at $19,995 for a base 2.0i 4-door, while the 2.0i 5-door carries a $20,895 MSRP. Fully loaded versions of the Impreza will go for about $27K.
