Seats are comfortable and supportive, though trimmed in a Velcro-like fabric which acts like a dog-hair magnet. You'll need a crumpled up wad of duct tape to properly clean them. In all, the interior is inviting and sufficiently roomy, the build quality and materials on par with (but no better) than anything in its price range. Red-lit instruments add to the performance car looks, though the abundance of red can become overpowering at night.

The interior is still missing proper arm-rests, and the stereo, though capable of holding 6 MP3 CD's produces fairly uninspired sound quality.

The boxer engine is also known as a flat engine or a horizontally opposed engine.

Familiar power
There are no surprises under the hood- just the same 2.5 litre boxer engine with 170 horsepower that powers every other Subaru car in its base trim. The powerplant is torquey and has plenty of character, although it can become harsh and noisy when drivers push. This is standard fare for a boxer-engine, though it offers less of the entertainment value and excitement which characterize other powerplants in this class of vehicle.

But loaded up with 5 people and a hatch-full of gear, the Impreza never lagged for power on the highway while climbing or passing. This is largely due to a variable valve timing system which ensures that a reserve of power is always waiting just beneath your right toes.

The five-speed manual gearbox proved very enjoyable to row, clicking positively into each gear with minimal effort. It's arguably the best shifter in this class of vehicle, more precise and better weighted than even Subaru's six-speed shifter.

Fantastic road manners and ride quality
But where Impreza impresses the most is in the ride department. The Impreza does a magnificent job of filtering out the jarring harshness caused by rough roadways, leaving behind a commendable level of road-feel and sportiness with none of the roughness. Few if any cars achieve this balance so well, and despite the comfort, the Impreza still feels like more of a drivers car than most it competes with. On stretches of road where most any other sub-$25,000 car would rattle your fillings out, the Impreza floated along with grace.

Subaru, take whoever designed this suspension setup out for a steak, then give them a raise. Oh, and throw on some stickier factory tires while you're at it.

A worthy year round hatchback
This might just be the ultimate first car for the cold-blooded northerner, or an ideal second car that offers fun and safety as a runabout when the full-sized family SUV isn't needed. There's a fantastic sensation of conquering Mother Nature when driving an Impreza with snow-tires in the wintertime, though the symmetrical AWD system certainly enhances clear-road traction as well. Throw on a remote-start for cold mornings, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better way to get to work in the middle of a snowstorm.



Fantastic ride and handling, sporty feel to controls, reduced price for more equipment



Mediocre stereo system




Needs proper arm-rests


Photo Credit : Justin Pritchard, Philippe Champoux