Subaru Impreza 2008

By Benjamin Cyr

New heading

I’ve said it in the past and l’ll repeat it again: in the last several years, Subaru joined the club of Japanese manufacturers looking to acquire a prestige image. In 2006, they seemed on the right track to wow the competition with a uniquely designed front grille. Now in 2008, that image is swept aside and a new track taken. I am not impressed, aesthetically at least.

To go unnoticed

Whether you’re a fan of this Japanese manufacturer or not, you must admit that the Imprezas lines (and those of the sport version, the WRX) have always stood out from the competition and so it should be. Subaru, apparently, wanted to dilute the Imprezas unique body designs to appeal to a larger clientele. I think this strategy failed, and badly.

You can still choose between a hatchback and a sedan. I’ve always preferred the sedan but in 2008, it’s the reverse. The sedan has become anonymous; it brings no visual spark. Could it be a Toyota Corolla? Or maybe a Hyundai Elantra? No, I’m wrong; it’s a Kia Spectra. Seriously, our 2.5I red sedan was indistinguishable in traffic. True, the vehicle is quieter and the cabin more comfortable but the essence has been lost. We can, though, console ourselves with the superb Subaru all-wheel drive which is standard on all Imprezas.

Same performance with the WRX

As to our second tryout vehicle, a WRX with a silver hatchback, it too does not impress. The look, however, creates a bit of a stir with a backend right out of Buck Rodgers days. Good taste or not, it brings a little freshness, sadly lacking in the competition. The WRX’s motorization always stood out, and still does. The vaunted turbo compressed 2.5 litre engine developing 224hp still propels the WRX from 0 to 100km in about 6 seconds. Practically, this 2008 version excites even more because the maximum torque (226 lb-ft) now cuts in faster (1000 revs/min). I would have liked a new six-speed manual transmission but we’re stuck with the old rough five-speed.