Savage on Wheels

What’s not to like with a Subaru Impreza?

The test car was the Impreza 2.5 Premium that starts at a reasonable $18,995, and for that you get a five-speed manual gearbox, 170-horse horizontally opposed (boxer) 4-cylinder engine, decent gas mileage and a hatchback with all-wheel drive.

Darn near perfect for our climate and a nice entry-level car for younger buyers, or thrifty shoppers. In fact, you can go even thriftier with a standard 2.5i sedan, starting at just $17,495. Like the hatchback styling and utility? That’s just a tad more at $17,995.

This Premium model (and there are both Outback and GT models still above it) is nicely equipped, plus the test car added a spiffy special edition package for just $500 that included a sunroof, fog lamps, heated front seats and side mirrors and heated wiper nozzles. All that heated stuff is worth the $500 alone.

The test car also added a 4-speed automatic transmission for $1,000, and I’d save that by sticking with the manual. You not only get a fifth gear, but the automatic was prone to some unnecessary downshifting coming off a corner, making for a less refined feel.

Still, the Impreza is a fairly lively car to drive. Acceleration from the boxer engine is strong and pretty quick. Again, a manual transmission would help, but this automatic had Sportshift, a clutchless manual that allows you to shift the automatic when you want. It works, but I still prefer a manual.

The car feels light, and at 3,119 pounds, it is relatively light, for a small car with AWD. Handling is fairly precise. There’s not much play in the wheel and you can toss the Impreza into tight turns easily. There is a little lean, but the traction from the AWD helps it stick, and you can power out with a sense of security.

Generally the ride is good, but there is some bump and jiggle as this is still a small car, with a bit of small-car ride. Braking is fine from four-wheel discs, and there’s a stability control system, along with the AWD to keep you from getting out of shape.

Kudos to the designers for creating a small car that earns a five-star crash rating for front and side crashes too.

After driving a number of cars with dark décor interiors the Subaru was refreshing with its brown over cream velour seats and matte silver trim bands on the dash and doors and also around the shifter and center stack. This looks light and youthful.

The interior was comfortable too and the controls were easy to see and use, not the illogical button-happy 747 cockpit that so many mid- and high-end cars and trucks deliver these days.

Seating here is mildly contoured on the bottom with more shape and support from the seatback. Impreza’s seats are manually adjusted but include a height adjustment lever on the side to help drivers of all sizes get comfortable behind the wheel. This one also added two-speed seat heaters (part of that inexpensive option package mentioned earlier), a welcome addition in our climate.

The steering wheel, which was wrapped in brown leather, is tilt only but has radio and cruise control buttons on the hub. I found it easy to get comfortable in this car.

Aiding that is a dash that’s simply laid out so you can see the vital gauges and adjust the vital controls. There are three round main gauges with red numbers and needles. The trip computer info is in a gauge atop the dash, so you can quickly see the outside temperature, clock and your current mpg rating.

The radio, including optional satellite radio, is below the trip computer gauge and includes a six-disc CD player. Channel changing buttons are a little small, but everything else is properly sized. Below the radio are two air vents and then the three big climate control knobs, a nice layout.

Overhead the test car featured a sunroof and two sturdy visors, but they did not slide or include extenders and there was no light on the mirror. I suspect all that plays a role in the starting price being as low as it is.

Still, there are two cup holders between the seats, a small storage box and huge glove box, plus a coin tray in front of the shifter.

The rear seats easily fold flat, too, creating additional cargo room, although there is plenty of space behind the seats (19 cubic feet) for suitcases, boxes or whatever you’re toting. A cargo cover is standard, too, and the hatch opens wide and includes a rear window wiper, another plus that sedans don’t offer.

I got decent gas mileage for an AWD car, although at this size, I could appreciate a bit more. I managed 21.6 mpg, just 1 mpg short of the trip computer. The EPA says to expect 20 mpg city and 26 highway. My drive was about 60% highway miles.

The final tally on the test car was $21,617, and by sticking with the manual transmission you could be into this for about $20 grand. That translates to an economical hatchback that’s comfortable and a good all-around performer with superior traction, thanks to its AWD system. A nice value!

The redesigned Subaru Legacy wins Best New Car. The Legacy features compelling design inside and out, plus Subaru’s always-standard all-wheel drive, and it’s a top safety pick.

We pick Best in Class and Best New winners based on performance, value and safety. About half the score is awarded for performance and value, including resale value, power, fuel efficiency, front and rear legroom, headroom and cargo space (the space in the trunk or the space behind the second-row seats in a wagon, crossover or minivan). Sedans are ranked within price categories. Sports cars, crossovers, minivans and wagons aren’t broken out by price, so we also score on a scale that rewards lower prices.

A vehicle’s safety features, such as anti-lock brakes, side and side-curtain airbags, and electronic stability control, count for about 35% of the total score. The remainder of the score comes from our impressions while test-driving the new cars. We assess design and comfort as well as dashboard layout.

SENIOR EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Other than paying $1,000 for this four-speed automatic transmission over a base five-speed manual, I see nothing amiss in this “Premium” Forester. It’s surprisingly punchy off the line for a 170-hp/170-lb-ft engine, drives smoothly and steadily, and looks good doing it. This unusual cloth seat fabric seems like it would hide just about any dirt or spillage over time–one more tote on Subie’s practicality list.

Given the Forester’s roots as a small, odd-shaped wagon, I find the new wrapper very appealing and smart, almost Volvo-esque. I was surprised on this drive to park next to a Ford Escape and note that the Forester is nearly identical in stature–height, length and width. This seems like all the SUV that Subaru needs to offer in its special niche in the marketplace, where people value right-sized tools, good fuel economy, AWD and lots of practicality for the money. Subaru is all those things in the Forester.

SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: Driving this made me long for our now-gone long-term Forester–and its turbo power. Still, this is a well-sorted small ute, with lots of room and decent looks. The motor was fine, as Bob notes, though a little more power wouldn’t hurt. Still, the mileage is good for a vehicle this size.

The solid interior, nice view of the road and a smart overall layout scored points with me. I also like the steering, and the chassis is smooth for nearly all situations. The sheetmetal is a bit understated but presents nicely. It’s a well executed package. Still, the Premium badge is simply that–a badge.

COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO: Driving this Forester made me miss our long-term Subie. I loved driving that little wagon, with its turbo power and mondo sunroof and comfy seats and tons of cargo space.

This Forester offered just about all of those things, except seemingly a bit less power, and the weird fabric on the seats. It looks kind of spacey and made my eyes blur. Overall, this Forester didn’t seem to have much lag getting up to speed, the braking is solid and the seats, materials and sound system are just as good as I remember.

I liked the clean layout of the radio/HVAC controls better on this Forester, but I really appreciated the navigation on our long-termer. Because the Forester is so much fun to drive and is good in so many driving/traveling/hauling situations, I would definitely spring for a navigation unit.

2010 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium

Base Price: $23,490

As-Tested Price: $25,394

Drivetrain: 2.5-liter H4; AWD, four-speed automatic

Output: 170 hp @ 7,000 rpm, 170 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,340 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA): 22 mpg

Options: Four-speed automatic transmission ($1,000); Sirius satellite radio ($429); option package 02 including all-weather package, heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icer, heated side mirrors ($400); cargo tray ($75)

Months in fleet: Four
Miles to date: 7188 miles

Two of the biggest names in automotive performance have come together to work on a special one-off project, and the result promises to be truly staggering. Subaru UK and Cosworth have enhanced the performance, handling and styling of the acclaimed Impreza STI, creating a car that will raise the bar for all-wheel-drive, high-performance motoring.

Cosworth plans to unveil the car at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Until then, all we have is the above shot and a cryptic teaser:

Subaru of America, Inc., is pleased to announce that Toby Costa of Maita Subaru in Sacramento, California is this year’s recipient of the Subaru/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year award. This is the first year that Subaru of America, Inc. and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence has presented the award.Mr. Costa is a Shop Foreman who has been with Maita Subaru for ten years and has more than thirty years experience as a technician. He has also been a Subaru Senior Master Technician since 1992.

This weekend, the automaker will roll out a series of spots, created with Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis, featuring all-canine drivers of the Subaru Forester under the tagline “Dog tested. Dog approved.” Dogs are shown “driving” and even parallel parking their vehicles to tout Subaru’s pup-friendly brand message. The spots will premiere during Animal Planet’s “Dogs 101″ marathon Saturday, with airings planned for Animal Planet’s Sunday telecast of its sixth-annual “Puppy Bowl,” National Geographic’s “Dog Whisperer” marathon Feb. 15 and USA’s coverage of “The Westminster Dog Show” Feb. 15 and 16. Subaru will also air different versions of the spots on its YouTube channel and on several key websites.

Kevin Mayer, the car maker’s director-marketing communications, said about half of Subaru’s customers own a pet, and it indexes higher than most car makers with dog owners. At its most recent annual sales event, Share the Love, customers could choose one of five charities to donate $250 of their Subaru purchase. A large percentage of those donations went to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which Subaru is an official sponsor. Beginning in 2008, the marketer started running print ads touting its ASPCA partnership that read, “Without dogs, how would you get rid of that new-car smell?”

“We wanted to develop the next stage of that partnership. The idea was to emotionally connect with the customers, so we asked our agency to do something different in a way from the communication we typically have with them,” Mr. Mayer said.

The doggie outreach is the latest iteration of the “reverse upfront” integrated-marketing strategy Subaru started two years ago. The company meets with key media partners months before the marketplace formally moves to get first crack at key integrations and sponsorships. Deals with Animal Planet (“Groomer Has It,” the “Dogs 101″ marathon), Syfy (a co-starring role for the WRX in “Eureka”) and History’s “Expedition” were inked during that period.

Although many of the partnerships feature specific Subaru vehicles, Mr. Mayer likes to keep a more holistic focus on Subaru’s marketing. “Most of what we do is really at the brand level. Forester happens to be the lead vehicle in these [dog] spots, but it’s really about the brand and connecting with the consumer to let me know we care about their passion points.”

And he’s impressed by his latest “stars,” pups Olive and Zelda, who showed natural acting abilities during Carmichael Lynch’s brisk shoot.

“The dogs were such good stunt dogs and did a lot of the facial expressions just naturally,” he said. During one ad, where Zelda attempts to parallel park her Forester on a curb, “she had her tail between her legs. It’s as if she knew what was going on.”

While walking around one of the spectator parking areas at last weekend’s Sno*Drift Rally, we came upon this Subaru Legacy wagon. We have two questions: A) What the hell is going on here? and B) How can we get some?

As far as we can tell, the answers are:

A) A kind of staggering, heartbreaking excellence rarely seen in the course of human history

and

B) Buy a Legwagon, space the subframes down, find some longer struts, and go to town.

Rally geeks: gotta love ‘em.