SALT LAKE CITY — Compact cars are often unpleasant to drive. From road noise to jarring handling, the short wheel bases and narrow tracks often amount to exhausting ride quality. For 2017, Subaru has tinkered with the platform of the Impreza five-door wagon both to increase the cargo capacity and improve ride quality.

As a result, the Impreza feels larger on the road than it actually is. Road noise is pleasant at freeway speeds and the ride is well tuned to take advantage of a new, lower center of gravity that is also part of the new Subaru Global Platform. Subaru engineers even widened the ductwork to decrease fan noise when running the air conditioner.

According to Mike Aguilar, marketing manager for Mark Miller Subaru in Salt Lake City, the 2017 Impreza is both the first one to be built in America and the first Subaru model to utilize the Subaru Global Platform.

Overall Grade: B

Exterior styling

Subaru has long bucked automotive trends by selling more hatches and wagons than sedans. When combined with symmetrical all-wheel drive, Subaru models have appealed to both sensible older drivers and active millennials.

The rear view is the most appealing. The taillights have been moved outward so they protrude beyond the body of the car to create a sporty flare. The rear bumper moldings flare out and up toward the taillights at both ends. A rear deck spoiler protrudes over the rear glass and meets up with side moldings angling in from the rear pillars.

From the side, the Impreza is long, low and sleek. The front fenders are much more pronounced than the rear. The front end follows a common design theme these days as the hood rakes downward over the front bumper and the nose of the car pushes forward.

The Subaru emblem is flanked by chrome trim which angles toward the top corners of the grill on either side. The lower air intake and fog light housings are prominent and angled rearward.

Interior styling

Three things stand out immediately on the inside. First, the 6.5-inch standard touchscreen is on the small side and seems even smaller than it is, surrounded by large air vents, controls for media, phone and navigation and an information center on the dash that provides clock, fuel mileage and outside temperature.

Second, the driver controls are well laid out, easy to read and a joy to use. Simple dials below the media center provide for climate controls and the outside dials serve a dual purpose that engages either the AC or the rear defrost.

Automakers often overcomplicate simple functions or try to contain too much in a small space. Subaru designers can be credited for not doing either. The seat warmers are activated with physical buttons, and don't have to be turned on again and again after every short trip on a cold, snowy winter day like my first day with the Impreza.

Third, Subaru kept the Impreza interior simple and clean, but have added nice touches such as carbon fiber accents running the length of the dash on all trim levels. While nothing is extraordinary, nothing is distracting either. Even the instrument panel is mostly clutter free with the analog speedo and tachometer taking center stage.

Technology

Over the course of four days, I drove two Impreza models, one equipped with Subaru EyeSight. EyeSight is adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, blind spot monitoring and an emergency front braking system.

Lane departure warning and assist systems can be among the most annoying safety features on new vehicles. Often they are obtrusive and cause a driver to feel as if they have to fight the vehicle’s inclinations while driving.

Subaru engineers have done a very good job with EyeSight. Blind spot warnings are well placed and easily seen, the adaptive cruise control smoothly slows the car in traffic and isn’t jarring or overly noticeable. The lane assist system is smooth and unobtrusive.

One side effect, however, is that Subaru’s system seemed to allow more latitude than others I’ve tested. More than once, it seemed the vehicle was not going to correct as quickly as it may have. I also wondered if it appears the vehicle is weaving more than other vehicles I’ve tested. Since this is meant to be a safety feature and not a self-driving car, the point is moot. The lane departure feature is pleasant to use and works as intended.

“Eyesight, along with the Subaru Global Platform, the Boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive represent the basic foundation of future Subaru models,” Aguilar said.

Subaru’s Starlink multimedia system and smartphone connectivity works well and is easy to use. Both Apple Car Play and Android Auto are supported. Optional navigation is based on the TomTom software.

Consumers may notice the Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle placard on the rear of the Impreza. This has to do with the extended warranty included on the emissions components and the fact that the car is certified to conform to a reduced tailpipe emission standard. It does not, however, earn buyers any sort of federal rebate or carpool lane access when driving solo.

Performance and handling

The performance and handling of the Impreza is more distinct than any other car I've tested. Steering and braking are impressive for a compact car that isn’t a performance model, in part because technology was borrowed from Subaru’s BRZ coupe. Steering is tight and compact and braking is firm throughout.

The handling and feel of the Impreza is, well, impressive. Body roll and pitch is minimal and it feels good on the road. The suspension is firm when needed but never jarring or unpleasant at highway speeds.

In fairness, Subaru has other models, including the Impreza sedan-based WRX that put performance and handling front and center. This five-door wagon is not intended to impress off the line. It’s a good thing, too, because it won’t.

The 2.0 liter flat-4 boxer engine manages only 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Subaru reports a zero to 60 mph run in 8.9 seconds for the base model and 8.5 seconds for the sport trim. Those numbers are surprisingly good. The Impreza always feels underpowered and uninspiring.

The day I picked up the Impreza, winter had returned to Salt Lake City with a blustery snow storm. Subaru has built its reputation, in part, on a reliance on all-wheel drive for all its models. While the engine is lacking, the drivetrain inspires only confidence on slippery roads.

Conclusion

The 2017 Impreza offers better-than-expected handling, making the car seem larger than it is. That’s on top of the fact that this year’s model is actually larger than in the past.

All-wheel drive and Subaru’s EyeSight system combined provide confident and safe driving in all weather conditions. The interior is well laid out and driver controls are simple and easy to use. The sporty exterior is complimented by carbon fiber interior trim and steering borrowed from the BRZ coupe.

The Impreza looks good, drives well and offers everything a five-door wagon should. Getting from point A to point B with a bit more purpose, however, would round things out nicely. Nothing another 25 ponies under the hood, and equal torque, couldn’t solve.

Specs

• Vehicle Type: front engine, all-wheel drive, five passenger, four-door hatchback
• Engine: DOHC 16 valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
• Displacement: 122 cubic inches; 1995 cc
• Power: 152 horsepower, 145 pound-feet torque
• Transmission: continuously variable auto with manual mode
• Wheelbase: 105.1 inches
• Performance: Zero to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds; standing quarter mile 16.9 seconds; top speed 120 mph
• Fuel Economy: EPA miles per gallon city/highway 31/38
• Price as tested: $21,049

Specs

• Vehicle Type: front engine, all-wheel drive, five passenger, four-door hatchback
• Engine: DOHC 16 valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
• Displacement: 122 cubic inches; 1995 cc
• Power: 152 horsepower, 145 pound-feet torque
• Transmission: continuously variable auto with manual mode
• Wheelbase: 105.1 inches
• Performance: Zero to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds; standing quarter mile 16.9 seconds; top speed 120 mph
• Fuel Economy: EPA miles per gallon city/highway 31/38
• Price as tested: $21,049

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