New Subaru Impreza: waiting for hybrid

More than six years after the introduction of the current Subaru Impreza, it is time for a new one. Meet the new sixth generation Subaru Impreza, a car that has just been introduced to the American consumer at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For now only as a five-door hatchback – the outgoing Impreza is also available as a sedan – and for the time being without an electrified powertrain. Should the new Subaru Impreza come to Europe, we would expect at least an e-Boxer powertrain in the car. After all, Subaru just has it on the shelves.

The new Subaru Impreza shares a lot with the new XV/Crosstrek.

The new Subaru Impreza is immediately recognizable as an Impreza, although there is a lot different. At the front we see the somewhat more dynamic-looking front that recently debuted in a slightly different form on the technically related Crosstrek / XV. The relatively large rear lights of that Crosstrek / XV can also be found on the Impreza. In fact, practically the entire course of that cross-element overloaded Subaru corresponds to that of the new Impreza. That’s probably good news. The new Impreza looks, especially from the side, just a bit more slender than its apparently more rational predecessor. The similarities between the Impreza and the Crosstrek/XV are also evident in the interior. So also in the new Impreza a solid-looking dashboard with a large 11.6-inch vertically oriented infotainment screen in the center.

Subaru Impreza, complete with a thick 11-inch infotainment screen.

Subaru says the new Impreza is 10 percent stiffer than its predecessor. But of course more changes. The Subaru Impreza – of course again with four-wheel drive – now has Active Torque Vectoring and is supplied in the United States – Subaru’s largest market – with a 147 hp and 197 Nm strong 2.0 four-cylinder boxer engine. For more spice, Subaru has a 2.5 boxer engine on the menu that kicks it up to 185 hp and more than 240 Nm. Both machines are mated to a Lineartronic CVT transmission. If you go for the sportier taste, you can use paddle shifters to click your way through eight virtual gears. The new Impreza benefits from the steering of the new WRX and should also be lighter than the model it replaces.

As for safety systems, the new Impreza has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Subaru gives every Impreza the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology package as standard, which is packed with passive and active safety systems. From blind spot detection to a lane assistant, an extensive set of cameras all around and Rear-Cross Traffic Assist.

As mentioned, we are talking here purely about the version of the Subaru Impreza intended for the American market. At the time of writing, nothing is known about coming to the Netherlands.