2006 Subaru Impreza Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Subaru Impreza from 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 as a used buy.

Subaru Impreza is a small-medium car imported from Japan and one that has a well-deserved reputation for long life and high resale ratings. Subarus in general give the feeling they are designed by people who are more interested in engineering and driving than in marketing and over-the-top styling. Ride and handling

It's the 2006 package and continues a fun run that began in 1994. But time is catching up with Japan's Impreza WRX, and not just because it has been run down by the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.The basic car is showing its age and, even if you're into turbo-charged total traction, it is hard to fire up every single time there is a new WRX.The '06 car is more enjoyable to drive with its 2.5-litre engine and extra torque and we are coming to like the new nose, but several questions still have to be answered.Park an Impreza alongside the latest Ford Focus and you get the picture. The Subaru looks small and outdated.Every Impreza still has the advantage of all-wheel-drive and Subaru deserves big ticks for its constant and successful update work, but we are still left wondering how much more can be done.WRX fans will rush to the new car and there is also an STi forpeople with big budgets and a need to beat a Lancer Evo.There is nothing wrong with that approach, but the buts keep coming.Subaru Australia says we are wrong."Sales have increased since the launch of the 2.5 engine. We are averaging around 200 cars a month, and they were selling around 140 to 150," Subaru Australia general manager Nick Senior says. "We have just sold an all-time record number of Imprezas. In terms of safety, value for money, equipment level, it is still a very competitive vehicle in the small-car market."He also says the second-hand support of the WRX, and the Impreza in general, proves Subaru is doing a good job. Still, WRX sales are down from their 2000 peak. It will be a couple of years before we see an all-new Impreza, which means the 2006 upgrade work has to get the job done.Subaru Australia concentrated a lot of effort on the basic models, even changing the name to 2.0i and holding the price for the five-speed manual model at $23,990.That price includes front and side airbags, automatic air-con, CD sound, cruise control and the all-wheel drive deal, and is pretty good value even in the hotbed of small-car action.The price of the WRX actually rose, but is still great value at $41,440 and includes the new 2.5-litre engine, xenon low-beam lamps and a big-bore exhaust.To put numbers into the picture, the new powerplant has 169kW and 320Nm, a slight drop in power but a 6.5 per cent boost in torque. And there is always the new nose.We were shocked at first but it is looking more and more familiar, and will be a must-have item for WRX fans as soon as Petter Solberg - or maybe even Australia's Chris Atkinson -- wins a round of the World Rally Championship with the new look."I think WRX is one of the few iconic names in the motor industry," says Senior. "You have to think about names like the Mini Cooper S and the hot Escorts."The recipe is that they are performance cars based on a stock small car, and at an affordable price. And that's the appeal of them. They never over-promise and under-deliver."ON THE ROADI first drove the 2.5-litre WRX at a Subaru test track in Japan. It was a left-hand-drive car for American drivers and it felt more responsive and easier to drive than the car sold in Australia.I was hooked and hoped to see it Down Under. Now it is here.The 2.5 drops a little maximum power from the previous 2-litre turbo four, but 169kW is still more than enough for most people, and the pay-off is a turbo surge from little more than 2000 revs and the extra torque.The result is a car easier to drive fast and not as hard to handle.There has always been some turbo lag in the WRX, but the new car feels to have less - a lot less than an Impreza STi or a Lancer Evo. This means ordinary driving is more relaxed and enjoyable.You can flow the car better along twisting roads without having to push to keep it boosting or compensate for off-boost bits, and it is stronger when overtaking without penalising fuel economy.The engine also seems a better match to the basic WRX, which has become my favourite over the all-or-nothing STi. It makes the whole car feel more mature.I also like the new xenon low-beam lamps, though a full set of the hi-tech headlights would be better. Subaru has always been a bit dim after dark, but is finally getting on the pace.As always, I was happy to slide into the comfy sports buckets and to use the meaty leather-wrapped wheel and smooth five-speed shifter.But I looked deeper this time, at the rear-seat space and comfort, the thinnish sound system, the standard of the carpet and other little things that small-car makers now do well.The Impreza is falling behind. It is not back at the level of a Holden Viva, but it is nowhere close to the Mazda3 and Ford Focus, which are setting the pace and winning most friends in the small-car business.Even cars such as the Renault Megane, which comes as a 225 sports model, are raising questions. And the Golf GTi, a ripper driving car with superior quality, makes a powerful alternative to a WRX, if you can wait three months.The WRX is a special case and will always be a winner because of its pace and the appeal of its all-wheel-drive, but it cannot just be measured against the Lancer Evo.Anyway, the Lancer is getting old and has many similar shortcomings.It is about time Subaru did something to freshen the cabin and took a good look at the rest of the car. We still like the WRX a lot, but it is not love.

It is a stunning car that offers superb performance and handling, strong safety credentials and at $40,990 is eminently affordable. The fact that the WRX or a derivative of it has won a squillion rallies around the world is icing on the cake and then there is the way it sounds.No "buzz bomb" like many other high performance four cylinder cars, the WRX emits a feral sounding bellow that adds to its appeal.Now, the '06 WRX has moved to the next level with a DOHC, 2.5-litre, four cylinder engine and other improvements.Not only is performance enhanced, the new WRX is smoother, more refined and respon- sive, easier to drive and produces fewer emissions.It still needs premium unleaded to run right but that's a small price to pay for what this "mean and nasty" small sedan has to offer.Retained are the gripping all wheel drive system, dual front air bags (and side bags this time), ABS and that certain WRX look that includes a distinctive rear wing, large bonnet air scoop and mild aerodynamic body add ons.Added are xenon headlights, larger diameter exhausts system, electronic throttle control, new alloys and other goodies.You can pick the '06 model by its clear lens tail lights and the new nose with prominent grille "beak" and "predatory bird" head- lights. Subaru reckons the look is aerospace inspired.It may not initially appeal but grows on you. There's certainly no mistaking the car for anything else on the road and that holds appeal in itself.Power output from the new 2.5-litre boxer engine is 169kw with 320 Nm of torque.Gearing remains the same in the five speed 'box but throttle response is stronger through each ratio due to the greater torque output. The change mechanism has also been refined for a sportier feel.Standard features are extensive but the interior looks fairly generic Japanese. Comfort is good offering supportive seats and an adjustable driving position. The audio has pleasing tones and cruise control is welcome.It's a fairly practical car capable of taking five people and their luggage. But the WRX is all about sporty driving and this is where it excels. Acceleration is strong with a mid 5.0 second 0-100kmh pass achievable. Roll on acceleration is excellent and the thing is a hare out of the blocks.Handling is a good match for the engine aided by the all wheel drive system, aluminium suspension and grippy tyres. Multi-piston disc brakes make light work of stopping the WRX while the limited slip differential ensures ultimate traction going the other way.There's a keypad code to start the beast but it's totally justified and necessary to prevent theft.The big question is whether you'd go for this or the STi version. My preference as a road car is the WRX as it's easier to drive, more comfortable, almost as quick around corners and in a straight line and costs $16,000 less. `Nuff said.