Comparison review: five compact sporty sedans (Fifth place)

The latest version of the Subaru Impreza is neither sporty nor refined, but that doesn't mean you get a huge price discount. See more photos of the Impreza in today's slideshow. 

Subarus have long had the reputation of being unkillable. Their standard all-wheel-drive system powers them through rough weather, their solid construction consistently wins them top safety ratings, and their collection of loyal owners swears by their longevity. They used to also have a reputation for being more fun to drive than the average car, as Subaru sought to fill the “sporty” niche to appeal to customers far south of the snow belt. 

The current version of the company’s entry-level Impreza sedan – introduced as a 2008 model – certainly appears to live up to the former. But this car is now utility-only; it has lost its former sportiness without adding the level of refinement it has long needed. There are those consumers for whom a Subaru is almost a necessary tool – especially in regions that get more snow than D.C. Reliability and safety are nice things to have, too.

But someone who doesn’t need Subaru’s all-wheel-drive can get a much better car than the Impreza at this price point. 

Getting inside the Impreza gives the first impression of its basic nature. The seats are spacious but lack lateral support, and they face more hard, cheap-feeling plastic than any car should anywhere close to $20,000. The harsh lighting in the photos accompanying this review do make the interior look worse than it is, but not by much. 

The Impreza also doesn't offer leather seating -- or a close equivalent -- unless you spring for the high-performance WRX version at a much higher price tag. 

See more photos of the Impreza's interior in today's slideshow

Driving the car doesn’t improve that impression of mediocrity. The Impreza's ride is generally quite comfortable, but it can get unsettled too easily. The 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, a Subaru staple, doesn’t provide the level of performance its 170 horsepower might suggest. Blame the all-wheel-drive system for that, and for the car’s low fuel economy ratings of 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway – but note that improvements to Subaru’s larger Legacy sedan – which also has standard AWD – have given it much better mileage than the smaller Impreza.  

And while many Subaru loyalists are fond of the engine’s distinctive note – after the same engine was criticized here in a review of the Legacy, a company spokesman pointed out that Subaru likes to “refer to the noise of a Boxer engine as a growl or a rumble rather than clatter and a wheeze” – but it’s undeniably noisy. Road noise is also persistent. 

But more than unrefined, the Impreza is also very far from sporty. Past Imprezas preserved much of the handling prowess of their turbocharged WRX siblings; this one does not even pretend to. The steering is too light and not especially responsive, the five-speed manual transmission's shifter is vague and has long throws, and the soft suspension allows for too much body roll if you do try and push the car. It’s easy to drive, with a light and forgiving clutch, but it’s not a fun car. 

Now, the Impreza’s last-place finish here doesn’t mean it’s a bad car. The more accurate interpretation is that it’s a different sort of car than past Imprezas, which had quite a bit less interior space and a less relaxed driving experience. Past Subarus would have driven as sportily as their specifications suggested, which would have help to offset their refinement shortfalls. 

Perhaps the next-generation Impreza will be able to combine new levels of luxury with the old levels of driving enjoyment. But for now, those who don’t need to power through a blizzard can get a car that’s more pleasant, more fun, or both, than this Subaru.

Vehicle tested: 2009 Subaru Impreza
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $17,495
Version tested: 2.5i
Version base price (MSRP): $17,495
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $18,293
Estimated transaction price as tested: $16,519
Estimated transaction price as comparable:* $18,419
Test vehicle provided by: Wes Greenway's Waldorf Subaru of Waldorf, Md.

Key specifications: 
Length: 180.3 inches
Width: 68.5 inches
Height: 58.1 inches
Wheelbase: 103.1 inches
Weight: 3,064 pounds
Trunk volume: 11.3 cubic feet
Turning radius: 17.4 feet
Engine (as tested): 2.5-liter H4 with 170 horsepower
Transmission: 5-speed manual
EPA city mileage: 20 miles per gallon
EPA highway mileage: 27 miles per gallon

For more information: Subaru website

Coming up tomorrow: FOURTH PLACE

*Note on pricing: when possible, the vehicles tested for this review were equipped comparably to the tested Forte SX, with leather interiors, sunroofs, and manual transmissions. It wasn't always possible. The five vehicles in this comparison are offered with most of the same features in the required price range, but the specific cars available to drive for this comparison ranged from base models with no options to fully optioned vehicles. These discrepancies will be noted in each review and corrected for as much as possible.