Subaru Impreza Sport 2017 car review

Only 5% of the vehicle has been untouched. Yup, that’s right; a staggering 95% of it has been tweaked and changed, the all new Impreza coming equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system which has helped it to achieve the all-important 5 star ANCAP safety rating. The inclusion of this technology progresses Subaru’s ‘safety to the masses’ mantra, boasting the widest application of this type of technology by any automotive brand in NZ.

This car has eyes

Wallis Dumper, Managing Director of Subaru New Zealand, says the addition of the assist system to the Impreza 2.0L Sport makes their small car offering “a more compelling package than ever before”, adding to Subaru’s other EyeSight-equipped models including all Outbacks, the Levorg, the Forester Premium and XT, and all Legacy variants.

EyeSight is designed to ensure the safety of all passengers as it includes pre-collision braking assist, pre-collision steering assist, and driver alerts which utilises high quality stereo cameras.

As an all-wheel drive vehicle, the Impreza is well suited to the varied road surfaces that can be encountered in New Zealand on any given day. The driving forces are spread across all four wheels as part of the symmetrical all-wheel drive system, enhancing driver confidence and improving vehicle safety by achieving greater control for tasks as simple as crossing wet, slippery intersections.

The switch to the new global platform has enabled improvements to the body structure. The rigidity in the 2017 model has nearly doubled and vibrations have been reduced by 50%. The newly designed direct injection 2L engine combined with the Subaru Lineartonic CVT transmission offers 7 speeds.

The 2017 Impreza is slightly bigger than the previous model, offering more luggage space. It has a more refined interior cabin and there’s the welcome addition of a completely new 8-inch touch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto.

The Impreza has been designed for those looking for an economical second car, empty-nesters and anyone who desires a vehicle with a great mix of safety, style, utility and versatility – a combination you can often only find in a larger or SUV-styled vehicle.

Imprezzively priced

The price remained under wraps until early 2017 when it was officially launched in NZ. We expected it to be impressively priced and too much more than the outgoing model that it is set to replace.

News just in, the Impreza Sport price remains unchanged at just $29,990!