First test Subaru Impreza (6th generation) – driving report

Subaru Impreza 2.0ie (2024) at a glance

• A compact all-wheel drive car with 136 horsepower boxer
• Good and safe driving habits
• Comprehensive basic equipment
• Influence the quality of the interior
• Base price from 34,990 euros

The sixth generation Impreza was more aggressive overall. LED lights and cornering lights are standard.

What are we dealing with here?

Definitely a car that doesn’t make a big fuss about its presence. And this has been the case for more than 30 years. That’s how long the Subaru Impreza (combined fuel consumption: 7.3 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 166 g/km)² has been with us in six generations and the Japanese hybrid all-wheel drive is available in Germany. for at least that time. No one in this country knows the fact that Subaru sold more cars in the USA with 632,086 units in 2023 than Audi and BMW combined. Meanwhile, Subaru Deutschland GmbH (part of the Emil Frey Group) is pleased to have sold 4,596 vehicles in the period – and counting. Part of the Impreza, which costs at least 34,990 euros? 137 manageable pieces.

Buyers’ reluctance can be explained by model changes and limited supply of new cars from Japan. Because in 2022, almost twice as many Subaru fans decided on a hard drive. There is no alternative to this delivered by the 136 hp 2.0-liter e-Boxer four-cylinder, where the “e” in the name stands for electric bit. The 4.49 meter long Subaru Impreza can only drive electrically for a few hundred meters thanks to its 12.3 kW 3-phase motor and a small 0.6 kWh battery. The electric technology is primarily used to assist acceleration and is intended to help save fuel.

The Impreza handles well on the road and in the curves – the CVT transmission works very well without any annoying rubber band effect.

How does the new Subaru Impreza drive?

Although only 136 hp and 182 Nm strong, real motorcycle genes can still be found in the Impreza. Although production of the high-performance variant of the WRX STI for the German market ended in 2018, you can already tell on the first few kilometers of the road that the sixth generation Impreza can do more than get us from A to B in 140 kilometers ./h bring. We leave the straight tarmac and turn to winding roads in the Alps. “Subi” is clean on the slope. Strong tension, binding and comfortable, but not too hard. All the car’s components, from the flat boxer engine to the transmission and rear axle differential, are centered in a single line for a neutral driving character.

The car’s center of gravity is also lower, and the Impreza now weighs 1.6 tonnes. Yes, that’s a lot of wood for a compact car, but all kinds of crash codes, equipment and assistance systems take their toll. If you know what you’re doing behind the wheel well enough at the right time, you can drive fast in the new Impreza, despite the manageable engine power. Which is also a credit to the well-tuned CVT transmission. Depending on the load requirements, it simulates individual speed levels and keeps the boxer running accordingly. At the same time, the drivetrain is so good that it produces more noise in the interior after 4,000 rpm. There are few merits for consumption, which on our first test car was close to eight liters per 100 kilometers – certainly too much for a small hybrid in this performance class.

The interior of the new Subaru Impreza is solid and functional. The infotainment system supports wireless Apple CarPlay.

How is the interior, is the quality good?

From about 90 km/h we also heard wind noises/clear cracking from the windshield area. This effect happened to the Impreza and the sister model Subaru Crosstrek, which was also driven. In terms of quality, however, that was said to be the only noticeable thing. Looking inside the new Subaru, some fans of the premium brand may start to smile, but the rustic appearance is deceiving. What the Japanese serve is quite visible. Of course there is a lot of plastic, but in the variant of the top equipment “Platinum” there are also high leather covers – even on the door panels.

We also liked the comfortable and highly adjustable front seats. Space in the second row of seats is typical for this class, and headroom is limited due to the early sloping roof. Individual control is very simple. Turn the seat heating switches, which can be activated in the cold even with gloves, and equally roughly prepared but at least real temperature control buttons. The trunk has been reduced from 340 to 315 liters compared to its predecessor, and the tailgate opens in such a way that you quickly hit your head when loading. Closed trailer load is 1,250 kg.

Compared to its predecessor, the trunk has been reduced from 340 to 315 liters. Below the Golf 8 with 380 liters.

What can the infotainment do, how do the assistance systems work?

Otherwise, Subaru is also trying to fit most of the car’s settings into the continuous and raised infotainment unit (11.6 inches). With varying success. It takes practice until you know where all the functions are hidden. In general, the system works very slowly and pairing smartphones is slow. After all: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work together wirelessly, and there are also multiple USB charging options in the first and second rows for pocket devices.

Good news for everyone who made a last-minute decision: the new Subaru Impreza, which was officially launched on the German market on January 27, 2024, still does not have the EU speed warning system. Therefore, cars that go through the pairing process at Subaru Germany headquarters in Friedberg after July 1, 2024 will have one more assistant. The Japanese put particular emphasis on the EyeSight system, which uses three cameras (instead of two) to monitor the road ahead. The focus is also on the driver, who is quickly reprimanded if he lets his eyes wander from the road. It’s sad – but you can turn it off. Such as the assistant to take care of the path, which, however, is not a guardian like other manufacturers.

Prices for the Subaru Impreza Trend start at 34,990 euros, and the Platinum variant costs from 37,490 euros.

The first conclusion

The new Subaru Impreza can be summed up in one word: rock solid. In terms of size, quality and level of equipment, it really is a car that should please the masses. On top of that, there is a warranty of up to eight years and a solid resale value. Despite all the advantages: the new Impreza is no gift and the four-cylinder e-Boxer is very thirsty for its power output. (Text: Thomas Vogelhuber | Photo: Manufacturer)

Technical data – Subaru Impreza*

• Example: Subaru Impreza 2.0ie Platinum Lineartronic
• Engine: Naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, 1,995 cc + 3-phase synchronous motor
• Performance: 136 hp (100 kW) at 5,600 rpm
• Torque: 182 Nm at 4,000 rpm
• Run: All-wheel drive, CVT automatic
• Common uses: 7.3 l/100 km²
• CO2 emissions include: 166 g/km2
• Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 10, 6 s
• Maximum speed: 199 km/h
• Dimensions (L/W/H): 4,49 m/1,78 m/1,52 m
• Weight: here. 1,599 kilos
• tank volume: 48 l
• Base price: from 34,990 euros

* Manufacturer’s information