![]() In terms of environmental performance, the 2016 Subaru Impreza’s emissions are very clean evidenced by Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) status, just another reason its followers are so loyal. Of course, you can opt for Sport or Limited packages, too, and both can be upgraded with a $2,500 Technology package that makes the CVT standard and more importantly includes Subaru’s EyeSight advanced safety technologies. ![]() Other than body styles (the 5-door costs $900 more) and the CVT ($1,300 extra), the only options available with the Touring package are six no-cost exterior paint colours and the choice of black or ivory cloth upholstery. Touring trim cranks things up a notch with upgraded front springs, a rear stabilizer bar, full auto on/off headlights, 16” alloy wheels, a windshield wiper de-icer, welcome lighting, chrome inner door handles, heated front seats, two additional stereo speakers, a rear centre armrest with cupholders, a retractable cargo cover, and more. That base infotainment system is very good, incidentally, with access to news, food, weather, music, podcasts, audiobooks, and other multimedia content via its own apps or Aha and Pandora. Standard content includes a 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder engine that’s capable of producing 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, AWD, a fully independent suspension, auto-off headlamps, body-coloured mirror caps and door handles, a rooftop spoiler, remote entry, power-adjustable mirrors, illuminated steering wheel controls, a 3.5” colour multi-information display in front of the driver, cruise control, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, voice activation, a 6.2” high-resolution colour touchscreen for infotainment on the centre stack, a rearview camera, USB and iPod integration plus satellite radio, filtered air conditioning, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, cargo tie-down hooks, a hill holder, all the usual active and passive safety features including an airbag for the driver’s knees, and much more. The 2016 Subaru Impreza 5-door 2.0i Touring model I’m describing is merely just above base at $22,595 with a 5-speed manual transmission or $23,895 with one of the industry’s best continuously variable automatics (CVT) featuring paddle shifters no less. The interior gets a premium-grade soft-touch dash top, the same pliable synthetic for the door uppers in front and the rear (the latter very rare), sharp-looking metallic trim on the steering wheel spokes, instrument panel, centre stack, lower console, and door panels, along with some impressively upscale electronic interfaces. Take the Impreza, which was redesigned for its fourth generation in 2011 and has only received minor revisions since, but still looks good thanks to an inspired original design featuring muscular, yet classy 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback profiles, a bold hexagonal grille, and even more eye-catching lower front fascia, plus attractive chrome detailing from front to back. Just the same, Subaru has been using its sales growth and the resultant economies of scale to its advantage, by creating cars that are more premium in refinement and features, yet priced closer to the volume sellers. If you ask me, I think a lot of consumers are missing out. Tell that to Impreza buyers and they’ll smile, happy they’ve purchased something you won’t see on every corner and more importantly a car that ideally suits their personal image and lifestyle. ![]() ![]() Yet, to put things in perspective, its entire brand-wide volume of 46,609 units in calendar year 2015 fell 18,341 deliveries short of Honda Civic sales alone, and Subaru only ranked 14th out of 20 mainstream brands. Subaru has been able to ride this fine line quite better than most thanks to unique technologies that improve both safety and performance, particularly its trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive system that comes standard on all but one model, as well as its horizontally opposed “boxer” engine design that’s only otherwise used by Porsche (and occasionally Ferrari), which reduces a vehicle’s centre of gravity to improve handling.įor these reasons, as well as improving its average fuel economy, interior refinement, infotainment systems, and overall value proposition, Subaru has more than doubled its Canadian sales since 2009 and almost tripled deliveries since 2005. The majority of Subaru owners are likely to name reliability, practicality, safety, and environmental leadership as core values, while those focused on its WRX and BRZ lines are possibly thinking that it’s a performance-oriented brand. What would you consider Subaru’s brand image to be? Like most carmakers, the answer would depend on which models interest you.
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