Impreza in the Market

The improved Impreza stands to steal buyers away from brands that have taken their eyes off the ball. Its interior quality has jumped, right when some class leaders have foolishly allowed their interiors and feature sets to decay. By upping the mileage, Subaru has addressed one of the shortcomings of having standard all-wheel drive, but the Impreza doesn't improve much on the pricing. Say what you will of the dumbed-down Volkswagen Jetta; at least it came with a price decrease.

To truly excel in the compact-car market, the Impreza needs to convince buyers that the all-wheel drive for which they'll pay a premium has advantages beyond foul-weather traction. While all-wheel drive can provide this advantage in sporty cars, I fear the 2012's body roll and modest power keep it from doing so.

    See also:

    Under-floor storage compartment (if equipped)
    4-door models 5-door models The storage compartment is located under the floor of the trunk (4-door) or the cargo area (5-door), and it can be used to store small items. To open the lid, pull the ta ...

    MUTE button (if equipped)
    Press this button if you wish to immediately cut the volume to zero. The audio display will show “MUTE”. If you press the button again, the original sound volume will return and “MUTE” turns off. ...

    Parking in cold weather
    Do not use the parking brake when parking for long periods in cold weather since it could freeze in that position. Instead, observe the following. 1. Place the shift lever in the “1” or “R” po ...