2008 Subaru Impreza, WRX Update & Gallery

One of the more controversial new cars from last year’s auto show season was the redesigned Subaru Impreza and WRX. Even after months of digesting the new design, it’s hard to tell how people will react to it. The prices announced recently seem to be right on target with what the car delivers. The new models will start showing up at dealers in August, and in anticipation Subaru has released some new photos for the press. We’ve put them together with the photos that were released when the new model debuted in April. Check out the gallery here and tell us what you think of the new look.

Comments

The front end looks similiar to a SAAB and the rear a Kia. I'm not impressed.

I like the styling, but from the photo gallery, it appears that Subaru is still using a separate key and remote, rather than an integrated keyfob, which they use in other markets. This is another example of them only giving their scraps to the US market. (For years, stability control wasn't offered at all in the US except on the Outback VDC, but was offered in other markets. Now, it's offered on the Forester and Legacy on a very limited basis.)

looks like Subaru went from having some guts and styling their cars distinctively (even though i thought the B9 was quite ... homely) to making it a cross between BLAND Corolla/Yaris mutt mixed with a Kia. Very disappointed!!!

looks like Subaru went from having some guts and styling their cars distinctively (even though i thought the B9 was quite ... homely) to making it a cross between BLAND Corolla/Yaris mutt mixed with a Kia. Very disappointed!!!

It does have a mix of different borrowed styling cues/themes. There's a little Mazda3 with some BMW "flame surfaces" in the side profile. The tail lights do resemble the Yaris, and the front end has a bit of Kia to it. I don't think it's ugly, but it's not very exciting and not distinctively Subaru.

I do like the interior though, particularly in tan. I think the shift boot should be black though.

A Corolla looking car with the WRX parts, huh?
Give us back the 06-07 Subie...

Nope, still does nothing for me. No "got to have one of these" here. It may look better in the flesh, but the new Tribeca doesn't.

The new Impreza interior looks better than the old one (I like the Tribeca interior too), but the outside just can't seem to make its mind up whether it wants to be bland or bling. Maybe bland with a bit of tacked-on bling.

I'll stick with my 2002 WRX wagon ... unless by some miracle the new STI actually looks good.

Mitsubishi, better overstock on that beautiful (relatively) Lancer, cause people are going to come there in droves.

P.S. @ Graham: imagine this POS with red stickers everywhere, and you get the STi.

I agree with the Saab/Kia reference. I find it amazing that Subaru cannot generate a single good looking vehicle for years and years.

I'm dissapointed they didn't stick with the Tribecca styling untill they put it where it belonged from the begining, on a sporty coupe/sedan.

They wasted a provocotive design on a conservative market, now they're putting a conservative design on a sporty car.

There's a reason why Corvettes don't look like Camrys

That Looks Like a KIA

The 2004/2005 style looks the best.

no thanks, ill take an evo over this monstrosity any day. Subaru is such a great car company if only they could come up with a distinct design of thier own. I wasnt a big fan of the 3 port style but it was better than this

Yes, the EVO all the way. Mitsubishi has the best timing, selling the best-looking Lancer(and EVO) ever while Subaru sells the ugliest Impreza ever. I hope Subaru gets it together by face-lift time

I went out and bought a '07 WRX Limited Wagon after I saw these photos, got a good deal too. I was waiting for the ;08 it...then they did this to it. Ugh. I am really thinking that maybe Subaru is not to worried about the WRX crowd turning on them, maybe they are trying to focus on a different market. Anyway I love my '07, love the look, the engine and the limited interior.

The new Impreza does not Imprezz me. The exterior styling looks too much like a Hyundai/Kia with a Chrysler Sebring grill and the rear on the hatchback has too much of the Chevy Malibu Maxx chrome look, and on the sedan it almost looks like a Ford Fusion from a distance. The tires are so small and skimpy (compared to the Mitsubishi Lancer's 18" and Mazda 3's 17" rims) and the wheel design looks cheap. And I found out at the dealer today that they don't offer sunroofs on any of the Impreza models.

This so called "reincarnation" of the Impreza proves once and for all that Subaru has been suffering from an identity crisis in their engineering designs, right when they had the "horse's snout" grill on the Impreza and B9 (more like benigne) Tribeca. Why didn't they even bother upgrade the Forester for this model year? That would have been my second choice other than the Impreza.

I just can't put my finger on what this car's looks are supposed to be on the outside. But at least the interior has a bit of improvement, even with a few extra inches of legroom in the back and an upgraded stereo system for CD's, MP3's, satellite radio, but....no engine coolant temperature gauge on the instrument panel? That's kinda tempting fate, isn't it?

I was hoping Subaru would come with a more aggressive re-design like Mitsubishi did for the Lancer, but the looks of this car on the is too cutsie-pie for me.
Other than the interior, I'd thought Subaru would have made a better effort than this for it's outer appearance.

The Lancer & Evo X will be laughing all the way to the bank with this one.

A few years back, Saab used the Impreza body to create their 9-2 sport wagon. Idk about any of you, but to me, it seems like the people at Subaru took the designs of the 9-2 and just reworked it in to the new Impreza. They look almost the same, as if Subaru was updating the 9-2 for Saab, but then decided to keep it for themselves. LOL!