Subaru first opened its doors in South Africa in 1992, the same year the Japanese automaker first introduced the Impreza which later became a World Rally Championship (WRC) legend at the hands of Colin McCrae. The 1992 Subaru Impreza offered a 2.0-litre boxer motor as motivation which was controversial in its day, to say the least.
Related: Top 3 safety features on a Subaru Impreza
Fast-forward 28-years to the modern-day Impreza and you will find the recipe remains mostly the same, with a 2.0-litre boxer motor still found under the bonnet. While older generation Subaru vehicles dominated the rally stages, the latest iterations no longer compete in the WRC and subsequently shifted its appeal from motorsport enthusiasts to sophisticated professionals looking to combine power with comfort.
Styling
When placing the fourth- and fifth-generation Impreza next to one another, the new vehicle retains most of the overall silhouette of the older model, however, see stylistic updates. The new model sees much sharper lines incorporated along the rear, side and front of the vehicle and even sees the hexagonal grille updated. Flanking the new grille are familiar C-shape LED headlight clusters.
Not only does the updated bumpers, fog lights, the door mirrors and roofline contribute to the new and improved styling, it also benefits the vehicle's overall aerodynamic coefficient, a key area of improvement on the new model. The interior sees a similarly sharp and striking theme incorporated as on the exterior. Subaru also improved on the quality and tactility on items such as the steering wheel, switchgear, gear lever, materials, dials and seats.
Technology
One of the biggest improvements in the new Impreza is the host of technology introduced to the cabin. Most notably, the new centre console adopts an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, not only larger the 6.1-inch screen it replaces in the earlier model but also designed to fit the interior without looking like an afterthought.
The new system also adopts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as optional equipment but offers the latter and navigation as standard on the flagship offering. The premium model further incorporates Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Sway Warning and Lane Departure Warning as part of Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist System.
Power
Both models are powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, boxer petrol engine, the motor in the fourth-generation model managed to send 110 kW and 197 Nm of torque through its Lineartronic CVT gearbox. The new model manages 115 kW and 196 Nm of torque mated to the 5-step Lineartronic CVT. The older model promised a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.6 L / 100 km and the new model sees minimal improvement with 7.2 L / 100 km.
Verdict
In its early days, the Subaru brand proved popular with the South African buyers market. Today the Japanese cars are becoming ever more scarce on our local roads, with only a few noticing the quality and value of these vehicles. While some might argue it is because of their absence on the world rally stages, it is most likely because of their price bracket, competing with that of the Germans.
Subaru products should seriously be considered as the vehicles include a host of standard equipment which usually feature under the optional column with other automakers. This speaks volume towards the value Subaru products offer customers. While a used Impreza will serve you well, try to find the more premium ES model to reap the benefits of all the technology that was available during that time.
Here at AutoTrader, we might opt for the new model, not only because of the striking looks and premium interior but because of the included 5-year / 150 000 km warranty and 3-year / 75 000 km maintenance plan.
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