Showing posts with label subaru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label subaru. Show all posts
Sunday, October 27, 2013
2011 Subaru Impreza
Browsing through the 2011 Subaru Impreza lineup is akin to strolling down the cereal aisle at the supermarket. Theres something here for everyone, ranging from the sensible base Impreza 2.5i hatchback to the wickedly fast WRX STI sedan. With such a wide-ranging lineup, it can actually take a bit of time to figure out what kind of Impreza you want.
The 2011 Subaru Impreza incorporates a number of changes that youll want to pay attention to. Every Impreza trim level except the base model gets as standard equipment an updated audio system that features iPod integration and Bluetooth connectivity, though sound quality itself still ranks as subpar. Theres also a new option for an inexpensive and removable (but dealer-installed) TomTom navigation system.
Those who crave performance will want to check out the 2011 Subaru WRX, which gets not only the STIs wide-body fenders but also improved handling thanks to wider wheels, wider track dimensions and stiffer subframe bushings. And then theres the STI itself, which gets a firmer suspension calibration and lighter wheels to sharpen its handling as well as a few more standard features (such as heated seats). This year is also the first year of the current-generation Impreza where you can order the WRX STI as a sedan in addition to the pre-existing hatchback.
This comprehensive lineup means the Impreza competes against a wide variety of other models. Base Imprezas go up against compacts such as the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf. The Impreza is neither as fuel-efficient nor as value-driven as its rivals, but it does offer standard all-wheel drive, a notable advantage for those who live where rain and snow are a way of life. The Outback Sport hatchback, with its increased ground clearance and extra body cladding, can even serve as an alternative to a compact crossover SUV.
The performance-tuned WRX belongs to the sport compact club that also includes the Mazdaspeed 3, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and Volkswagen GTI. Though lacking in features and refinement, the WRX is like Olympic runner Usain Bolt, as it boasts swift acceleration that beats them all. The WRX STI is a rally-bred performance machine that remains a compelling choice for Fast & Furious types drawn to big turbos, all-wheel drive and limited-slip differentials. Of course, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is an omnipresent thorn in the STIs side; enthusiasts are encouraged to test-drive both of these road rockets to see which suits them best.
As youve gathered by now, there are plenty of flavors of the Subaru Impreza. Whether youre a snow-belt resident looking for a basic compact with the advantage of all-wheel drive or a serious performance enthusiast seeking the sweet sensation of turbocharged thrust and agile handling, theres likely an Impreza worthy of a test-drive.
Reviewers agree that while there is plenty of head and legroom in the Impreza’s front seats, the lack of a tilt and telescoping steering wheel on most models makes finding an ideal driving position difficult. Also, the seats themselves seem a bit stiff. Still, those in the rear seat of the Subaru Impreza should have more than enough room.
For the Impreza’s price, its standard features list runs a bit short. It does offer amenities like air conditioning, an audio system with MP3/WMA capability, power windows and mirrors, but there are many less expensive cars that offer these and more. Furthermore, while the controls in the base model are simple to read and use, adding navigation absorbs the stereo controls, which complicates things. Some reviewers also complain about the stereo’s sound quality.
The Suzuki SX4 costs over $1,500 less than the Impreza, also offers all-wheel drive and comes with a similar lineup of interior features. If you upgrade to the SX4 Crossover Technology model (about $17,700), you’ll get a built-in pop-up navigation system standard for only $200 more than you would pay for a base Impreza.
The Impreza’s cargo space varies depending on whether you buy a sedan or hatchback model. The sedan only offers 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, which isn’t bad for the class but isn’t particularly impressive either. On the other hand, the hatchback model has a split folding rear seatback that offers an impressive 19 cubic feet of space with all seats in use and 44.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded -- which is a lot for a small car.
The WRX builds on the 2.5i and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, larger brakes, sport-tuned suspension, rear stabilizer bar, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, hood scoop, electroluminescent gauges, cloth rally-style seats, fixed rear seat with folding centre armrest, stereo auxiliary input, aluminum sport pedals, and leather-wrapped wheel.
The Subaru Impreza gets mixed reviews from the automotive press for styling. The hatchback models generally get good reviews, and are described as aggressive and rugged. However, many think the base sedan looks boring.
he Impreza Outback Sport is a more rugged Impreza, similar to how Volvo distinguishes the V70 from the XC70. Its only available as a four-door hatchback featuring a two-tone appearance, with the lower section of the body a contrasting silver hue.
Even with the flared cyclops nostril in the hood, the 2.5 GT flies under the radar more easily than the bulged and bescooped WRX. Handsome 17-inch alloy wheels finish off the GT, and the more you look at it, the better it gets.
Every 2011 Subaru Impreza comes standard with all-wheel drive. The 2.5i and Outback Sport models are powered by a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed (boxer) four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission with hill-start assist is standard and a four-speed automatic is optional.
In performance testing, this normally aspirated 2.5-liter engine with the manual powered the Impreza from a standstill to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. Though it benefits from all-wheel drive, estimated fuel economy is subsequently below average for a small car with this type of power -- the manual gets 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, while the automatic drops the highway number to 26 mpg.
The WRX has a turbocharged version of the 2.5 that cranks out 265 hp and 244 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual is the lone transmission choice. Its 0-60 time in testing was a snappy 5.3 seconds, while fuel economy estimates are 18/25/21. The WRX STI gets even more turbo boost for 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. With its standard six-speed manual, the STI achieves fuel economy of 17/23/19 and, more important, reaches 60 mph in a blazing 4.5 seconds.
In addition to standard all-wheel drive, the Subaru Impreza comes with six airbags, anti-lock brakes with brakeforce distribution and brake assist, electronic stability control, and a traction control system.
While the 2011 Impreza has yet to be crash tested, the very-similar 2010 Impreza did very well in government crash tests. It earned a top score of five stars for both driver and passenger protection in a front-end collision, as well as for front passenger protection in a side-impact collision. In addition, it earned four stars for rear passenger protection in a side-impact collision. The Impreza earned a four-star rating in rollover testing, which means it only has a 10 percent chance of rollover in a single vehicle crash.
The insurance industry named the 2011 Impreza a “Top Safety Pick” for receiving a top score of “Good” in all tests for passenger protection in front-end, side impact and rear crash protection collisions, as well as in roof strength tests and standard electronic stability control.
reference:www.autos.ca,usnews.rankingsandreviews.com,www.edmunds.com
Monday, September 30, 2013
2011 Subaru Legacy
Its easy to be a copycat. You dont have to think as much and theres less risk of failure. Remaking a known commodity like the "A-Team," for instance, has a better shot of bringing in $500 million than an indie film. The same goes for the midsize family sedan segment, which consists of seemingly countless vehicles that play it safe by riffing on the same formula. One notable exception, however, is the 2011 Subaru Legacy.
For years now, the Legacy has resolutely kept beat with its own drummer, and the current car is little different. While nearly everything else goes with the surefire formula of front-wheel drive and a choice of either inline-4 or V6 power plants, the Legacy keeps on rocking its standard all-wheel-drive and horizontally opposed four- and six-cylinder engines, including one thats turbocharged. Then theres the styling, which has always stood out from the crowd -- for better or worse. Despite setting itself apart in such key areas, however, the Subaru Legacy is still a viable family sedan, with top crash test scores, decent four-cylinder fuel economy and comfortable driving dynamics.
However, some of the Legacys quirks do have downsides. Standard all-wheel drive has obvious traction benefits in poor weather, but the associated mechanical inefficiencies keep the Legacy from being as competitive in fuel economy and acceleration as it could. The turbocharged 2.5GT isnt available with an automatic transmission, which limits its widespread appeal. Also, increasingly common electronic features like Bluetooth, iPod control and navigation are either haphazardly designed or only available in the top-of-the line Limited model with navigation.
Certainly, being a bit different means the Legacy is unlikely to ever match the mighty Accord and Camry for sales supremacy, but it does mean that it has burrowed out a little niche for itself. Still, there are others to consider. The Ford Fusion and Suzuki Kizashi also offer all-wheel-drive, while the Mazda 6 is a good choice for driving enthusiasts. The new Hyundai Sonata is also a class-leading, well-rounded family sedan. Yet, if youre the sort of person who doesnt automatically follow the crowd, the 2011 Subaru Legacy is a solid, non-conformist choice.
The Legacys interior design is sleek and sophisticated, but you better like silver paint, because the center stack is covered with it. Though the interior plastics look upscale, most of them are hard to the touch and lack the more premium feel found in models such as the Ford Fusion.
The seats are comfortable and the Legacys provide plenty of headroom and rear seat legroom. In terms of technology, iPod control and streaming Bluetooth audio are available, but you have to ante up for the top-of-the-line Limited trim in order to get it. Weve also noticed the nav systems functionality is hampered by fussy controls and small touchscreen icons. You should also note that sound quality from the base sound system is poor and we highly recommend the available Harman Kardon upgrade system. Trunk space is an average 14.7 cubic feet.
Outside, the 2010 model is much more assertive than the outgoing car, which itself was a bit of a shrinking violet. After the departure of designer Andreas Zapatinas and his Edselian B9 Tribeca, the Pleiades brand seemed to lose a bit of its design nerve and the will to create a unified corporate face. But now, it finally seems to be seeking out its mojo once again with this new Legacy.
Were not entirely sure this is a good thing, as the Legacy has gone from understated confidence to a jumble of incomplete ideas (Chrysler Sebring hawkeye headlamps, chrome-happy "wing" grille, hulking flared fenders to emphasize the cars all-wheel drive) that fail to live in complete harmony with each other. Well leave final judgment up to you, only with the knowledge that the whole package looks better on the street than it does in photos (particularly when fitted with larger alloys that dont get lost in the cartoonishly overemphasized wells) and our divisiveness towards it softened over time. Thankfully, Subaru sales have never been predicated on beautiful sheetmetal, and we cant see this model being any different.
Open up the wider-angle, newly-framed doors (the old, rattle-prone sashless jobbies are gone), and a significantly larger and much-improved interior awaits. Dominating the instrument panel is a silver-effect center stack topped with a birdbath-like information display. The vertical array houses the usual complement of audio and HVAC controls (along with an eight-inch navigation screen if so-optioned), and it has a deep storage pocket for odds-n-ends. Plastics are nicely grained and solid fit-and-finish was in evidence, but greater use of soft-touch surfaces and more sincere-looking faux wood trim on Limited models wouldnt go amiss.
All the controls are easy to reach and intuitive to use, with the exception of a too-crowded and too-low panel that houses the power mirror controls, electronic parking brake, hillholder and traction control defeat buttons, trunk release, gauge brightness control, and a couple of odd-looking blanks. Its simple enough to use once you get the hang of it, but wed prefer to see the parking brake located on the center console and a larger, separate trunk release. We were a bit surprised not to see the availability of some sort of keyless start system, but as theyre often more trouble than theyre worth, the absence isnt worth grousing over.
In addition to its obviously heightened quality, the big story with the 2010s interior is its newfound space. In particular, rear accommodations are now genuinely large, with an extra four inches of legroom thanks to the longer wheelbase and deeply scooped-out front seatbacks. Our six-foot, five-inch co-driver had no trouble getting comfortable, and even when he was in situ, there was plenty of knee- and toe-room left behind him for full-grown adults. Total EPA volume is up by 9% to 117.7 cubic feet and betters that of the Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat, while trunk space swells by 29% to 14.7 cubic feet (more capacity than Hondas larger Accord).
At the bottom of the lineup, the 2.5i continues with a mostly carryover 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower four-cylinder. Subaru says that a new resin-based intake manifold lowers the engines weight and improves low-end torque, which stands at 170 lb-ft. -- now at 4,000 rpm versus 4,400 rpm before. Subaru also says that improved cooling and a revised catalyst will boost fuel economy figures above the 20/27 (manual) and 18/25 (automatic) before. The 2.5i will now come standard with a six-speed manual (versus a five-speed in 2009) and it will offer a CVT automatic rather than the four-speed conventional automatic from before.
The 2.5GT features a revised 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer four with 265-horsepower and 258 lb-ft (a 22 horse and 17 lb-ft. improved over the old model). A modified turbocharger and a reduction in rpms required for peak torque -- the torque curve is flat from 2,000 rpm to 5,600 rpm, Subaru says -- make it both faster and more efficient than before. A six-speed manual and five-speed automatic remain available.
At the top of the range, the 3.6R model gets an uprated version of the 3.0-liter flat-six previously offered. Subaru says that the 3.6-liter six, which now uses regular fuel, puts out 256-horsepower and 247 lb-ft. of torque (compared to 245/215 from the outgoing engine). It�€™ll be paired to a five-speed automatic exclusively.
The CVT in the 2.5i, which is expected to make up the bulk of sales if historical figures are to be considered, is the first longitudinally-mounted CVT system in an all-wheel-drive car.
Every 2011 Legacy comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the 2.5i came to a stop from 60 mph in a good distance of 121 feet and the 3.6R was in the same ballpark. The 2.5GT stopped in an excellent 111 feet.
In the governments new, more strenuous crash testing for 2011, the Legacy earned an overall rating of four stars out of a possible five, with four stars for overall frontal crash protection and four stars for overall side crash protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also gave the Legacy its perfect score of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.
reference:autos.aol.com,www.leftlanenews.com,www.edmunds.com
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