2008 Subaru Impreza Consumer Reviews

Impressive Impreza

Written by: Subienewbie on 11/05/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I leased a 08 Impreza in early august. I test drove the wrx and then decided to go with the 2.5i 4-door as the lease deal seemed to too sweet to ignore. The car has been fun to drive - it is a real dynamo for its size. The engine is responsive, smooth and has ample juice on the highway. Long-drives have been at about 30.5 mpg and city at 23 on average. Not bad for a 3200 pound car with awd. I am really glad I got a subie!

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Best for the price

Written by: Mike on 10/30/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I got mine more than year ago. So far very pleased by the price/quality/value. I averaged ~22mpg (~6000 city + ~3000 highway) and I'm OK with that considering AWD, 2.5 engine and automatic transmission. I got Dark Gray Metallic colored car with dark interior. So far no mechanical problems - I've changed only oil and air filters. I believe that the engine is great and allows some fun on the road but could get better performance with manual transmission. Unfortunately my wife prefers automatic so we got less fun.

Favorite Features

AWD, handling, reliability, safety and looks. Also I got very nice rate for my full coverage insurance compared to competitor vehicles. There is enough leg, shoulder and head room for tall drivers (I'm 6'5").

Suggested Improvements

Better auto transmission, paint could be scratched very easily especially around door handles, standard audio speakers could be improved. Need better plastic materials for some of the parts like the holder of the fuel tank cap and some of the interior segments.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Very Good except for torque

Written by: AJ on 10/26/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport 4dr Wagon AWD w/VDC (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

The car is generally very good. I got it for an excellent price, even in its first year. I really like the interior design and layout and the great looking and useful hatch bodystyle. The interior generally is nice for the $ but I think the red lighting is juvenile and hard to read. The main problem with the car is the short-stroke engine combined with interia of AWD system makes it a torqueless dog both around town and on the highway. I can't fathom why the engineers would set it up that way. At least the short gearing kind of makes up for it, but then it ends up feeling like it needs a 6th gear. All together it drives and rides pretty well and is comfortable. MPG isn't bad for AWD.

Favorite Features

Interior design and layout; balanced feel; AWD grip; European good looks; stability control and traction control; steering has good feel and isn't too quick on the highway or too slow to be sporty; compact size; nice turn-in; good ride unless cornering hard; heated mirrors, seats, wiper area.

Suggested Improvements

Torque!! Needs much more torque low but all around as well; needs more power generally; rough engine, especially on start-up; engine noise; leans and bounces in hard cornering; gearing too short, or needs 6th gear; no lumbar adjustment; weak A/C; juvenile red dash lighting; doors very plasticky.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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My first Subaru

Written by: Nicole on 10/25/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD w/Premium Package, VDC (2.5L 4cyl 4A)

Review

This is my first Subaru and I am very happy with it. I traded in a 2006 Civic that went nowhere in the snow and during Minnesota winters that's not a good thing. I decided on this because of the AWD, the looks and the price. I am impressed with the ride, and quality of the car and it has great pick up, it's pretty quick! Not much road noise either. Feels like a nice solid ride. Cant wait for some snow to test it out. It gets a pretty solid 26 mpg city and when I drove a 200 mile trip all highway it got a solid 32 mpg which I think is great for this car and it isn't even broken in yet. Overall happy with my purchase and will buy a Subaru again, maybe a Legacy next time :)

Favorite Features

The AWD without a doubt, the iPod interface. I love the Newport Blue Pearl color I have.

Suggested Improvements

The stereo could sound better, although when you put in a CD or use a iPod or MP3 the stereo comes to life.

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A Practical Commuter with a Soul

Written by: Mike on 10/06/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I have only owned the vehicle for a few days, but it is incredibly solid and quite fun to drive. Going from a Z28 to a four-cylinder was a bit daunting, but the car feels spritely for 170 ponies. Controls are well laid-out and easy to figure out, and the car responds as though it is meant to be driven. After test-driving a few vehicles (Corolla, Civic, etc) the Subaru was by far the most fun and felt like the best value for my dollar, especially with the full-time All Wheel Drive. The stereo is a bit tinny (base model), but can be easily upgraded. Absolutely opt for the auxiliary-input if you get the base model for MP3 connectivity - it's a blast!

Favorite Features

Downshifting and blipping the throttle around corners plants the car firmly - good road manners under any driving conditions, and better than projected fuel economy (I've been getting ~25 combined city/highway and the car is still being broken in) - expecting 30+ with average driving.

Suggested Improvements

Base speakers need upgrading; rear drum brakes on base model are solid, but I'd like to see 4 wheel disc. VDC (traction control) now standard on 09, so I'll curb that one! :)

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Great ride

Written by: MikeyEv on 09/26/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX 4dr Wagon AWD w/Premium Package, VDC (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 4A)

Review

I bought this car in February of 2008. I'm not a big fan of the 4dr, but I do love my 5dr wagon. I had a great buying experience and I got a great deal. I love the way the car drives. Great all-around ride and suspension. Lots of power. It has very little turbo lag. It's great on hills. With the seats folded down, there is a lot of space. The car is very practical, reliable, and mostly importantly fun.

Favorite Features

The turbo engine. The 5dr wagon design. Friendly ergonomics.

Suggested Improvements

Power seats.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Comfortable and affordable

Written by: Ty on 09/24/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Wagon AWD w/Premium Package, VDC (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This is my first Subaru, and I'm impressed so far. The ride is a near perfect blend of road feel and impact isolation. Not even major potholes transfer into the car as harsh impacts. The steering and brakes are almost perfectly weighted, though I had hoped for more road feel and feedback from a Subaru. They got most of the interior details right (the steering wheel buttons light up!), but some cost cutting is definitely visible. I think they did it in the right places, it's certainly forgivable in exchange for AWD and an engine that makes 30 more HP than competitors do. Overall it drives very nicely for a sub-20K car is getting 5-6 MPG more than my CR-V that had the same MPG rating.

Favorite Features

Class leading power from the unique and fun boxer engine, comfortable and well balanced ride, nicely weighted and accurate steering and brakes, seats fit my back perfectly, airy and open feeling light colored interior, audio system uses quality speakers and sounds nicely balanced.

Suggested Improvements

HVAC controls feel cheap and clunky like the kind you see in Fords from the 80's, shift linkage is quite notchy during the first 2000 miles (but smooths out a lot over time thankfully), AWD makes quick launches and fast 1-2 upshifts tricky if they're needed, some obvious interior cost cutting.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Too many RATTLES

Written by: Subie on 09/17/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4dr Wagon AWD w/VDC (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Review

New 2008 STi is unquestionably a blast to drive, and I actually prefer the new, toned-down body style. That said, I'm finding it a difficult daily driver. Not because of the transmission (clunky) or the gas mileage (mediocre), but because the car rattles so, so, so much. I've only owned it for a few months, and it is barely out of its break-in period. But it seems like every time I get in the car, it has developed a new interior rattle. No use turning to dealerships for help, in my experience, as they either fail to fix the problem, or claim to be unable to replicate it. Just how high do you have to turn the stereo and a/c to drown out all those rattles, boys?

Favorite Features

Sweet new looks, hatchback utility, great seats.

Suggested Improvements

Interior build quality is a step back from previous Subarus. Car rattles incessantly. Sad to say this may be my last STi.

6 out 9 people found this review helpful

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My 3rd Subaru

Written by: MK on 09/16/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 4dr Wagon AWD w/Premium Package, VDC (2.5L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Subaru makes great cars. This is my third. After having owned 2 used Legacys, over the last 10 years, I decided to spring for a brand new Impreza. For a small car the larger than normal 170 HP really gives it some kick and the AWD and stability control make it do amazing things. Best car in its class. In fact it outclasses everything else which is why it is so under reviewed. It must just confuse auto reporters about how this car fits in with everything else.

Favorite Features

Solid, spritely, road hungry feel. I'm 186 cm tall, and I have enough room, even in such a small car.

Suggested Improvements

Subaru's interiors have always been dull. The finishings feel cheap. The only annoying design problem is the door window frame, it is somewhat sharp, so it feels uncomfortable to rest your arm on when you have the window rolled down.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Best Fuel Economic AWD on the Market

Written by: Stephen on 09/16/2008

Vehicle

2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport 4dr Wagon AWD w/VDC (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I searched for the most fuel economic (freeway), AWD (for frequent dirt-roading/all weather) on the market with good interior loading capacity. This car blew the SX4 Crossover AWD (which I test drove) out of the water, especially in loading capacity, and was ~$10k cheaper than the Ford Escape Hybrid (which was great to drive but had about the same fuel economy as the Impreza 180hp). I've already driven through fields with my Outback Sport in wet weather and it plowed through it like a champion - I can't wait for snow to come this season! This car has already been superior on road trips. I've noticed the gear ratio used makes for a slight lack of power switching from 4th to 5th. @ ~50-55 mph

Favorite Features

25/29 cty/hwy fuel economy, AWD excellence, awesome safety features including surrounding airbag protection, 6' length capacity in the back with seats down (they lay flat! :)), e.g. you likely wont need to use the roof rack, and can remove it for better MPG. Aux plug for MP3!

Suggested Improvements

The mentioned slight lack of power when switching from 4th to 5th gear at ~50-55mph (the manual suggested switch speed for 5th gear). 4th gear obtains excellent torque in which waiting till ~55+mph to switch to 5th fixes this problem. (Also, problem disappears with 226hp models or automatic).

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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