Test drive: 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i
Monday July 6, 2009
Last week Subaru flew me to Seattle to test the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy, and my high expectations for that car didn't quite pan out. When I came home, I had another Subaru waiting for me -- a 2009 Impreza 2.5i hatchback. As with the Legacy, I was expecting to like this car. Did the Impreza also prove to be a disappointment? Find out in my 2009 Subaru Impreza test drive and review. -- Aaron Gold
Other Impreza models:
- 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT test drive
- 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX test drive
- 2008 Subaru Impreza STI test drive
Photo © Aaron Gold
Comments
I’ve been driving Imprezas for 9.5 years now. The current one is a ‘02 WRX Wagon. It is my favorite daily driver that has ever been built by any company. I can’t imagine driving anything else. I’m at 100,000 miles and, other than normal wear-and-tear, I’ve had zero problems with this car.
It is an absolute blast to drive and can do just about anything I need it to. The space the hatchback provides is amazing. We were loading boxes this week preparing for a move, and my wife (an SUV driver) was astonished at home much could fit in the car.
I do agree with you that the entry-level Impreza is the best car for a new young driver. It is very forgiving, very safe, and the hatchback is the world’s perfect college car.
I also don’t like the direction Subaru is going with the styling. What made Subarus so appealing a decade ago was that they were NOT so appealing to the mainstream. If you wanted something different that you were sure that all your subdivision neighbors didn’t have, a Subaru was a sure thing. And when you drove around, they would look at you like they couldn’t figure out why you weren’t buying an Accord or Explorer like everyone else.
Now they blend right in, which is a big turnoff for me, which is why I still have my 2002
4.5 stars!!? So, Aaron, the question is…does it have heated seats?
Don’t know why you keep comparing the impreza to the civic and the corolla. They have much smaller engines so of course they get better mileage than the subaru. But neither the civic or corolla have all wheel drive and neither has the horsepower of the impreza. What kind of 0 to 60 mph time does the impreza have?
Chris –
I compare the Impreza to cars like the Civic and Corolla because that’s what mainstream buyers (as opposed to die-hard Subaru fans) are comparing it against. I don’t do 0-60 testing myself — don’t have the equipment, plus there are too many variables to get accurate times. But the Impreza feels like an 8 to 9 second car, same range — maybe a hair quicker — than the Civic and Corolla. (Bear in mind that the Impreza outweighs the Civic and Corolla by 300 lbs or more. That’s like always carrying an extra two people around.) But for real-world driving, the Impreza doesn’t feel any faster. With the stick-shift, you have to rev it like crazy to get power, and it gets pretty noisy at high RPMs. The automatic feels quicker, but with only 4-speeds it needs more power to get the same mid-range acceleration as the Civic, which has a smaller engine but a 5-speed automatic. — Aaron
Oh, and Mike — No heated seats in the 2.5i. Don’t tell my wife!!! — Aaron
I’m assuming you meant 20/26 for the automatic?
Oops, I sure did. Typo corrected, thank you! — Aaron
Thanks for your response Aaron. I guess you are right that most people compare this to a corolla or civic, but I would compare it to a camry or accord or a rabbit/golf based on the overall size of the car and engine. The Mazda 3 with the larger engine would also be a fair comparison. Of course, none of those cars have all wheel drive. Only the suzuki SX4 can compare that way, and its really slow.
A good comparable to this car is the Volvo C-30…yes the C-30. The dealer in San Diego is willing to part with a new 2008 for 20K. Same gas mileage, safer, much faster(no awd), much more sophistication for the same price. Sorry Subaru, but my money would be on the Swede.
Hey Aaron,
If your main complaints about the Impreza are bland styling, a funky transmission, and mediocre fuel economy, how about a base Legacy for new drivers instead? Same safety equipment, essentially same price, but a sleeker car, smoother CVT transmission and markedly better fuel economy. You do sacrifice utility by foregoing the Impreza’s hatchback, and the Legacy will handle a bit differently because it’s bigger – but you also have more car around you in the event of an accident. I like the Impreza in many ways, but it seems that a base Legacy meets your criteria for new drivers in as many ways, if not more. Now, if they ever drop the CVT into the Impreza and improve the fuel economy…
Not sure what the new Legacy is like now, but in 2004 when we were looking for a Station Wagon, we had thought that the Legacy Outback would be perfect for us…..until we drove it. The boxer-four in the car we drove was grossly underpowered, and my 5′3″ wife could not find a driver’s seat position that was comfortable for her in spite of the power seat. Turned us off to Subaru’s altogether. We wouldn’t even consider one now.