Tests and Features

The 2012 Subaru Impreza is new – or at least the base trim is. But the changes are nothing to write home about, as nothing major has been overhauled. The 2012 looks a whole lot like the previous version. That said, the trained eye will note several modifications to the …

Do you remember the Subaru Outback Sport? This version of the Impreza wagon wore the same style of body cladding as the Legacy-based Outback and featured bit of a boost in the ride height department, giving the Outback Sport a modicum of soft-roading capability that played well with adventure-seeking drivers.

A new coupe that wants to be a sports car but comes with two-wheel drive and no turbocharger? This begs the question, did Subaru planners fall and hit their heads, or what? Not at all, in fact. We’d even say the opposite after examining and driving the BRZ on a …

There are just four cars with AWD for less than $25,000 on the market: the Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Matrix and Suzuki SX4. Interestingly, they’re all Japanese. We threw them all in the ring together. Four contenders We brought these rivals together on a particularly wet December 15th. Raining?

For several years now, Japanese automaker Subaru has seen its sales steadily increase. This encouraging trend notwithstanding, Subaru still wants to improve its product line. This time, it’s the Impreza’s turn for a profound transformation. Not only was it time to bring this vehicle up to current standards, but research …

The holiday season is always an interesting time of year to test vehicles. From the climate to the frequent family outings and the hoards of gifts to cart around, December provides excellent opportunities to test a car’s aptitudes. The ideal vehicle for the season would be spacious and comfortable, feature …

Just as software companies offer updates for the programs installed on your computer, Subaru has recently made some mechanical upgrades and interior improvements to its Forester SUV. Why put the new generation of the horizontal engine in this model? No doubt it’s because the Forester, despite its popularity, needed a …

After a complete overhaul in 2008, the Impreza line is still running strong. They’ve all adopted a similar, homogenous style, and it’s working for them. In fact, Impreza sales have shot way up since the new generation was released. The most popular is the wagon, which is winning buyers over …

In 1982, forgoing his usual penchant for American cars, my father bought himself a brand new Subaru GL sedan...in pale yellow. It had a 1.8-litre, 71 horsepower engine, front-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission with a clutch hard enough to sculpt your thight after only a couple of starts …

Should you ever have the good fortune of visiting one of the major manufacturers’ development facilities, you’re eye will no doubt wander over the various hulking forms hiding beneath shapeless sheets. Cast about like discarded toys, they can be found nearly everywhere; parked in neat lines outside nondescript hanger bays, …