From now on, the choice of Impreza has narrowed down to three components: the XV crossover, the hot WRX, and the ultimate WRX STI. On one hand, this means losing a certain audience, but on the other, it brings in new customers. Will the Subaru Impreza XV manage to wedge itself into the crossover market that is recovering at a rapid pace after the crisis, or will it remain a niche product, as the passenger car modification was?
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| To turn an ordinary hatchback into a crossover, not much work was needed. The Japanese took stiffer and taller springs, as well as reinforced silent blocks. As a result, the ground clearance increased by 30 mm. |
Externally, the Impreza XV differs, perhaps, only by the plastic body kit around the perimeter, which automakers love to use to distinguish their pseudo-off-road versions from regular cars. The main changes lie within the chassis. The Japanese used stiffer front and rear springs, and also installed thicker stabilizers and different silent blocks. As a result, the ground clearance increased by 30 mm to 185 mm. Not a big deal, but just right for light obstacles.
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| The archaic interior with hard materials has become the calling card of Subaru . However, there are almost no complaints about ergonomics. |
The Spartan interior of the "Impreza" remained unchanged. Here is the same oak-like plastic, boring but recognizable design, three dreary climate control knobs, and an archaic audio system unit that even in the top trim with 10 speakers does not shine with quality sound. But after all, Subaru is loved not for this...
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| External changes of the XV cross version - the appearance of plastic body kit around the perimeter and roof rails. |
The bucket seats, as before, are perfectly profiled and firmly hold occupants in any turns, the steering wheel is comfortable, the simple instrument panel is perfectly readable, and the manual transmission lever is right at hand. Among the ergonomic miscalculations, one can single out only the insufficient range of adjustment of the steering column/driver's seat in height, because of which even I, with my modest 176 cm of height, constantly hit my right knee against the steering column cover when seated.
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| Under the trunk floor there is a full-size spare tire. Moreover, if the car had 16-inch wheels, the spare wheel was 17 inches in diameter. |
In the back row there is not much space, but for two medium-sized passengers it will be quite enough. True, they won't be impressed. In the back there is neither a full armrest nor air vents. The trunk cannot be called spacious either, due to the high loading height caused by the presence of a full-size spare tire and the design of the rear suspension.
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| Symmetric all-wheel drive and a perfectly tuned suspension do not let you forget about the rally achievements of the "Impreza". The car willingly goes into a drift, demonstrating sporty behavior. |
Key to start. From under the hood comes the familiar rumble of the 2.0-liter Boxer engine with 150 hp. And the lever of the five-speed manual transmission fills with a pleasant vibration. Yes, yes, exactly pleasant. Even when making a mass crossover, the company with the "Pleiades" constellation on the emblem remains original and unlike others, which like a magnet attracts millions of fans around the world to these cars.
Despite the fact that from 40 km/h the 150-horsepower "Boxer" pulls well even in fourth gear, the "bottoms" are clearly not the strong point of the Subaru engine. The engine's potential manifests after 3500 rpm. Only by not letting the needle drop below can you achieve decent dynamics from the engine, but in this case, the price in the form of increased fuel consumption is inevitable.
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| Despite the fact that the interior of the Subaru Impreza XV is finished in a Spartan manner, there are no complaints about the seats. Both the profile and lateral support are without criticism. |
The suspension is class! Moderately elastic, moderately comfortable, moderately stiff. Subaru holds perfectly on a high-speed straight, practically ignoring ruts and sway. Cornering is accompanied by moderate roll, but stability does not disappear. If you enter a bit faster, the crossover floats out with all four wheels to the outer trajectory, after which the stabilization system extinguishes the drift.
The all-wheel drive layout has not changed. It is still the same system with a symmetric center differential, which is one of the main features of Subaru . Add gas on an arc - and the Impreza XV obediently goes into a drift. This time the stabilization system allows you to fool around and intervenes a little later, allowing the driver to make an impression on others.
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| The suspension of the Impreza XV allows you to rush over rough terrain with proper comfort and stability. |
The Subaru crossover does not give up on rough terrain either. The suspension clearly and without shaking handles both small and large bumps. Not every "classmate" of the Subaru Impreza XV can withstand such a load while remaining comfortable and stable.
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| There is not much space in the back, but for two adults of average height it will be quite enough. There is no armrest. |
Subaru cars have never been cheap. The Impreza XV is no exception. The price on the Russian market starts from 999,900 rubles. The surcharge for the automatic transmission is 30 thousand rubles. The top car with xenon, a double-DIN audio system, and an electric sunroof will cost 1,124,000 rubles.
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| The archaic audio system does not shine with sound either. The simple instrument panel has good readability. The gear lever is comfortable and precise. |
For a full-fledged crossover, the price is quite competitive. And for a hatchback whose ground clearance was increased through simple suspension manipulations, it is most likely overpriced. Despite this, the Impreza XV is still a true representative of Subaru with simple interior trim, excellent handling, a boxer engine, and the famous symmetric all-wheel drive.
Ruslan Galimov
