Review: Subaru Impreza 2.0ie eBoxer

Subaru cars are often technically a bit off the beaten track. But even the idiosyncratic Japanese cannot avoid the hybrid. Those who now expect savings miracles could, however, be disappointed in the case of the Impreza.

More than 20 years ago, Toyota set out to teach its cars how to save fuel with clever hybrid technology. Since last year, strategy partner Subaru has also been able to help some of its models to reduce gasoline consumption with the help of that same double heart technology. As the practical test with the compact Impreza 2.0ie shows, the electric part gives its drive train a charming note, but the savings miracle does not materialize.

As usual with Subaru, the drive core is a direct-injection four-cylinder boxer engine, which in this case teases out 110 kW / 150 hp from a two-liter displacement, which is also distributed evenly across both axles, as is typical of the brand. In addition, there is an electric motor with 12 kW / 17 PS in the transmission - a continuously variable CVT - which assists in acceleration and generates electricity from kinetic energy when the accelerator pedal is lifted, which in turn is used for driving. According to Subaru, the system is a strong hybrid, which can do more than the now ubiquitous mild hybrids.

We perceive the additional torque of the electric motor, which is always pleasantly spontaneous and ample, in many driving situations. The little extra kick is particularly popular when starting off. However, the 1,6-ton truck is not a hot spur. It takes 100 seconds to reach 10 km / h from a standstill, a maximum of 192 km / h is possible. If you want to drive at top speed, you should be patient. If the combustion engine is challenged and the engine speed is driven to 5.000 or 6.000 revs, the boxer's wonderfully pithy sound is added. The four-cylinder doesn't sound exhausted, but entertaining, almost as if it contained the lithe heart of a sports car. And as with one of these, the fuel consumption can easily exceed ten liters if you drive a little faster on the motorway. We mostly let the Impreza run with cruise control 130 on the autobahn, which resulted in an average consumption of 8,5 liters. 

As is well known, the hybrid offers savings potential in the city, where the Impreza can also show its advantages as an e-boxer. In addition to the pleasant boost with the traffic light sprint, the small e-machine even offers the option of purely electric driving. This is only possible with crawl speed and only for a short time. Theoretically, up to 1,6 kilometers should be possible. In practice, we were able to maneuver the compact Japanese through play streets completely free of noise and emissions. Rather than short electrical inserts are practically not included, because the 600 Wh small lithium-ion battery runs empty quickly. In the city, the constant change from recuperation and e-support pushes the consumption of the four-cylinder down. When we drove through the city with a full battery after a long motorway tour, the on-board computer, which had previously been zeroed, showed a pleasantly low 5,5 liters at the destination. The next morning with a cold start, however, consumption through the city rose to 7,8 liters. For most users, the practical truth of consumption will probably be somewhere between these values. According to the old NEDC consumption value, this is 6,5 liters, which can perhaps be achieved with maximum restraint. 

Otherwise, the Impreza, which is slightly beyond the usual dimensions in the compact segment in terms of size and space, is a pleasant everyday car. It is classically variable and, despite the fact that the hybrid system's battery has reduced the luggage space to 340 to 1.173 liters, it is sufficiently useful. It also offers great handling, modern infotainment and connectivity technology and even exemplary safety equipment that includes a number of helpful assistance systems. This also includes pleasant helpers such as the distance cruise control, which relieves the driver on motorway tours and generally reduces the risk of rear-end collisions as a distance guard. As with the hybrid drive, Subaru goes with the car fashion of the time. 

For the hybrid version of the Impreza, which is only available in combination with the larger two-liter gasoline engine, you have to shell out 30.000 euros in the lower equipment trend. However, the jump to the recommended top level Platinum costs only 3.000 euros more. And then the Japanese offers almost full equipment. Even here you will have to accept certain compromises in terms of material quality and noise comfort, but the otherwise very content-rich overall package with all-wheel drive and automatic should also cast a spell on savings. Despite the boxer engine being trained to be stingy, they could only struggle a little with consumption.

Subaru Impreza 2.0ie eBoxer - Technical data:

Five-door, four-seat sedan in the compact class, length: 4,48 meters, width: 1,78 meters, height: 1,48 meters, wheelbase: 2,67 meters, trunk volume: 340 - 1.173 liters

2,0-liter boxer four-cylinder petrol engine, 110 kW / 150 PS, maximum torque: 194 Nm at 3.600 rpm plus electric motor with 12 kW / 17 PS and 66 Nm, all-wheel drive, automatic transmission, 0-100 km / h: 10,0 s, top speed: 192 km / h, average consumption: 6,3 liters, test consumption: 8,5 liters, CO2 emissions: 143 g / km, emissions standard: Euro 6d-ISC-FCM, efficiency class -se: B, price: from 29.990 euros (trend)

Subaru Impreza 2.0ie eBoxer - brief features:

Why: because you just want a different compact car


Why not: because even the hybrid technology does not make the Impreza economical


What else: Peugeot 308, Kia Ceed, Mazda3, Toyota Auris, Renault Megane

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