| Week at the Wheel | Subaru Impreza 2.0D |

Inside & Out:

The latest generation of Impreza is probably the most controversial yet with respect to its looks. The trademark bonnet scoop remains but the staid hatchback whose bonnet it adorns is a major departure from the classic Impreza saloon shape and has polarised opinion. It certainly aligns more closely to rivals but much of the individuality has been lost in the process. Nevertheless, the hatchback form boosts practicality and space.

Inside, things are actually improved relative to the old model. The dashboard, with the winged strip theme, mirrors the Subaru symbol, looks good and is laid out logically. And the seats are relatively sporty items that offer generous levels of support and are quite comfortable too. However, the good news just about ends there as much of what is on view isn't that nice to use and quality-wise there are a number of issues with the Impreza.

Fit and finish is patchy to say the least. Components such as the A-pillar trim should be much better and the flimsy feel of almost every surface one's hand comes into contact with does not instil the feelings of solidity and class one expects in a modern £20k family car. The exterior of our test car also had loose trim, including the side repeater that was often found hanging free after a journey.

Engine & Transmission:

Subaru's Boxer diesel engine has rightfully won a rake of industry awards and previous experiences we've had in cars such as the Legacy have impressed. In this application it boasts the same 148bhp and 258lb.ft of torque and gives the Impreza a good turn of speed in every day driving. Against the clock it reaches 62mph from rest in nine seconds and will run on to around 130mph - yet these figures don't reflect its willing nature and excellent refinement. It's a little louder than in the larger cars but it enjoys the same smoothness and economy.

Sadly, the excellent powerplant is mated to a transmission that suffers from one of the worst gear changes this road tester can remember experiencing in years. It's notch-like, grabby and imprecise, particularly in the action of shifting from fourth to fifth gear; there is little or no satisfaction to be gleaned from driving a manual in this case and swapping cogs is an act one approaches with a deal of reluctance.

Ride & Handling:

The Boxer engine's influence spreads to the handling thanks to a low centre of gravity that reduces the amount of roll and ensures that the car turns in keenly. It's not easy to tell that the four-wheel drive system is at work in most normal driving situations and the chassis has a sound inherent balance and high grip levels with understeer being the default response if you push beyond the limits. Sadly the controls don't interact with the driver as you'd hope; the steering is rather lifeless and other points of contact, most noticeably the gearchange and the brakes that are devoid of feel, prevent real driver involvement. It's a shame that, at odds with the driving thrills expected of previous derivatives, this latest Impreza actually isolates the driver through a mixture of control systems that are either dulled in their responses or just unpleasant to use.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The diesel Impreza is priced at around £21k, a figure that actually makes it more expensive than the base WRX variant by £3k or so, but perhaps most dangerously sees it facing rivals like the Ford Focus, VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra et al eye to eye on price - if not on capability. On the positive side from a cost perspective is that it's not difficult at all to extract in excess of 40 miles per gallon of diesel and 50mpg isn't unrealistic at a sensible cruise.

Overall:

The Impreza is not the car that Subaru needs to be completive in today's market. Truth be known, it's always been the case that the cooking Impreza models aren't actually that good - the halo effect of the WRX variants always masked this to an extent. And that trend is repeated in this case. There are a few points of note in the Impreza, mainly engine related, but these are outweighed by the significant shortcomings in quality and tactility. Engine aside, there is precious little to recommend an Impreza as a viable alternative to the Focus or Golf and it feels out of its depth in that company.