Subaru has cut through long-standing buyer resistance by introducing its new Impreza small-car range with longer service intervals.
The new Impreza, on sale immediately with local deliveries to commence in December, kicks off at $22,400 and tops out at $29,190. Service intervals have been raised from 12,500km/six months to 12,500km/12 months.
According to the importer, the cumulative cost of servicing the new Impreza over the first three years has fallen to $1298.19 – a saving of $918.86 over the previous model.
The range comprises eight variants in all – based on two body styles (sedan and hatch), and four levels of trim. All eight are powered by the same drivetrain, a 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder driving through a continuously variable transmission to all four wheels. Peak power is 115kW – up from 110kW of the superseded Impreza – and torque reaches a maximum of 196Nm.
Subaru has developed the new Impreza on its modular global platform, which will underpin a wide range of models in due course.
Standard features for the entry-level Impreza 2.0i comprise 17-inch alloy wheels and a touch-screen infotainment system that's compatible with Google Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Up the next rung of the ladder is the Impreza 2.0L, which moves up to an eight-inch touch screen, upgraded cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control, electric fold-in mirrors with integrated indicators, EyeSight driver-assist technology, front fog lights/daytime running lights, leather-bound steering wheel/gear shift knob and an upgraded multi-function display.
The higher-grade Impreza 2.0P gains an electric sunroof and factory-fitted satellite navigation.
At the head of the range is the Impreza 2.0S, which exclusively features the following standard items: Active Torque Vectoring, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, leather upholstery, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, side skirts, adaptive LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights, blind spot monitoring*, lane change assist*, rear cross-traffic alert* and 18-inch alloy wheels.
"With 95 per cent of Impreza being all new, it's given us the opportunity to look at new service offerings that represent real savings for owners," says Subaru Australia MD, Colin Christie.
"The Impreza pricing scale is also impressive, especially considering the added specification right across the range.
"The pricing advantage becomes even more significant in upper spec Imprezas, with new features such as EyeSight driver assist and Vision Assist technology making our small car big on value."
As many as 49 per cent of all Subaru cars sold in Australia are now fitted with EyeSight, and the new Impreza is expected to lift that percentage higher still, well over half of all Subaru models sold in Australia during 2016.
"With significant incremental value, servicing intervals and potential insurance premium reductions for EyeSight-equipped Imprezas, our small car offering makes a more compelling package than ever before – especially when combined with the fun driving that is at the heart of this new model," Christie observed.
Prices for the new Impreza are as follows, with the hatch costing $200 more than sedans of equivalent specification:
2.0i sedan – $22,400
2.0i hatch – $22,600
2.0L sedan – $24,490
2.0L hatch – $24,690
2.0P sedan – $26,290
2.0P hatch – $26,490
2.0S sedan – $28,990
2.0S hatch – $29,190
* Bundled up as part of the Vision Assist pack.