Subaru Impreza Sedan: Re-Booted

Motoring Channel Staff - 9/September/2008

Sydney, Australia — It's been a long wait, but the Subaru Impreza sedan has now arrived in Australia.

The new Impreza sedan adds a new look to the range and all models are available with a 110kW 2.0-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine. Pricing is identical to the hatch models:

Impreza R sedan: $24,490
Impreza RX sedan: $26,490
Impreza RS sedan: $29,490
4-speed automatic: +$2,000

The Impreza hatch has boosted sales of Subaru's small car in the last year or so with a dramatic increase of female buyers, and the sedan is expected to bring more customers into Subaru dealerships.

Subaru Australia's Managing Director, Nick Senior, said: "Impreza is one of Australia’s fastest-growing models of 2008. We can only see that improving with the addition of the naturally aspirated sedan versions.

"It is hugely encouraging that the sales mix of Impreza hatch has been fairly equal across the three variants, compared with the previous generation's bias towards the entry-level cars.

"We predict the sedans will add around 200 Impreza sales per month," said Mr Senior.

The new sedan versions of the Impreza are virtually identical to the hatchbacks: they retain the 5-star ANCAP crash safety ratings, they retain the interior appointments and control placements, and they also retain Subaru's symmetrical AWD system.

However, the new Impreza sedan models are longer than the hatch models and gets a split-folding rear seat for the first time, which will please previous owners who were frustrated with the previous setup.

Subaru's Impreza hatch models are 4.41 metres long, while the sedan models are 4.58 metres long - considerably longer and with more boot space. 

Every other dimension of the Impreza sedan (height, width, wheelbase and ground clearance) are identical to the hatch however. 

Enthusiasts who have been holding off buying the Impreza because they wanted a more conservative design like the sedan may be dismayed to hear that the turbocharged WRX and WRX STI models are still only available as hatchbacks at the present time.

However Subaru expects to have the high performance Impreza WRX sedan on sale here in December.

The sportiest model on offer in the Subaru Impreza sedan range at the time of writing is the RS model equipped with the 5-speed manual. This model retails for $29,490 and has the WRX 'look' with a mesh sports grille, boot lid spoiler, tail pipe covers, rear diffuser, sports body kit and badging, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

All new sedan models are powered by a 2.0-litre petrol boxer engine that outputs 110kW @ 6400rpm and 196Nm @ 3200rpm.

Efficiency is rated at 8.8L/100km for the manual transmission models (8.9L/100km for automatic models) which is quite high for a 2.0-litre engine, and is largely due to the extra energy needed to power all four wheels instead of just two.

The CO2 emissions 210g/km.

With around 1,000 Impreza sales per month in Australia, the new sedan is expected to hike that figure even higher, and Subaru Australia's Nick Senior said the All-Wheel Drive safety message combined with quality engineering, a long list of standard features and impressive whole-of-life costs and good resale value, is proving a winner with customers.

"In addition, the Impreza's economy, low running costs and reliability has attracted new followers to the brand in recent times," Mr Senior said.

Related Links:
- Subaru Forester Diesel (2009)
- Subaru Forester (Road Test)
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI (Road Test)
- Subaru Exiga (2008)
- Subaru Impreza WRX (Road Test)
- Subaru Forester (2009)
- Subaru Liberty Diesel (2008)
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI (2008)
- Subaru Impreza Hatch (2008)
- Subaru Liberty & Outback (2008)
- Subaru Forester XT (Road Test)
- Subaru Tribeca (2008)
- Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (2008)
- Subaru Liberty GT Spec.B - Tuned by STI (Road Test)
- Subaru WRX - Tuned by STI (2007)
- Subaru Liberty Blitzen (2006)