First Drive: Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza has been around since 1993 and is a very successful rally car. It is available as a 4-door sedan or as a 5-door hatchback. The 2011 Impreza was powered by a 2.5L H4 that produces 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. The WRX and WRX STi versions come with a turbocharged 2.5L H4 engine. The Impreza WRX STi gets 304 hp out of a turbocharged I4 engine. The 2012 Impreza is powered by a 2.0L H4 engine that produces 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque is a available with a five-speed or six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, Subaru allowed people to drive a third generation Impreza four-door sedan. This was the last of five cars I test drove at the 2012 Houston Auto Show.

The car was very roomy and comfortable. There is plenty of leg room and head room. The Impreza has improved on styling over the years. The first Impreza was an eye sore. The current Impreza has sleek lines. But the appeal of the Impreza comes from its driving capabilities.

The Impreza was very fun to drive. The Impreza I test drove came with a four-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. This was the first car I drove with paddle shifters. It takes some time to get familiar with the system. When I barely tap the accelerator, the Impreza moves. It is very quick for a compact car. The Impreza goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, but it felt quicker than that. It was very fun to drive.

Of the five cars I test drove at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, the Impreza was the most fun to drive. It was comfortable, quick, and exciting. For 2012, the Impreza will have a smaller engine and will be lest powerful than the 2011 Impreza. Subaru is sacrificing engine size and power for fuel economy. Yet Subaru claims that the new Impreza has a quicker 0 to 60 mph time than the previous generation. WRX and STi versions of the fourth-generation Impreza will be released in 2012. Motorweek named the 2012 Subaru Impreza its 2012 Driver's Choice Award for Best Compact Car. After driving the previous generation Impreza, I have to agree with Motorweek. I recommend that people should at least test drive a standard Impreza. You will have fun in this car.


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First Drive: 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

The Subaru Legacy has been in production since 1989 and is currently on its fifth generation. When it first came out, the Legacy was a front-engine, front-wheel drive, four door compact sedan or five door wagon. Starting in 1994, the Legacy wagon became the Subaru Outback. Starting in 1995, the Legacy was sold as a mid-size sedan with all-wheel drive available as an option. In 1996, the Subaru Legacy was only available with all-wheel drive in North America. Starting in 1998 with the third generation model, all Subaru Legacy were all-wheel drive. I have seen the Legacy on the Houston roads. I have seen some at various Houston car events. I had a chance to take a 2012 Legacy for a test drive at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, but I passed up the opportunity in order to test drive the Subaru Impreza. Subaru did not have a ride and drive booth at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. During one Friday in April of 2013, I decided to test drive five cars that day. The final car I test drove was the Subaru Legacy. The version I drove came with a H6 engine and the interior was the Limited trim level. The Legacy Limited H6 came with a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The Legacy is available with a 2.5L H4 engine that can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a lineartronic CVT transmission.

The Legacy has a slightly sporty styling. The Legacy has a long hood with a short rear end. It also has wheel arches that slightly extend out. Subaru has greatly improved the styling of the Legacy over the years, considering how bland the styling of the first generation Legacy was.  The version I drove came with the limited trim level, which includes leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, wood trim, a navigation system, and a moonroof. Safety features include a pre-collision system, Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance system, lane departure warning system, and adaptive cruise control. I was comfortable behind the wheel of the Legacy. I had a good amount of leg room and head room. The seat was very comfortable.

The Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited is powered by a 3.6L H6 engine that produces 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 135 mph. The Legacy gets good power out of the H6 engine. The Legacy has good acceleration for a mid-size sedan. The Legacy has good grip. It felt very stable on the high due to the all-wheel drive system. The Legacy has a smooth ride to it. It was quiet behind the wheel of the Legacy. The Legacy is one of the most fun Japanese mid-size sedans I have driven. Prices for the base Legacy 2.5i start at $20,295. Prices for the Legacy 3.6R Limited start at $28,895. The price for the Legacy I test drove is $33,867. That is slightly less money compared to the prices of its fellow six-cylinder Japanese mid-size sedans. Both the V6 Honda Accord and the V6 Toyota Camry both start around $30,000.

Overall, the Subaru Legacy is one of the better mid-size sedans I have driven. It has good balance, stability, power, and performance. It is very comfortable inside the car. Not to mention that this is a fun car to drive as far as mid-size Japanese sedans go. I prefer the Subaru Legacy over most mid-size sedans. There are various trim levels, transmissions, and engines to chose from with the Legacy. If you want a turbocharged H4 engine, you can get one with that engine. If you want a basic mid-size sedan with an H4 engine, you can get one for under $21,000. With its great drive quality, performance, and options, anyone who is looking to get a mid-size sedan should take a Subaru Legacy out for a test drive. This is a good car.

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