[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/subaru-impreza-overrated-1\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/subaru-impreza-overrated-1\/","headline":"Why the Subaru Impreza is overrated","name":"Why the Subaru Impreza is overrated","description":"The Subaru Impreza and Impreza WRX STI are not the best cars in the world… The Subaru Impreza is a somewhat iconic car. With its instantly-recognisable shape and the undeniable rally-car feeling it gives off, it\u2019s easy to see why people are passionate about them. However, we can also tell you exactly why it\u2019s a little overrated as well. It\u2019s not a bad car, it\u2019s just not the best car in the world and here\u2019s why: Some of them are […]","datePublished":"2018-05-18","dateModified":"2018-05-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Subaru-Impreza-front-side-1-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Subaru-Impreza-front-side-1-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/subaru-impreza-overrated-1\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS","OLD SCHOOL CLASSIC"],"wordCount":858,"keywords":["Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution","Subaru","subaru impreza"],"articleBody":"The Subaru Impreza and Impreza WRX STI are not the best cars in the world…The Subaru Impreza is a somewhat iconic car. With its instantly-recognisable shape and the undeniable rally-car feeling it gives off, it\u2019s easy to see why people are passionate about them. However, we can also tell you exactly why it\u2019s a little overrated as well. It\u2019s not a bad car, it\u2019s just not the best car in the world and here\u2019s why:Some of them are pretty uglyThe Subie Imprezas are well known for that distinctive look, that certain shape, and of course, that instantly-recognisable spoiler. Although the rough shape has been a constant throughout the generations, some of the iterations didn\u2019t quite stick the landing. Take the pre-facelift Imprezas from the early 2000s.It was almost the same as the pre-2000 Subaru\u2019s except for the hideous face. Circular headlights were not the right choice, and Subaru soon realised this and followed up with a facelift. This brought us to the 2004 facelifted imprezas, which were a fine improvement, but still not quite as handsome as the first gen Subies.Soon enough, yet another facelift was implemented which changed the grill completely and made the lights look slightly more streamlined. This facelift made it not quite as ugly as the pre-facelift model, but also not as nice-looking as the first facelift model.The current WRX models and the first gen Imprezas are very good looking cars, the same cannot be said for the bug-eyed Imprezas of the early 2000s.Furthermore, take the spoiler off and your cool rally car will soon transform into an ugly sedan. I\u2019m not saying that any of Subaru\u2019s sedans should ever be spoiler-less, but at the same time, it\u2019s almost like the spoiler is a cheap trick to hide the ugliness of its foundations. If all it takes for it to look like an eyesore is to simply remove the spoiler, then it makes you wonder, was it ever a beautiful car in the first place?The Subaru Impreza is overrated, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is underratedThe WRX STI seems to have so much more credit than the underrated Evo, and it\u2019s just not fair.Firstly, following on from my last point, the Lancer Evo is a gorgeous car and to a lot of people, it\u2019s a better-looking one. The aesthetic is more understated, not as \u201cin your face\u201d as the Imprezas and gives off a more \u201cgrown-up\u201d feel. The bonnet scoop is smaller, the shape is sleeker and the car as a whole just looks less like a caricature drawing and more like a work of fine art. In fact, if you look at today\u2019s WRX STI, one could almost say that it\u2019s somewhat imitating the appearance of the Evo.Not only does it look better, it handles tight corners better as well. Anyone that\u2019s driven both will tell you that the Mitsubishi feels more grounded and sharper, thanks to the more responsive chassis and the superior traction control thanks to Mitsu\u2019s S-AWC. All of this can be acquired for less money than the equivalent Subie would cost.Not all Imprezas are cool rally carsSome of them are unsightly hatchbacks. Carrying on from the previous point, unlike the Evo, the Impreza does NOT look anywhere near as nice as a hatchback.They somehow managed to make the hatch look like a horrifically mutated version of the sedan that was accidentally created by a mad scientist. Sure it\u2019s great value for money and still fun to drive, but it\u2019s also a disservice to the \u201cImpreza\u201d name that was once known for being the sporty rally car that it was introduced as.The Subaru Impreza excels in the snow, but not anywhere elseWe\u2019ve all heard of how these brilliant AWD Imprezas really come into their own when they drive in snow. Not only are they a world of fun to drift in those conditions, but they\u2019ve also been proven time and time again as great snow recovery vehicles. There have even been accounts of Subaru towing lorries in the snow!Sure there\u2019s nothing quite like drifting an Impreza in the snow or dirt, but what about driving it on a track? What about driving it to work, taking the family out in or travelling across the country?Driving on motorways feels like putting your head in a microwave thanks to the loud droning hum the Imprezas are known for. Now imagine that cross-country road trip with your car full of passengers, sitting uncomfortably on firm suspension and all complaining about their headaches.The mile per gallon is (obviously) not ideal for daily driving, sitting around the low 20s. Insurance companies are not kind on Impreza owners, the same goes for police. Servicing is not easy either, therefore not cheap and the same goes for buying parts. Although, all of this should be expected when buying a sports car.We love the Subaru Impreza, but at the same time, it\u2019s not flawless, just like any car."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why the Subaru Impreza is overrated","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/subaru-impreza-overrated-1\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]