2012 Subaru Impreza launched

The fourth-generation Subaru Impreza hatch and sedan have been launched in Australia today after months of production delays following last year's Japanese tsunami.

Originally scheduled for late last year, the new Subaru Impreza lands in showrooms with the existing starting price of $23,990 (Impreza 2.0i six-speed manual hatch/sedan) but tops out at $31,490 (Impreza 2.0i-S Lineartronic™ CVT hatch/sedan), $1000 more than the outgoing Impreza RS four-speed automatic. The current third-generation WRX and STI variants will continue to sell alongside the new Impreza for the foreseeable future.

With the outgoing Impreza initially receiving a stream of criticism for its bland styling both inside and out, the main point of improvement for the new model has been exterior and interior design. Managing director of Subaru Australia, Nick Senior, said: “New Impreza will attract new customers to the brand with its focus on improved exterior styling and interior design.”

“Impreza sends the strongest possible message that Subaru’s new design direction is a winner on so many fronts, from technology to quality, comfort, efficiency and style. Combine those factors with Subaru’s all-wheel-drive DNA, safety, durability, engineering and retained value, and you can see that Subaru is firmly committed to growth combined with quality products.”

The base- and mid-range variants will be available with either a six-speed manual or a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the top of the range can only be had with CVT. One of the more noticeable new features is auto stop start, which turns the new Impreza’s engine off when idling in traffic (to save fuel) and restarts it within 0.35 seconds. It works by focusing on the actions of the brake pedal. When the vehicle is idling and the brake pedal is pressed and held, the engine will automatically stop. When the brake pedal is released, the engine will automatically start (it will take other factors such as air conditioning requirements into account as well). Similar systems have been implemented across European vehicles over the past few years.

Subaru will equip all CVT models with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters while a multi-function display will be standard across the range. All variants will make use of a new-generation 2.0-litre four-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine that produces 110kW of power and 196Nm of torque (exactly the same as the outgoing model). Unlike the previous model though, the new Impreza is now competitive on the fuel economy front.

Impreza buyers opting for a CVT transmission should see their fuel consumption hit around 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres (22 per cent better than the four-speed automatic), while manual drivers will see figures around 7.1 l/100 km (a 20 per cent improvement over the five-speed manual). Despite the additional equipment and new design, the new Impreza weighs just 5kg more than its predecessor in manual form and 25kg more in CVT. It also happens to see a 25 percent increase in bending stiffness.

On the safety front all Subaru Impreza models receive the maximum five-star ANCAP rating thanks to seven airbags (including driver’s knee airbag) and an array of active safety features. 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S variants also gain a reversing camera.

Subaru Impreza pricelist:

OPTIONS:

Subaru Impreza 2.0i:

Interior:

Exterior

Other features

Impreza 2.0i-L Adds:

Impreza 2.0i-S Adds (only available in CVT):