2014 Subaru Impreza: Frugal All-Wheel Drive

When the current-generation Subaru Impreza first came out it was a landmark achievement for the Japanese brand.  Finally, Subaru was able to offer an all-wheel drive car whose fuel efficiency was competitive with the rest of the compact crowd.  Two years later the 2014 Subaru Impreza is still going strong, and I recently had the chance to revisit the small sedan to see how well it's held up once the afterglow of its startlingly frugal fuel consumption has faded into the background.

Simplicity In Design

Both inside and out the 2014 Subaru Impreza offers a clean, straightforward design that verges on conservative.  The vehicle's sheet metal certainly isn't plain, as the front fascia juts out in a show of strength and the car's single-bar grille offers a chrome flair that was missing from older models, but the passenger compartment is one of the least-adorned you will find in its class.  I like some aspects of the Impreza's dashboard presentation - the LCD info screen perched on top of the center stack, the large dials for the climate control system - yet there's no denying that the vehicle's audio system, with its double-line display, is below par.  My attempts to pair my Bluetooth phone with the car's hands-free system had to be accomplished using voice commands, and I could never get the Impreza to link up with my Android device in what should have been a much simpler process.  Technology in the Subaru definitely lags behind many of its rivals.

• Also: 2015 Subaru Impreza: Thank Goodness For Winter!

Still, there's plenty of room inside the four-door sedan to stretch out, and there's even a bucolic charm to be had from the basic nature of the Impreza's cabin trim.  One can imagine the vehicle's plastics wearing well when exposed to the ravages of time, and I'll take the Subaru's easy-to-clean fabric seats over entry-level leather hides any day of the week.

CVT-Equipped

The 2014 Subaru Impreza that I drove for a week was equipped with the car's optional continuously-variable automatic transmission, which is the magical mechanical device responsible in large part for the vehicle's improved fuel efficiency (a five-speed manual is also available).  The CVT keeps the Impreza's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine pegged at a specific RPM while accelerating, which some drivers find irritating due to the unchanging exhaust note that accompanies its operation.  The Subaru sedan did from time to time sound a bit 'droney,' but the issue was a small one, and didn't subtract substantially from the driving experience.

Keep in mind, however, that another reason why the current generation of the Impreza has been able to sip gasoline at a more relaxed rate is that it saw its engine output dialled down in 2012.  148 horses and 145 lb-ft of torque are on offer from the horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, modest numbers that offer enough grunt for day-to-day driving, but which don't contribute a great deal of fun to the equation.  Most buyers will be happy with the Impreza's power output, but enthusiasts will most likely want to consider more robust compact options.  Helping to spice things up are a set of paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel, which allow you to select from six 'virtual' gear ratios designed to fight off the occasional case of CVT blues.

Standard All-Wheel Drive

There's not a single other small car out there that comes with standard all-wheel drive, which is the Subaru Impreza's trump card.  I'm willing to cut the sedan a lot of slack in the performance department given that it offers excellent year-round traction without making you pay a premium at the pump (or at signing time).  Canadian drivers have certainly been enthralled by Subaru's all-wheel drive promise, as the automaker enjoys a healthy following in our snowy climate, and the Impreza is the company's leading-edge weapon to get customers into the fold.  Obviously in the month of May all-wheel drive is less of an advantage than it would be come January, but having experienced Subaru's system in the worst of weather conditions, I can heartily recommend its ability to transfer torque to the set of wheels with the most traction in order to get you out of a slippery situation.

Basic Transportation, But Not In A Bad Way

The 2014 Subaru Impreza doesn't offer stand-out driving dynamics, but it's a very stable car when driven at sane speeds in both urban and two-lane environments.  It's relatively quiet when underway too, although I only had the chance to sample the sedan, not the hatchback version with its open cargo area.

Using the term 'basic transportation' might sound like I'm damning the Impreza with faint praise, but hear me out.  Subaru has built a perfectly competent car that's less enticing inside, and offers less technology, than many of its rivals.  It also has managed to combine solid fuel mileage numbers with standard all-wheel drive (providing you select the CVT), which is something no other affordable compact car has been able to accomplish.  For many drivers seeking a commuter car that they can count on in all weather situations, that’s going to be enough.  Don't look for glitz with the Impreza, but feel safe in knowing that you're going to get a solid, reliable daily sedan that you can count on 12 months out of the year.