1997 Subaru Impreza Review

Think of Subaru's all-wheel-drive Impreza Outback station wagon as sort of a small, affordable sport/utility for use on regular roads and fairly smooth off-road trails.

You don't sit up high in the subcompact Outback, as one does in a regular sport/utility. However, this $17,595 Subaru is very rugged and has a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. It also has sport/ute items such as a roof rack with cargo hooks, splash guards and rear bumper step pad.

But save the serious off-road treks over rugged terrain for bigger sport/utility vehicles with more ground clearance--even though few owners of such sport/utes ever take them off pavement.

Subaru's trump card always has been offering traction-enhancing four-wheel drive for small vehicles--a big reason why Subarus long have been popular in New England states. And the Outback's all-wheel-drive system keeps it in four-wheel-drive mode all the time without driver involvement.

Thankfully, Subaru has given the Outback a standard 2.2-liter, 135-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The Outback's all-wheel-drive system adds weight, and it would be too slow with the standard Impreza 1.8-liter, 110-horsepower four-cylinder.

The 2.2-liter, 16-valve engine has Subaru's horizontally opposed piston design, which is shared by no less than Porsche and helps create a low center of gravity for better handling.

The smooth, rugged engine even provides plenty of punch when hooked to the optional, $800 four-speed automatic transmission that was in the Outback I recently tested.

The Outback enters fast-moving traffic quickly and delivers decent 65-75 m.p.h. times with the 2.2/automatic combination. However, the standard five-speed manual transmission provides quicker acceleration. Economy is an EPA-estimated 22 m.p.g. in the city and an impressive 29 on highways with either manual or automatic transmission.

The solid-feeling Outback had dual air bags, side-impact beams that meet 1997 federal standards, anti-lock disc brakes and 5 m.p.h.-impact bumpers.

You need not keep a few thousand dollars on the side to make the two-tone Outback nicely equipped. There is a load of standard equipment for the price, including air conditioning, AM/FM/cassette, rear window wiper/washer and power windows, locks and mirrors.

Also standard is variable-assist power steering, which makes parking easy and provides good road feel at highway speeds. Fairly big tires and an all-independent suspension with front/rear stabilizer bars deliver a supple ride and good handling.

The Outback has sure-footed handling partly because Subaru has developed the vehicle's platform through years of world-class rallying--a type of racing where road conditions often go from bad to worse.

The brake pedal feels a bit mushy, but the Outback stops quickly and surely.

This 2,810-pound station wagon comfortably seats four 6-footers in an attractive, nicely finished interior--although getting in or out of the rear seat isn't easy because doors are narrow at the bottom and don't open wide enough.

The steering wheel obstructs a few secondary controls. But the dashboard is nicely laid out, and the comfortable front seats provide above-average side support.

Cargo space behind the conveniently low-opening rear hatch is pretty good, and rear seatbacks fold forward to enhance cargo space.

The Impreza Outback wagon sneers at bad weather and shows that practicality and frugality can be fun.