2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0i-L Review | AWD Gives Small Car Unique Appeal
Although the 2017 Subaru Impreza may continue to be bread and butter for the Japanese all-wheel drive-renowned brand, there now appears to be two differences.
The four-tier hatch range – comprising 2.0i, 2.0i-L (as tested here), 2.0i-Premium and 2.0i-S – still does not go for the throat at the $19,990 end of the small market, with the now auto-only Impreza range kicking off at $22,600 plus on-road costs. Nor does it follow its exclusively front-drive competitors and eschew traction to all four wheels.
However, underpinned by an entirely new chassis tagged Subaru Global Platform, and introducing advanced active safety features that come under the banner of Subaru EyeSight, there promises to be a dusting of magic to the way this vehicle drives, and a sprinkling of high-end technology inside and under the five-door range.
Subaru’s bread and butter should hopefully be tastier than ever.
Vehicle Style: Small hatchback
Price: $24,690 (plus on-road costs)
Engine/trans: 115kW/196Nm 2.0 4cyl petrol | automatic CVT
Fuel Economy Claimed: 6.6 L/100km | Tested: 8.2 L/100km
OVERVIEW
Even the entry Impreza 2.0i arrives standard with 17-inch alloy wheels on the outside and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Pandora app touchscreen connectivity inside.
This lower-middle-tier Impreza 2.0i-L really steps things up, however, with a larger 8.0-inch screen, dual-zone climate control, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter, colour trip computer screen, even active cruise control, plus foglights, electric-fold door mirrors and forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking (AEB). And it still costs under $25K at $24,690 (plus orc).