View Our Impreza Hatchback Inventory!!
The 2009 Impreza is offered in a stylish and capable hatchback that offers Subaru qualities with the added utility of a hatchback. The Impreza hatchback comes in the base 2.5i, extra feature 2.5i Premium, the more rugged Outback Sport, and the more powerful 2.5 GT. If you're a hatchback fan looking for turbocharged performance, the 2.5GT trim is a vehicle that will always offer sporty driving. However, the 2.5GT's starting price is high compared to competitors like the Volkswagen GTI, the Impreza, and its cabin materials could be better. What sets the Impreza apart from many of its competitors is that it comes standard with all-wheel drive. Subaru calls the system Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and in the 2.5GT it features an electronically controlled clutch that apportions power among the wheels. While some hatchbacks, like the Vibe and Toyota Matrix, offer all-wheel drive, few make it standard it is on Subaru.
The 2.5i trim, 2.5i Premium, and Impreza Outback Sport are powered by a 170-hp SUBARU BOXER engine that gives 170 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The 2.5 GT is powered by a more powerful 224-hp turbocharged SUBARU BOXER engine, with 226 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm.
The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2.5 GT really is fun to drive. Whether its city cruising or highway travel, you get the unique sounds of the boxer four-cylinder upon acceleration. The cost of the Impreza's driving abilities, however, is rather high mileage, as the 2.5GT gets an EPA-estimated 19/24 mpg city/highway. The 2.5GT's four-speed automatic transmission doesn't skip a beat, its shifts are smooth and refined, and it makes quick kickdowns when more power is needed for passing. On the other hand, bumping it up to a five gear would be an improvement, and would help with fuel efficiency too. The 2.5GT has standard all-disc antilock brakes. The pedal has a nice, firm feel under your foot. The shocks on the 2009 Imprezas do a nice job absorbing impacts, and the car remains poised when driving on bumpy roads. Body roll isn't a problem when pushing the car hard through a corner, as the 2.5GT feels well planted. The 2.5GT's steering is precise. It takes some effort to turn the wheel, as there isn't a lot of power assistance, but that pays off when driving on the highway.
The hatchback is 173.8 inches long and the same width as the sedan. The Impreza is a hatchback with an athletic style, avoiding the bulbous look that plagues some hatchbacks. One of the 2.5GT's most noticeable styling features is its hood scoop, which directs air to the intercooler that's mounted atop the engine. The scoop is better integrated into the hood than some of Subaru's previous ones, but it's still large. Smooth body panels give the Impreza a clean look, and a noticeable crease above the door handles stretches from the front fender all the way to the rear quarter panel. The back of the 2.5GT hatchback is finished off with a forward-sloping liftgate and a small spoiler.
Folding down the hatchback's 60/40-split backseat expands the cargo area to 44.4 cubic feet. The seatbacks are level with the cargo floor, so long items lay flat. When the seats are in use the Impreza hatchback has 19 cubic feet of cargo room behind the backseat, which is more than the four-door GTI (14.7) but less than the Vibe (20.1). The cargo floor isn't especially deep, as a good 5 inches or so is taken up by the temporary spare tire located below it. The Impreza 2.5GT has excellent seating position. Even though the driver's seat has only manual controls, it's adjustable for height, which is one of the more important ones. The 2.5GT also has a tilt/telescoping steering wheel (some trims only offer tilt). While the driving position is good, materials quality is a bit sub par. The fit and finish in the 2.5GT is acceptable, but the trim pieces themselves aren't the most modern-looking; their surfaces are hard, and many have a shiny appearance. Also, the vanity mirrors in the sun visors aren't illuminated. The backseat space is comfortable, the backrest doesn't recline, but at least it's not overly upright, which can be uncomfortable. There's headroom to spare, but taller passengers may be short on legroom.
Subaru offers a range of Imprezas, though, and value-oriented shoppers will gravitate toward base 2.5i hatchbacks that start at $17,995. That model doesn't offer the turbocharged power of the higher trims, but it does include all the safety features and many of the convenience features. The 2009 Outback Sport gives you Impreza power and handling with the ruggedness of the Outback. The heated front seats, side mirrors, and windshield wiper de-icer, along with the roof-mounted carrier base and bumper underguards are standard. The turbocharged Impreza 2.5GT hatchback is good at what it does: It's a fun-to-drive car that also offers a lot of utility in a small package. What's less appealing is its $27,495 starting price, which is $2,000 more than the new Impreza WRX hatchback with its turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 41 more horsepower than the 2.5GT's engine. The 2.5GT does come with more standard features, like a six-CD changer, heated front seats and a power moonroof, but you clearly pay for them. At the same time, performance-hatchback enthusiasts seem likely to make a beeline for the more powerful WRX. With both of these models geared toward specific customers, the Impreza 2.5GT, despite all its strengths, could get passed over because of its high price.
SummaryThe 2009 Suabru Impreza hatchback may not be tops in cabin quality and fuel efficiency, but there is something about a Subaru that is different form other in its class. The major point, of course, is that Subarus come standard with all wheel drive. There is a variety of trims for the 2009 hatchback, from a base level to a higher performing 2.5 GT. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Impreza a Good overall rating - the highest possible score - in frontal-offset, side-impact and rear crash tests (non-WRX seats). Standard Impreza safety features include antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, an electronic stability system and active head restraints for the front seats. For more pictures, view a Subaru Impreza Hatchback photo gallery.
