2017 Subaru Impreza pricing and specifications revealed

The all-new Subaru Impreza range is set to touch down on Australian soil in December, and the Japanese company has already opened the order book for its incoming small sedan and hatch.

Pricing at the bottom end hasn’t changed, with the base Impreza 2.0i continuing to retail for $22,400 in sedan form (hatch bodystyles carry a $200 premium). However, in terms of added value, the base model now comes with an automatic transmission, 17-inch alloys and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as standard.

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However while the sticker cost of that model stays static, other Impreza variants experience a slight price jump. There’s also more choice than before, with a fourth model being added to the range.

The 2.0S replaces the 2.0i-S flagship, but there are now two models between the base Impreza and the range-topper. The 2.0L, priced at $24,490 as a sedan, brings an 8-inch colour touchscreen display, higher-grade cloth upholstery, electric folding mirrors, dual-zone climate control, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, front foglamps, daytime running lamps, an upgraded trip computer and Subaru’s EyeSight active safety suite.

The 2.0P is specced almost identically to the 2.0S, but adds a power glass sunroof and satellite navigation as standard.

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Meanwhile the full-fruit 2.0S comes packed with the most equipment, with leather upholstered seats (heated up front), a powered driver’s seat, active LED headlamps, 18-inch alloys, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, dusk sensing headlamps and a bodykit offered as standard.

In addition to the EyeSight tech that’s included on every model from 2.0L up, the 2.0S also scores blind spot monitoring, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert.

Mechanically, the big news is the entirely new platform that sits beneath every 2017 Impreza. There’s no carryover with the soon-to-be-superseded model – in fact, the only shared parts are a handful of generic nuts, bolts and plastic clips. While the benefits of the new platform won’t be immediately obvious to both, the structural and suspension improvements improve the Impreza’s handling, comfort and crash safety.

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It also allows a bigger interior. The 2017 Impreza boasts 29mm more front shoulder room and 29mm more rear legroom. Luggage capacity measures 345 litres for the hatch and the hatch opening has been widened by 100mm, though sedan boot figures are still to be announced.

All Impreza variants are powered by the same naturally-aspirated, direct-injected 2.0-litre petrol flat four. Developing 115kW of power and 196Nm of torque its outputs are average for the segment –and only 5kW higher than the outgoing car - however the Impreza’s standard-fit automatic and AWD drivetrain are unique selling points.

The 2.0S has an extra trick up its sleeve in the form of active torque vectoring, which brakes the inside wheels during cornering to send more drive to the outside wheels, helping the car rotate and thus improving grip and handling.

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Pricing:

Impreza 2.0i sedan - $22,400
Impreza 2.0i hatch - $22,600
Impreza 2.0L sedan - $24,490
Impreza 2.0L hatch - $24,690
Impreza 2.0P sedan - $26,290
Impreza 2.0P hatch - $26,490
Impreza 2.0S sedan - $28,990
Impreza 2.0S hatch - $29,190

A capped price servicing scheme has also been introduced for the Impreza, with the first three years of scheduled servicing topping out at $1298 – amounting to a saving of just under $920, according to Subaru Australia.

Servicing intervals have also been increased, with Subaru now doubling the time interval from the old car’s six months to a less onerous 12 months. Distance intervals remain 12,500km.