Fifth-Generation Subaru Impreza (GK/GT)

For its fifth generation, the all-new Subaru Impreza, in Sport hatchback and G4 saloon, will rewrite how the iconic car behaves courtesy of its brand new platform that will redefine the future of Subaru's lineup for the next decade as well as some tech that will show its progress as a commoners' car for everyone but at what cost?

2017 Subaru Impreza Sport

2017 Subaru Impreza G4

In the tradition of turning cool concepts into bland production models much as what happened on the Legacy, the new Impreza's design shares almost no resemblance to last year's concept, and as keen observers suggest, it looks more like the previous model. See any resemblance? If there are, looks like they're going to be on a rough day on the job.

2017 Subaru Impreza Sport interior

2017 Subaru Impreza G4 interior

Disappointing the exterior can be, the new interior can be somewhat basic but it's good at every angle. From its new instrumental panel, multi-function display, push-button start, and the Panasonic built-in SD Navi, toying around the new Impreza's interior is just basic stuff but it's good to check it out before you drive, believe them. With the new Subaru Global Platform in place, the new Impreza is now roomier enough to accommodate, and spacious enough for your goods, and when your parents are driving one day by day, the Impreza is a family car done right.

2017 Subaru Impreza Sport

2017 Subaru Impreza G4

Speaking of being the family car done right, the new Subaru Global Platform chassis, combined with a choice of either a 1.6L or a 2.0L boxer engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and EyeSight Ver. 3 is what makes the new Impreza the template for future Subarus. The new platform makes it more stable, more agile, and more comfortable than the old one. It's 70% more rigid than the old one as well.

Although the way it behaves as a family car is welcomed by the commoners, speedo boys won't be going to like it because, for a choice of either a 1.6L or a 2.0L boxer engine, the only gearbox you'll be getting is a Lineartronic CVT. That's right. It's CVT or nothing. How sad because Imprezas of the past are enjoyable to drive when they got manuals but with the new model, the days of being a fun Impreza is well and truly over as its radical shift from sportiness to comfort doesn't sound like great news for the Subarists. Although the Lineartronic CVT gearbox comes with a Manual Mode when the Sport Mode in its SI-DRIVE was engaged, it's nowhere near as engaging as the past Imprezas. So, what we have here is an Impreza that doesn't feel like the fun-loving Imprezas of the past, and having one of these can be somewhat as regular as a regular show on TV. Oh, and did you know that some models will promise you up to 17.0kmpl of fuel efficiency? Thought I almost didn't say it but whatever.

The all-new, fifth-generation, Subaru Impreza starts at 1,922,400 Yen for the Sport hatchback and G4 saloon, making it a value-for-money car for first-timers so, the things we like about the new Impreza is its new platform, tech, interior, and pricing while the things we don't like about it was its redundant styling that has no resemblance from the concept and the loss of its fun factor that past Imprezas had in almost two and a half decade since the first Impreza launched in 1992. Need I say more?

Available colors: Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Pure Red, Dark Blue Pearl, and Quartz Blue Pearl.

Photo: Subaru