Subaru Impreza (07 on) - Review Review by Dan Harrison on 27 September 2007 Last Updated: 21 February 2011 This is the Impreza that's grown-up and dropped the boy racer image. The aim is to attract a wider range of buyers and those who would previously have never considered a Subaru. It's now a hatchback and is far more soberly styled, yet retains Subaru DNA in its all-wheel drive set-up and characteristic 'boxer' engines. The company sees this as a car to coax buyers out of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic, which is a problem. In the past it’s been easier to overlook Impreza's shortcomings, such as the below-par interior, as it had a distinctive appeal and occupied a niche in the market. But it's been re-positioned to compete with some of the best hatchbacks in Europe - and it's simply not up to it. The interior (though better than before) is still years behind what's on offer from the Civic and Golf and it can't compete on running costs. Ambitious Korean brands have made it difficult at the lower end of the market as the Impreza can't match the Kia Ceed or Hyundai i30 for value-for-money or interior quality. 2.5 out of 5 Other Subaru reviews Summary Facts & Figures Equipment Driving & Performance Comfort Costs Safety & Reliability Buying & Selling Also Consider Company Car Info Gallery 2.5 out of 5 Summary Tweet New price range: £17,430 - £20,490 View all new prices Used price range: £5,541 - £23,115 View all used prices Get a Subaru Impreza (07 on) information pack Next steps Subaru Impreza cars for sale Use our cars for sale search facility to find great deals on second hand cars. We have 32 models like this for sale, starting at £4,995. Find used Subaru Imprezas for sale Well equipped, roomier than before, hatchback practicality Below-par interior, feels dated to drive, high emissions, far from attractive looks, limited engine line-up This is the Impreza that's grown-up and dropped the boy racer image. The aim is to attract a wider range of buyers and those who would previously have never considered a Subaru. It's now a hatchback and is far more soberly styled, yet retains Subaru DNA in its all-wheel drive set-up and characteristic 'boxer' engines. The company sees this as a car to coax buyers out of the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic, which is a problem. In the past it’s been easier to overlook Impreza's shortcomings, such as the below-par interior, as it had a distinctive appeal and occupied a niche in the market. But it's been re-positioned to compete with some of the best hatchbacks in Europe - and it's simply not up to it. The interior (though better than before) is still years behind what's on offer from the Civic and Golf and it can't compete on running costs. Ambitious Korean brands have made it difficult at the lower end of the market as the Impreza can't match the Kia Ceed or Hyundai i30 for value-for-money or interior quality. Driving & Performance Performance 2.5 out of 5"One part of the Impreza package that's as distinctive as ever is the 1.5 and 2.0-litre 'boxer'..." Handling 3 out of 5"The Impreza's big selling point is that it comes with 'Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive'. To most buyers..." Comfort Comfort 3 out of 5"This Impreza benefits from being wider than before and as a result, there's more shoulder room in..." Practicality 3 out of 5"The hatchback works as a halfway house between the old saloon and estate. It's more user-friendly..." Equipment 3.5 out of 5"The entry-level 1.5R has all-wheel drive with a low ratio gearbox, 15-inch alloy wheels, climate..." Behind the wheel 2.5 out of 5"The interior has a plain look and utilitarian feel, with little of the design flair that you can..." Costs Running costs 3 out of 5"The Impreza doesn't sell in the same numbers as the Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra, but despite fewer..." Green credentials 2 out of 5"When it comes to CO2 emissions, the Impreza could do much better. The lowest figure – which is for..." Safety & Reliability Safety 3.5 out of 5"The Impreza was one of the first models to undergo Euro NCAPs more stringent crash tests in 2009." Reliability 4 out of 5"Subaru has a good reputation for build quality and Impreza has proved its worth as a workhorse in..." Buying & Selling Buying new 3 out of 5"With just 80 dealers (although Subaru is aiming to increase this figure to 100), there's not much of..." Buying used 3 out of 5"Go for a Subaru dealer if you're looking for peace of mind. The Approved Used scheme, run by the..." Selling 2.5 out of 5"The Impreza name has a strong following, both by performance car fans and those who appreciated its..." Gallery View full gallery Car Valuations Find used car prices with Parkers accurate car valuations. Find out more Subaru Impreza cars for sale We have 32 models like this for sale. Find Subaru Impreza cars for sale Next: Facts & Figures