Standard all-wheel drive, thrifty fuel economy, roomy interior and responsive handling. The 2014 Subaru Impreza offers all that and more for a staring price just under $18,000. Even the top model with all the bells and whistles and a moonroof comes in at just over $23,000.
No wonder it’s rated as the top compact car choice by Consumer Reports, and gets a top safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The 2014 Subaru Impreza is rated at 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg combined, which is better than most AWD models and many front-wheel drives in the compact class. An ECO gauge in the instrument panel helps and encourages you to drive more fuel efficiently. And getting AWD at this price is a bonus.
Every 2014 Impreza is powered by a 148-hp 2.0-liter Subaru BOXER engine and features standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a standard 5-speed manual transmission.
Standard equipment and safety features
Incline Start Assist, which helps prevent the vehicle from rolling back when moving away from a stop on an incline,
Roster of airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag not usually found on cars in this price level, and a front passenger-seat airbag with a unique shell-type design with a center groove that exposes the passenger to less impact force when the airbag deploys.
Driver safety systems include anti-lock brakes (ABS), brake assist and stability and traction control systems. Subaru also has added a brake override system that cuts off the engine when both the brake and accelerator are pressed simultaneously.
Additional features in all 2014 Impreza models include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and side mirrors, a 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, outside temperature gauge, a multi-function display with fuel economy information, remote keyless entry system, security system with engine immobilizer, variable intermittent windshield wipers and a low windshield washer fluid warning light.
Rear vision camera is standard in models above the basic trim level.
Additional features:
More cargo space and legroom. Rear seat passengers gained nearly two inches of legroom. Sedan trunk room and five-door cargo room were both increased, with the five-door models offering an impressive 22.4 cu. ft. of space that expands to 52.4 cu. ft. with the standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks folded to create a flat load floor.
Agile, responsive and fun to drive, thanks to its powerful engine and lighter weight than previous models. The optional automatic transmission is Subaru’s second-generation CVT also used in the Legacy, Outback, Forester and XV Crosstrek models.
Steering wheel paddle shifters in Premium, Sport and Limited models with the CVT also feature a 6-speed manual model allow the driver to control the transmission via six pre-set ratios, including a driver-selectable Low shift mode for additional engine braking when traveling down a grade.
Creature features include numerous compartments located in and around the center console hold all manner of today’s personal items, such as phones, USB drives and MP3 players.
Optional packages
All-Weather Package, which is standard on the 2.0i Premium 5-speed and optional for the 2.0i Premium with CVT, includes 2-stage heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer.Sport Premium Package includes the all-weather package, plus fog lights, roof rails, unique seat fabric and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
The Premium models offer an available power moonroof and a navigation and infotainment system with a 6.1 inch touch screen with smartphone integration, voice control, iTunes tagging, SMS text messaging capability, XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic (4-month trial subscriptions included). Updated map data can be downloaded to your personal computer and then transferred into the system via a standard SD card.
Eco-friendly
All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and the Subaru factory in Lafayette, Indiana, is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit www.subaru.com.
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