They call to mind the new Subaru Impreza. It's not as tasty as the Honda Civic or Mazda 3, but Subaru's smallest all-wheel-drive car packs the essentials into a handy size at an affordable price.
The sixth-gen Impreza's zestiest updates are its more powerful engine option, larger touchscreen (11.6 inches in upper trims), and increased standard features. Some things, though, have been lost.
Subaru dropped the four-door sedan and manual transmission in favor of what 73 percent of Impreza customers prefer: hatchbacks with CVTs.
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Car and Driver.
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This story is from the June 2023 edition of Car and Driver.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Best Odds
SOMETIMES-NOT OFTEN, BUT sometimes-car manufacturers create something semi-wondrous that is also borderline irrational and three-quarters inexplicable to their own marketing types.
Mileage Booster
Kia Carnival Hybrid HIGHS: Big mpg bump, no CVT weirdness, solid ride and handling. LOWS: Shared HVAC and audio controls, second-row loungers can't be removed, changing brake-pedal feel.
Medium Spicy
Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo HIGHS: Lengthy list of features, spacious interior, generous trunk. LOWS: Uncomfortably flat seats, rivals are quicker, only modest grip.
Drivelines
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Suspensions of Disbelief
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PUMPED-UP KICKS
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