Compact Car Review: The Subaru Impreza

Are you in the market for a small family or personal car? Looking for something that stands out and is sporty? Maybe a look at the Subaru Impreza is in store for you. This article will review the Impreza inside and out.

Size of vehicle

The Subaru Impreza is in the compact car class, so don't expect to be able to pack five adults into the car for a three day road trip. The Impreza is offered in two different models, a four door sedan as well as a five door hatchback. Both the front and rear seats feature ample headroom, which allows for people well over six feet tall to comfortably fit within the vehicle. Both the front and rear seats feature ample sitting room, however, with all cars of this class, long trips in the rear seats may become uncomfortable. The trunk will accommodate some cargo, but don't expect to build a house out of it.

Cost

While Subaru Impreza is a very impressive car on the interior, the consumer pays for it up front. The base model 4 door, as well as the five door model, starts at just under $18,000. While this sounds more expensive than other cars of this class, it includes many features not standard on similar cars. Sporty models of the Impreza start at around $24,000 and run to as high as over $33,000. While this seems pricy, it includes a very sporty image, and the speed to back that image up. Remember, the Impreza is one of the most used cars in WRC rally racing, making it a popular choice on the road today. Based upon how many miles are on the car, used cars can range anywhere from as low as $15,000 to as high as $28,000 for the performance model.

Fuel Consumption

The Impreza utilizes a small, four cylinder engine. Because of its size, the engine tends to be very fuel efficient. The EPA estimates that the four door model gets around 22 miles per gallon in the city, and 29 miles per gallon on the highway. These estimates are taken on a machine that sits inside, so there are many factors unaccounted for. Based on your driving, the mileage may be significantly lower or higher.

Safety

Like many production cars today, the Impreza comes standard with driver and passenger front airbags. Also included from the factory are driver and passenger side impact airbags. One of the significant safety advantages of the Impreza is its use of All Wheel Drive (AWD). Rather than just the front two wheels propelling the car, all four do, so in slippery situations, traction is nearly always maintained. Remember, compact cars are very small and low to the ground. This allows for other vehicles to be much higher in the air.

Creature Comforts

Unlike many car manufactures, Subaru puts many features standard into their cars. While this overall a nice thing to have, it adds to the initial bottom line. Many of the features that can be added on are upgraded stereo systems, as well as various types of leather than can be added for comfort. All cars come standard with Sirius satellite radio, which is around $10 per month. Overall, the Subaru Impreza is a very good car for an individual or small family who needs a car that can handle all weather scenarios well. If you're looking for a car that is fun to drive, check out the Subaru Impreza today.