One for Mr Average

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Sept 28, 2007

Byline: By EDWARD STEPHENS

MENTION a Subaru Impreza to any petrol head and the chances are his eyes will light up and he will extol the virtues of the iconic turbo-charged high performance models.

But Subaru also makes Imprezas that don't have 0- 62mph performance times in single figures and insurance groups that would make most buyers go pale.

They are designed for the "average" motorist, and with the advent of the all-new Impreza model that is exactly who the company is aiming to sell to.

There is no suggestion that they are turning their backs on the high performance brigade, and the Impreza WRX will be available in limited number in November and the range-topping WRX STI next year.

For now Subaru wants to get the message across that there are Imprezas for mums who drive their children to school and couples who have reached an age where safety rather than performance is the main thing.

With that in mind the first of the new Imprezas to go into dealership showrooms are the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre non-turbo charged models - the 1.5R, 2.0R and 2.0RX - which have prices starting from pounds 12,495 on-the-road - less than the price of the outgoing model.

The 1.5-litre also comes with an insurance rating of 4E, helping to keep running costs down.

The new-look Impreza is totally different to the previous generation. This is no cosmetic up-grade but a total and comprehensive re-think.

All new Imprezas share one five-door body which is shorter yet wider than the previous Sport Waggon. All four wheels have been pushed out to the extreme corners creating a longer wheel-base, which means there is two inches more legroom in the rear of the new model compared to the old.

The new body is almost an amalgam of several different car designs on the road today. From certain angles it reminded me of the BMW 1-Series, from others the sporty SEAT Leon.

It's neat, attractive and functional. Jump up to the RX versions with its side skirts, front and rear spoilers, rear bumper diffuser and larger 17-inch alloy wheels and you can add sporty. Where it scores over most other family cars is that it has the added safety factor of all-wheel-drive.

On the road the new models drive and handle well. Acceleration, while not being dynamic - wait for the STI models - is certainly not lacking for the respective engine sizes and the cars are quiet and refined.

The ride is flat with no roll and - as one would expect - roads holding is excellent.

While intending to remain a niche car maker Subaru is tar-s geting its new Impreza 1.5 and 2.0-s litre models at the models made 2 by some of the big boys of the motoring world, namely the Ford Focus and Honda Civic.

It is to embark on an advertising campaign to convince drivers there is an Impreza to suit most.

The 1.5R is from pounds 12,495 on-the-road, has a top speed of 109 mph and will reach 60mph from rest in 1 3.7secs. The manual will average 37.7 mpg.

The 2.0R starts from pounds 14,995 and the 2.0RX from pounds 17,495. Both have a top speed of 120mph and will reach 60mph from rest in 9.2secs. Average fuel consumption for the manual is 33.6mpg.

Automatics of the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre are an additional pounds 1,000.

CAPTION(S):

NEW GENERATION - the latest Subaru Impreza is aimed at those seeking safety first