2006 Subaru Impreza Review

Specifications

Small Car with Big Attitude

Remove the bold new three section grille and aerodynamically efficient headlight design from the 2006 Impreza and the rest of the car appears more or less carryover from the 2005 model, but to think this is the case wouldnt do the significantly updated model justice at all.

First of all, every panel forward of the B-pillar and front doors is new. The redesigned front fascia makes the newly designated 2.5i model appear more like its sport-oriented STI sibling, a good thing if youre buying into the Impreza line at the lower end, but maybe a negative if youre looking for more distinction from the mid-$30K flagship model. The cars front fenders visually integrate with the side panels better than those on the outgoing car too, while the new aluminum hood is formed to match up with the modified front end.

In the rear, it takes the keener eye of a true-blue Subaru fan to notice any difference. A larger Subaru logo is now prominently positioned at the center of the rear trunk lid overhang, while redesigned tail lamp lenses add greater distinction to the cars rear styling.

Before I delve into the countless upgrades under the skin, I just wanted to say how much Im starting to like Subarus new corporate face. I find the three piece grille works best on the new Impreza, which might be due to its stylish new smoke-tinted headlamp clusters. I see a little influence from BMWs new 645 Ci in their design, which in my opinion is not a negative thing at all - unless youre BMW I suppose. But unlike some of Subarus Japanese peers, the new Impreza isnt trying to rely on any European styling trends to make its brand more desirable to consumers. Rather, the design team is creating an entirely new look, and like it or not, consumers wont be mixing up its new Impreza with Honda Civics and Mazda3s.

Of course, Subaru hasnt won the loyalty of its customers because of styling, but rather has gained an enviable retention rating due to its lineup of symmetrical all-wheel drive performance-oriented models, plus significant effort spent on safety and durability.

Out on the road, my first impression is of solidity. The little Impreza feels well built, as if it could withstand frontal or side impact with much more grace than the majority of small cars in its compact class. Of course, crash test results of the previous generation Impreza, prior to the new cars “ring frame reinforced body structure”, which includes hydroformed front subframe and side sills plus tailored-blank welded B-pillars, attest that this is indeed true, and the 2006 model should improve on the cars strong record even more due to smart dual stage frontal airbags and standard front-seat head/chest side-impact airbags. The smart designation means that sensors detect the position of the front passenger in order to mete out deployment. If theres a child on board the airbag will deploy differently than if an adult is occupying the seat. Such a system is not new, but usually only available in higher priced premium vehicles, not the entire range of an entry-level compact model.

That lineup includes the 2.5i Sedan, Sport Wagon, Outback Sport, and high-performance WRX and WRX STI sedans and wagons. While Ill get back to the Outback Sport and WRX lineup in a couple of dedicated reviews that are already half written, I want to talk about the “base” 2.5i Sedan and Sport Wagon models first, as the changes are so involved I will scarcely have enough room to list them all let along go into much detail.

First of all, why did I put quotation marks around the term “base”? While the 2.5i Sedan and Sport Wagon are the least expensive models offered by Subaru, they are so well outfitted off the rack that the term base doesnt seem to fit very well. Features like the aforementioned standard side-impact airbags are normally left for the options list, if available in this class at all. Other items, such as standard all-wheel drive and four-wheel disc brakes with standard four-channel, four-sensor anti-lock (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), are fine examples of how Subaru puts its customers first, never allowing a substandard product to pull down the brands image and ruin its stellar reputation.

While Subaru has delivered a quality product year after year, its Impreza hasnt always appeared to be as well put together as its reputation verified, at least on the inside. The plastic surfaces were a little harder and shinier than is currently en vogue and panel gaps didnt always meet up in perfect unison. This soft-touch, matte-finish world is known as “perceived quality”. And Im a stickler when it comes to perceived quality, maybe a little too taken in by superficial “substance” than I should be, but nevertheless I want a car to fit like a prince for a paupers sum, as the old saying goes. Well, Im happy to announce that the 2006 Impreza takes second place to no rival, with some of the nicest switchgear in its class and soft-touch plastics just about everywhere.

That switchgear actuates a standard AM/FM/CD audio system, plus air conditioning, power windows, powered and heated mirrors, automatic door locks with remote keyless entry, tilt steering, an exterior temperature gauge and intermittent wipers, all standard. Also, the seats are fabulous, steering wheel the best in the business and overall ergonomics so well thought out youd think it was designed for racing or something.

I bet you can just imagine the tongue in my cheek as I speak, being that most Subee fans know that the Impreza is the basis for the outrageously successful WRX line of rally cars, currently piloted by some of the best drivers on the toughest tarmac and dirt roads planet-wide in the FIA sanctioned World Rally Championship series.

That motorsport heritage doesnt merely trickle down to the road cars via brand DNA, but immediately affects the majority of drivetrain and suspension components in every Impreza model. Thats what makes the “base” Impreza such a standout vehicle. It feels like a racer, even when equipped with its entry-level 173-horsepower 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. But hold on a minute? The base car gets 173 ponies under its aluminum hood? Isnt that similar engine output to top-line performance models from Subarus competitors? Yup! Sure there are a few compact rivals that produce more than 200-horsepower in sport-oriented trim, but the majority offer somewhere in the vicinity of 160- to 175-horsepower, and most dont offer anywhere near the Imprezas 166 lb-ft of torque.

What caused the increase from 165-horsepower in last years Impreza to 173 now? The engine now comes standard with oil pressure actuated i-Active Valve Lift, a variable valve timing system that not only boosts power at the upper edges of the rev range, but also fattens up the mid-range torque curve.

The result is a little car that hauls its tiny derriere up to highway speeds in very short order, whether mated to its standard five-speed manual transmission or a new four-speed automatic. Yes, believe it or not the vehicle class that could use 5- and 6-speed automatic transmissions most, to optimize what are often lower output engines, still makes due with four-speed automatics in every entry. This will change, no doubt, but at the time of writing a four-speed is as good as it gets. Of the lot, the torquey Impreza engine probably fares best when hooked up to its auto-box, nipping off the line with virtually no hesitation and ever willing to quickly downshift when called upon for passing purposes. It doesnt include a manual mode, per se, but as experienced while testing an automatic transmission-equipped Impreza 2.5i in and around Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, where the car was recently introduced to journalists, its gated shifter can be used for manual-like shifting quite easily.

The ACT-4 automatic, as it is called internally, features many upgrades over the outgoing transmission. Now with enhanced control logic, the transmission features Subaru Active Torque Split Multiple Plate Transfer System (no acronym possible) for distributing torque to the front and rear axles depending on driving conditions. Driving conditions? Yes, that would include the standard road surface conditions, which were previously diagnosed via preset values programmed into a data map, but now a continuous stream of information can more accurate decipher real-time situations and respond accordingly via an on-board LAN (Local Area Network). The system measures engine torque, approximate steering angle, and speed differences between the front and rear axles, to accurately respond to the minutest changes in driving conditions to optimize traction and overall handling. Thats a pretty sophisticated four-speed, no?

Not only is the shifter responsive, but due to the transmission upgrades along with the Impreza 2.5is highly polished four-wheel fully independent suspension system, limited slip rear differential (LSD), engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system, and new 16- by 6.5-inch five-spoke alloy wheels on 205/55 R16 89V Bridgestone Potenza RE92 M+S all-season tires, the entire car reacts deftly to driver input over any road surface.

I suppose Im getting to know the back roads that surround Mont-Tremblant quite well, and have tested out a variety of cars on the same stretch of undulating, curving tarmac as to get a reasonable idea of which models handle the situation better than others. Suffice it to say that the Impreza impresses. Its rock solid stance and agile suspension makes the most of the drivetrains power, never leaving me dissatisfied even when pushing it harder than I probably should have. This is a highly rewarding car to drive. It doesnt provoke the silly grin plastered across the face that its more powerful WRX STI model does, of course, but for enjoyable everyday driving the Impreza has few compact peers.

I should also mention that the four-door is quite roomy front and rear, with an accommodating trunk, while the wagon offers the same driving experience with arguably higher points for five-door styling, and 27.9 cubic feet available for the dog - 61.6 cubic feet if the second row seatbacks are folded flat.

In the end, theres a lot more to the new Impreza that will require your personal investigation at a local Subaru dealership, as there just isnt room in this column to go into all the details. Just take my word for it: this alternative Japanese brand has done a great deal more to this car than immediately meets the eye. Its a superb entry, especially at $18,920. And that price point, while hardly the least expensive model in the compact class will be easily accessible to most Americans. And as mentioned previously, its long list of standard features makes the Impreza a good comparative buy.

Finally, I always judge a company by how well it executes the cheapest models in its lineup, and in the case of the Impreza, Subaru seems to be in fine shape.