The 2017 Subaru Impreza sedan has landed in South Africa and we have specifications and a price for the Japanese newcomer.

25 Years after first arriving in South Africa, the fifth generation of Subaru's Impreza sedan has landed on our shores. Built on a new platform known as SGP (Subaru Global Platform), the new Impreza offers better efficiency, improved safety and enhanced handling. It comes to South Africa on the back of a first prize in the2016/2017 Japanese Car of the Year Awards and it is the first car to win the coveted Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick ++ award and the Japanese New Car Assessment Programme (JNCAP) Grand Prix Award – the highest safety rating ever recorded by the JNCAP.

According to Ashley Lazarus, Marketing Manager of Subaru Southern Africa, this car is a game changer. “This car has shifted the goalposts and defies the conventions for a car in this segment. It’s a whole new class in terms of driving dynamics, interior tech and refinement and of course, safety. Owners will be surprised at the all-round ability and features of the new Impreza.”

The Subaru Impreza design has not changed dramatically.

Powertrain

An all-new directinjectionFB 2.0-litre Boxer engine is the headline act. It's now 12 kg lighter than the outgoing engine and it produces 115 kW and 196 Nm of torque. No manual gearbox is available, but there will be anupgraded Lineartronic CVT gearbox with 7-speed manual mode with shifter paddles behind the steering wheel. Speaking of the gearbox, that unit is 7.8kg lighter too. Like all Subarus, power goes to all four wheels.

The new platform claims enhanced agility and ride comfort, while torsional rigidity has improved by 70%for a more solid driving feel. The electric power steering system is lighter, more compact and quicker to respond and the suspension has also been re-engineered, resulting is reduced body roll.

A new platform and a new engine are the key changes for the 2017 Subaru Impreza

Safety Systems

Subaru is making big claims in terms of safety with its new Impreza and according to the brand, " there is no other car in this segment that offers the levels of primary, active, passive and pre-collision safety that are standard." The new platform offersimproved crash resistance, increased cabin strength, better load distribution and enhanced continual rigidity. The new Subaru Impreza also features 7 airbags.

Other safety features include Steering Responsive Headlights; High Beam Assist, and Subaru Rear/Side Vehicle Detection which includes Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. From October 2017, the Subaru Impreza2.0i-S ES Premium will come with theEyeSight Driver Assist System which can detect other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other hazards. If a driver doesn't react, the car will take over and brake for you. Integrated into this system is adaptive cruise control, lane sway warning and lane departure warning. The vehicle will also brake on your behalf if you're reversing and haven't seen an obstruction.

The Interior

The cabin of the new Subaru Impreza. Note the all-new touchscreen featuring Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

The Subaru Impreza's cabin has been uprated and there are new materials used for the steering wheel and switchgear. Despite this not being the performance model, there are still numerous sporty touches in the cabin. An all-new8-inch LCD infotainment screen dominates the dashboard and it boasts numerous connectivity options, in-car applications and media options. SatNav by TomTom is available, as areApple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system functions like a smartphone and touch, swipe, pinch and pull-control all work here.

South African Options

The 2017 Subaru Impreza is availablewith a choice of eight exterior colours to suit individual tastes: Crystal White Pearl; Ice Silver Metallic; Dark Gray Metallic; Crystal Black Silica; Quartz Blue Pearl; Dark Blue Pearl; Pure Red and Venetian Red Pearl. The interior colour options are Black or Ivory.

In October 2017, the Subaru Impreza range will be expanded. The2.0i Lineartronic CVT standard grade model and the EyeSight-equipped 2.0i-S ES Lineartronic CVT will arrive and while they're already available for pre-order, we don't have a price confirmation as yet.

Subaru Impreza Price in South Africa (June 2017)

Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S Premium CVT R399 000

The new Subaru Impreza hasa new 5 year / 150 000km warranty period as standard, while a 3 year / 75 000km standard Maintenance plan is upgradable to a 5 year / 150 000km period.

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