A Week With the 2010 Subaru Impreza 5-door Proves Hatchback Superiority
They say that Americans don't care much for hatchbacks and have fallen out of love with station wagons. If that's true, then I say Americans are pretty dumb when it comes to making choices of the automotive kind because 90% of car buyers are seeking sensible solutions to their needs and nothing is more practical than the hatch, and for those needing more cargo space, the wagon. Folks, let me introduce you to the Impreza 5-Door that I was driving around Toronto last week, which I can honestly say is "the car you should drive before you drive anything else." Note: Subaru refrains from calling this a hatch or wagon, although it is both.
If I were a family man, I'd be attracted to the Impreza by its interior roominess, combined with cargo space that's more than adequate when the rear seatbacks are raised. I especially liked the easy manner in which the cargo cover can be engaged to keep its contents hidden from curious eyes. The interior is classic Subaru, wherein functionality makes it easy to find and operate the controls, while materials fit and finish is of a high quality. There is nothing cheap here except the price. Incidentally, a back seat passenger commented that with the sunroof open there was no buffeting or wind effect to spoil her ride. Nice.
What makes the Impreza 5-Door truly unique, though, is its horizontally-opposed "boxer" engine and all-wheel-drive. The 2.5 liter 4-cylinder, single-overhead-cam engine delivers 170 hp @ 6,000 rpm and 170 lb-ft @ of torque at 4400 rpm, enough to keep driving enthusiasts happy and more than enough for responsive highway passing. A tight turning circle (surprisingly so for all-wheel-drive) adds to its agility in the city while handling on winding roads reveals a sporting nature. I was, however, disappointed in the automatic transmission, which only has four gears, whereas 5-speeds are becoming the norm in this class. That extra gear could improve both fuel economy and performance. As well, it was a tad slow on kickdown. On the other hand, moving up to the Impreza 2.5 GT's double-overhead-cam, turbocharged engine delivers a whopping 224 hp @ 5200 rpm and 226 lb-ft of torque at a low 2800 rpm. It also ups the tab to $26,995 compared with the 2.5's starting price of $17,495. (Add $500 to each for the 5-Door advantage.) Personally, I felt the base engine was more than adequate, especially considering how seldom we get to enjoy dynamic performance on today's crowded roads.
But what of the supposedly negative hatchback/wagon image? One look at those curvaceous lines should erase that thought from anyone's mind, for this is a sweet-looking automobile, a car I hated to give back on the basis of style alone. Okay, if you absolutely must have a conventional 4-door Impreza, Subaru will be glad to sell you one, but you'll gain little and lose a lot by not opting for the 5-Door. By the way, hatchbacks have an aerodynamic advantage over notchback sedans (it's called the "Kamm" effect) which can improve both economy and performance.
Thanks to Subaru Canada for the loan of this vehicle, which included an extra-cost Sports Package. Our American friends can learn more about the Impreza here. All prices mentioned are for the US market.
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