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2008 Subaru Impreza Review

August 19, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

2008 models may disappoint some faithful fans
Automotive.com

fans of the old wagon might be disappointed
Cars and Driver

looks fast standing still
Kelley Blue Book

interior retains the car's businesslike austerity
Cars.com

The 2008 Subaru Impreza Wagon and Outback Sport wagon abandon the more upright style that carried it through the early part of the decade; its replacement shape is egglike and controversial to some, though to TheCarConnection.com it’s a fresh look in a class of me-too entries. “The restyled Impreza is meant to appeal to a more mainstream audience,” Edmunds says. “A more controversial aspect, however, is the car's exterior styling. Not because the new Impreza looks bad in a Pontiac Aztek sort of way, but because it doesn't look like, well, a Subaru.” Automobile feels the wagon model is "a little more attractive than the sedan, but looks exactly like another car that sells incredibly well--the Mazda." In fact, although it is considered a "station wagon," it does not particularly look like one; Cars and Driver reports this five-door 2008 Subaru "looks more like a traditional hatchback this time around, so fans of the old wagon might be disappointed." The Los Angeles Times calls the new Impreza “stylistic chloroform, boring and generic Asian shapes.” Kelley Blue Book simply states the 2008 Subaru Impreza "looks fast standing still, in spite of its somewhat utilitarian five-door configuration." Cars.com notes the cosmetic differences that appear on the Outback Sport version: "it features a two-tone appearance, with the lower section of the body a contrasting grayish, silver hue." (The four-door Subaru Impreza sedan—and the high-performance Subaru WRX and STI—are covered separately.)

The 2008 Subaru Impreza wagons sport a much richer, much more elegant interior along the lines of the large Tribeca SUV, which also gets restyled for 2008. According to Automotive.com, the Subaru 2008 "cabin is more subdued than before, with no embroidered logos to remind occupants what they're sitting in, [and] trim is a metal-ized silver plastic." Cars.com notes this Subaru 2008 interior is "far more inviting than before, but it retains the car's businesslike austerity." Automobile observes, “We're not asking for a SoHo lounge, but Subaru could stand to make the car's interior slightly more inviting.” Mother Proof declares that "the look is a little cheap," but Edmunds feels “the Impreza looks and feels more grown-up than ever before.”

Conclusion

The 2008 Subaru Impreza wagon has turned away some enthusiasts with its ovoid shape, but the interior is much improved.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:2008 models may disappoint some faithful fansAutomotive.comfans of the old wagon might be disappointedCars and Driverlooks fast standing stillKelley Blue Bookinterior retains the car's businesslike austerityCars.com The 2008 Subaru Impreza Wagon and Outback Sport wagon abandon the more upright style that carried it through the early part of the decade; its replacement shape is egglike and controversial to some, though to TheCarConnection.com it’s a fresh look in a class of me-too entries. “The restyled Impreza is meant to appeal to a more mainstream audience,” Edmunds says. “A more controversial aspect, however, is the car's exterior styling. Not because the new Impreza looks bad in a Pontiac Aztek sort of way, but because it doesn't look like, well, a Subaru.” Automobile feels the wagon model is "a little more attractive than the sedan, but looks exactly like another car that sells incredibly well--the Mazda." In fact, although it is considered a "station wagon," it does not particularly look like one; Cars and Driver reports this five-door 2008 Subaru "looks more like a traditional hatchback this time around, so fans of the old wagon might be disappointed." The Los Angeles Times calls the new Impreza “stylistic chloroform, boring and generic Asian shapes.” Kelley Blue Book simply states the 2008 Subaru Impreza "looks fast standing still, in spite of its somewhat utilitarian five-door configuration." Cars.com notes the cosmetic differences that appear on the Outback Sport version: "it features a two-tone appearance, with the lower section of the body a contrasting grayish, silver hue." (The four-door Subaru Impreza sedan—and the high-performance Subaru WRX and STI—are covered separately.) The 2008 Subaru Impreza wagons sport a much richer, much more elegant interior along the lines of the large Tribeca SUV, which also gets restyled for 2008. According to Automotive.com, the Subaru 2008 "cabin is more subdued than before, with no embroidered logos to remind occupants what they're sitting in, [and] trim is a metal-ized silver plastic." Cars.com notes this Subaru 2008 interior is "far more inviting than before, but it retains the car's businesslike austerity." Automobile observes, “We're not asking for a SoHo lounge, but Subaru could stand to make the car's interior slightly more inviting.” Mother Proof declares that "the look is a little cheap," but Edmunds feels “the Impreza looks and feels more grown-up than ever before.” ConclusionThe 2008 Subaru Impreza wagon has turned away some enthusiasts with its ovoid shape, but the interior is much improved.  2008 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON STYLING | [7 out of 10] Automotive.com: "2008 models may disappoint some faithful fans" Cars and Driver: "fans of the old wagon might be disappointed" Kelley Blue Book: "looks fast standing still" Cars.com: "interior retains the car's businesslike austerity" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The arch-nemesis of the 2008 Subaru WRX STI—whether on the street or a gaming screen—is the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Compared to the STI, the Evolution is hard-edged, with a firmer ride, crisper handling in the tightest corners, and an intense, almost twitchy driving experience; comfort suffers a bit in the Evolution, as engine and road noise dominate relative to the WRX and STI, and the ride isn’t as settled. The MazdaSpeed3 and Caliber SRT4 are also worthy competitors to the WRX, but they’re both front-wheel drive and, thus, not as confidence inspiring. Also, neither one feels as refined as the WRX. The Audi A3 might be the closest competitor to the base WRX. It gives the WRX a run in safety protection, as it’s also an IIHS Top Safety Pick; the A3’s 2.0T engine provides a very peppy, engaging experience. In addition, it has a larger interior and is more fuel-efficient than the WRX. Then there’s the new BMW 135i coupe, which boasts a 300-horsepower turbocharged six-cylinder engine and comes in the same price range as the rally-tuned STI; in contrast, the 135i should be much more refined inside.

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See the Subaru Impreza in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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