2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i 5-Door
	Starting Price: $24,795)
	Engine:2.0 litre ‘boxer’ four-cylinder, 148 horsepower Drivetrain:Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (AWD) Transmission:5-speed manual
	Observed Average Mileage:9.2L / 100km
	Features:sunroof, Bluetooth media streaming, driver computer, heated seats, remote access What’s Hot:Comfortable and sporty, slick shifter, all-season traction, useful cabin What’s Not:Could use a touch more power

The Subaru Impreza has often taken the controversial route where styling was concerned, uses an uncommon boxer style engine, and has All Wheel Drive (AWD) standard on every model—which is unheard of in its segment.

It’s a hipster sort of car that packs a great deal of quirky, lifestyle-oriented sportiness—especially when shoppers opt for the 5-door model over the standard Sedan configuration.

For 2012, Subaru’s entry model has been updated to deliver an all-new platform, body and engine developed to address and impress a fiercely loyal owner’s community. Subaru drivers are a proud bunch-- and updating this car properly was a pretty big deal.

The sport-package equipped 5-door tester ran a manual transmission and came priced a little under $25 grand.

Subaru says they worked hard to make their new Impreza look good, and it’s largely worked. It’s more cohesive, aggressive and confident than ever before. Don’t miss the large hatchback spoiler and wide, planted stance, either.

The interior now gets a soft-touch dash, more detailed design, and feels more upscale, functional and premium than the last-generation car.

It takes more than pretty plastics to make a great machine, so the new Impreza is also very functional. There’s plenty of at-hand storage for your stuff, which should make it easy for occupants to stay organized on the go. Rear seats are adult-friendly, folding out of the way for extra space in the hatch if you’re hauling a weekends worth of shopping, some camping gear or a golden retriever.

Front seats are comfortable, visibility is good, and the turning circle is relatively small. Overall, Impreza should easily prove functional, comfortable and easy-to-use.

The tester also got a sunroof to let in the rays, as well as outlets for easy recharging of your toys, and USB and auxiliary connectivity for your music. Bluetooth media audio streaming is included, too.

Drivers get a new multi-function information centre with a trip computer, clock, compass, miles-per-gallon readout and plenty more. It can even display the current front-to-rear power split used by the AWD system as it automatically divvies up engine power between the axles.

And since that standard AWD system always powers all four wheels, you get traction galore, sharp handling and surefooted acceleration on any surface. Impreza always digs in with all fours-- which works with the sharp steering and composed chassis to help maintain the driving feel that it’s loved for. Overall, there’s a sense of capable athleticism dialed in here.

And despite the sportiness, Impreza still manages to boast a fantastic ride.

In fact, the balance between sportiness and ride-quality is among the segment’s best: a carry-over characteristic from the last-generation car that fans will be glad to see has remained intact.

Subaru’s new two-litre boxer engine isn’t a neck-snapper that intends to set drivers faces on fire with all-out acceleration—though it delivers 148 horsepower along a linear power curve with plenty of low-end torque for good all-around response. The engine is a little loud when pushed, but many will like the throaty, burbly sound effects characteristic of boxer engines. The automaker says that despite the drop in power over last year’s model, performance is maintained or improved.

Mileage, too. On my watch, exposed to your writer’s heavy foot and some 1,500 kilometres of highway driving, the tester averaged fuel economy of 9.2L/ 100km-- which speaks to Subaru's goal of delivering AWD with the economy of a comparable two-wheel drive car. So, it’s comfortable, relatively fun to drive, very useful, winter-ready and not that bad on gas at all.

I did leave the new Impreza wishing for a little more power, a sixth gear in the manual transmission for lower highway revs, and some ambient illumination of the centre console area at night.

But ultimately, if driving feel, year-round traction and a touch of uniqueness takes precedence over all-out firepower, the Impreza will impress. Other sporty hatchbacks to check out include the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus.