KEY POINTS:
Subaru is expanding its all-wheel drive Impreza range over the next six weeks with the addition of sedans, including the booted WRX.
The Impreza 2.0R and 2.0R Sport sedans arrive this month to complement the existing hatch variants and come with the same safety credentials - a five-star crash rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program with the maximum four-star pedestrian safety rating, and electronic stability control and six airbags.
The WRX sedan arrives next month.
The Impreza range won the AMI/NZ Autocar 2008 Compact Car of the Year, and three AA Motoring Excellence Awards: 2008 Safest Car, 2008 Performance Car and the overall 2008 Supreme Car of the Year Awards.
Says Subaru of New Zealand managing director, Graeme Woodlands: "Impreza sales have climbed by more than 10 per cent since its launch 12 months ago and that has been without any sedans in the range. We can only see that improving with the addition of the naturally aspirated sedan versions."
The base model Impreza 2.0R sedan is priced at $26,990 for the manual and $27,990 for the automatic, the same as the entry-level hatchback.
The sedan's specification list includes 16-inch alloy wheels, six airbags including curtain airbags, electronic stability control, ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist.
The Impreza 2.0R Sport sedan has 17-inch alloy wheels, a dual exhaust system with chrome tailpipe covers, a mesh sports grille, boot lid spoiler and a sports body kit.
Inside, it features sports seats, rear privacy glass and a different cloth trim.
The manual costs $31,990 and the automatic $32,990; again, the same as the hatchback.
The Impreza 2.0R Sport adds a six-stack CD player with 10 speakers, climate-control air-conditioning and leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls and a leather gearshift. All naturally aspirated variants offer the choice of five-speed manual or four-speed Sportshift automatic transmissions.
For the first time, the Impreza sedan also gets a split/fold rear seat for even greater cargo-carrying flexibility. Both models are powered by a 2-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine developing 110kW at 6400rpm and 196Nm of torque at 3200rpm.