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PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
four-speed automatic...slow to shift even when I had it slotted in Sport mode
AutoWeek
The transmission is more of a problem than Subaru’s trusty boxer four, as the four-speed automatic just doesn’t shift quickly enough.
Winding Road
the Impreza 2.5i will never be described as quick
Edmunds
Nicely weighted at speed, the steering is nonetheless a titch heavy in parking lots.
Car and Driver
Power from the normally aspirated 2.5-liter engine is sufficient and refined.
Automobile Magazine
All the Impreza models come with a flat-four "boxer" engine, displacing 2.5 liters, and all-wheel drive. The base engine is rated at 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. It's torquey and responsive at low revs, making it especially well suited to the four-speed automatic transmission, though the five-speed manual also brings good performance. The automatic has gears that are spaced too far apart, though, and has an annoying tendency to downshift early.
Unlike their rally-bred WRX and STi siblings, the regular Impreza sedan and hatch have suspension setups that are tuned more for commuter duty than high-speed hairpin handling. On each of these models, you'll find more accurate, better-weighted steering than is typical among inexpensive small cars, but there's a lot of give and body roll that keeps the standard Impreza and Outback Sport from having enthusiast appeal.
On the other hand, Subaru's excellent all-wheel drive systems, included in all Impreza models, do add to these cars' driving dynamics in some situations—allowing them a more surefooted feel out of sharp, slick corners, for instance.
Conclusion
Standard all-wheel drive and good steering give the 2011 Subaru Impreza models a confident driving feel, but its powertrains aren't so responsive.
