I have owned 3 subaru's before this one including an outback sport and a WRX and I have to say that for the feel of the ride, this model takes the cake. If you want an economical car, all wheel drive, and good gas mileage, then this car is for you. The Subaru Impreza 2.5I has a sport mode for quick acceleration and a fun drive and will get you where you need to go in both style and comfort. The downside to someone looking for an enthusiasts car is that due to the all wheel drive the suspension is not very sporty, I have had the opportunity to take this car through it's paces on the hills of WV and I can tell you that the VW GTI has this car beat hands down, but for the overall price and the way it goes through the snow, you cannot beat it.
We test drove ours and fell in love. Went with the wagon over the sedan b/c the back seats in the 2006 sedan don't fold down and we didn't want to have to put everything on a rack (snowboards, bikes, etc). It's easier to just fold down the seat in the wagon and throw them in. The biggest drawback on this vehicle is the gas mileage, which is expected with all wheel drive and the WRX engine, but it still sucks. Also, with the WRX, you have to get at least mid-grade gas. Ouch. Overall, we love our Subaru. It handles great and is so fun to drive. We never get nervous about winter road conditions here in Vermont with this beast.
Originally I was driving a 20-year-old Jeep. I really liked the 4WD capability in particular, not to mention the engine power, raised up ride and the extra hauling capacity. But when it died I was left to make the choice of economy vs size. I think for my lifestyle the Impreza hatchback was a great fit. With this car the most noticeable advantage is the mpg. I think it would be hard to find another vehicle with this kind of great fuel economy that has such an excellent AWD system. I initially thought I'd sacrificed cargo space but in reality hatchbacks have space versatility and volume that's comparable to most compact SUVs. The only difference is that they sit lower to the ground - which was a hard decision for me to make too in this.
This price does not include tax, title, and tags. Additional fees may also apply depending on the state of purchase.