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Subaru's new all-wheel-drive Impreza was a "nine star" winner at the AA Motoring Excellence Awards, New Zealand's premier motoring awards.
The Impreza WRX STi spec.R won the overall Supreme Car of the Year award and was judged safest car on New Zealand roads, with its five-star ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Programme) crash testing rating and four-star pedestrian protection rating in the compact car class.
Launched in October 2007, the Subaru Impreza was the world's first compact car to record the nine-star maximum safety rating for occupant and pedestrian protection.
To be eligible for the award, all models in a range had to have the same safety specification, which the Impreza meets, from the $26,990 Impreza 2.0R to the $64,990 Impreza WRX STI spec.R.
"Safety features alone don't guarantee safety," said the AA, "hence the decision to make this award based on crash-test results, which measure and allow direct comparison of each car on a level playing field."
All models in the Impreza range come with electronic stability and traction control, six airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist and a body with ring-shaped reinforcement through the A, B and C pillars, as well as front and rear impact crumple zones. All-wheel drive is also standard on all models.
The STI also won the Performance Car class, heading off vehicles that cost more than $100,000.
The Impreza WRX STI was described as a proper supercar by the judges.
"The grip of this vehicle on the road and track was like a four-pawed, five-clawed feline clinging to hallway carpet."
