by "Galapagosized Guy" (galapagosizedautomotive)
Published 02/02/2017 at 22:42
by "Galapagosized Guy" (galapagosizedautomotive)
Published 02/02/2017 at 22:42
Tags: subaru
; impreza
; hatchback
; crossover
; crossover suv
; cuv
; jdm
STARS: 0
Since third-generation (2007), Subaru Impreza replaced the wagon with the hatchback due to decline of station wagons and the rise of SUVs and minivans in Japan. While some Imprezas were offered with FWD, most Imprezas in global market are 4WDs. This include insane WRX STI, which is already a rally homologation.
Looking at a 4WD Impreza hatchback. It is part-hatchback, part-SUV. More crossover-like than your typical hatchback. While most hatchbacks in global markets are front-driven, Subaru goes the off-roader way by making global-market Imprezas 4WD-only.
Till this day, not even a global-market Impreza had a FWD model. The 4WD-exclusivity of Impreza hatchback models may have thrown Subaru into the “baby crossover SUV” market. And this is taken even further with XV, a jacked-up Impreza hatchback.
Just not many people think Subaru Impreza hatchbacks are baby crossovers in disguise. Not even people think the WRX STI hot hatches are actually Dakar-prepped SUVs in disguise. (Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, move over)
Seems like this Gunma Prefecture-based company is actually masquerading the Impreza hatchbacks’ SUV drivetrains.
Do you think Subaru Impreza hatchbacks are just normal hatchbacks, or are baby crossover SUVs in disguise?
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
02/02/2017 at 22:48, STARS: 10
No.
The XV Crosstrek (which is basically a lifted Impreza hatch) is though.
"Racin'Jason001" (racinjason001)
02/02/2017 at 22:49, STARS: 1
What For Canada said.
"Wagon Guy drives a Boostang" (gimmeboost)
02/02/2017 at 22:52, STARS: 1
What For Canada said. AND we need more WRX hatchback.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/02/2017 at 22:54, STARS: 0
IMO, an Impreza is just a shrunken and lowered Forester with which it shares a platform, so yes it’s a crossover in disguise. (Not that I’m biased or anything)
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
02/02/2017 at 22:59, STARS: 0
Michigan is with Canada on this one.
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
02/02/2017 at 23:03, STARS: 0
It’s a hatchback. Nothing else (besides ugly).
"wafflesnfalafel" (wafflesnfalafel1)
02/02/2017 at 23:10, STARS: 0
not really - just a nice sized hatch and sedan that happen to be AWD. However - I think they did have a part spawning the new subcompact CUV trend, (Mazda CX3, Ford EcoSport, Buick Encore, Chevy Trax, Honda HRV, etc) as more people realize they like the slightly taller stance and perceived safety/utility of awd.
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
02/02/2017 at 23:10, STARS: 0
Nope. If you drop into it, it’s not a CUV/SUV.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
02/02/2017 at 23:58, STARS: 0
No?
Did you suffer a head injury this evening?
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/03/2017 at 00:10, STARS: 0
My wife drives an Impreza hatchback. We cross-shopped it against assorted mini crossovers. She preferred it over the Crosstrek because it lacked the ugly body cladding and the lower ride height.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
02/03/2017 at 00:12, STARS: 2
A baby crossover disguised as an ordinary hatchback is probably just an ordinary hatchback without any kind of baby crossover in there
"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
02/03/2017 at 01:15, STARS: 0
Hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback
"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
02/03/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 0
Hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback hatchback
"Autofixation" (Autofixation)
02/03/2017 at 01:20, STARS: 0
Sounds like an awful lot of justification for calling it a crossover. And the first generation Forester was literally a lifted, boxy Impreza.
"Chinny Raccoon" (chinnyraccoon)
02/03/2017 at 04:31, STARS: 0
The first gen had FWD. Posibly more recent ones two.
Oh, and it’s definitely a hatchback.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
02/03/2017 at 05:24, STARS: 1
Crossovers are tall fat hatchbacks, nothing more. The driven wheels are irrelevant, they’re typically bought for fashion reasons or perceived convenience. The Impreza is not tall, so it’s not a crossover. It’s a hatchback or sedan with atypically driven wheels.
"ThePenguin" (ThatOtherGuy7)
02/03/2017 at 11:31, STARS: 0
No it is definitely a hatchback.
It shares a platform with the Forester which is a crossover but since the Impreza is lowered, it is a hatchback.
Crossovers are lifted hatchbacks so the XV Crosstrek qualifies but the regular Impreza does not.
Just because it doesn’t have a FWD model and is AWD only doesn’t mean it is more crossover than hatch. AWD on every car is Subaru’s thing, it’s what Subaru is known for (yes the BRZ exists).
"J_P_Cars10s" (jpcars10s)
02/03/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 0
I feel like more recent Subarus, 4th gen outback for example, were designed around the tall version first. The Legacy is a lowered Outback sedan now.