2012 Subaru Impreza

What's New for 2012

The Subaru Impreza will be redesigned for 2012.

Introduction

The upcoming redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza has caught many people off-guard. Typically, Subaru redesigns its models every five years, meaning the next Impreza should come in 2013. But Subaru has announced that it will indeed debut a new Impreza a year early for the 2012 model year.

There's no official explanation about the quickened schedule, but we certainly won't complain. Styling seems to be a top priority, as the Impreza prototype reveals a return to the handsome looks of the 2005-'10 Subaru Legacy. The hawk-eye headlights make a return along with a deeper, more aggressively prominent front fascia. The overall theme seems to indicate Subaru's going for a cleaner, more sophisticated look while still maintaining the athletic stance expected of the Impreza.

The power plant for this new Impreza is somewhat of a mystery. We expect the new, fuel-efficient 2.0-liter flat-4 that's being introduced in the Forester to be one of the engine choices for this car. The return of the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter is unknown, but the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine for the WRX and WRX STI will most likely make a return. We expect transmission choices to be a new continuously variable transmission for the base Impreza (thereby replacing the car's antiquated four-speed auto) as well as the traditional manual transmissions offerings. Expect all-wheel drive to be the standard drivetrain for all iterations.

There is a lot of hope for this new Impreza, as the prototype showed promise. Design execution has not been Subaru's strong suit as of late, but expect Subaru's usual AWD system and a refined, more fuel-efficient base engine to be highlights for the new car. But will it be enough to make this Impreza fully competitive against new, highly regarded small car models like the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra? Check back later for more details, driving impressions and complete buying advice once the newly redesigned 2012 Subaru Impreza hits the road.