Subaru Impreza Is 34 Years Old And Still Going Strong

Its been 34 years since the debut of the Subaru Impreza and there is NO stopping it

If you own an early model Impreza does it still make you stop and look at it after parking it? 

On October 22, 1992, Subaru Japan introduced the Impreza. Today we are celebrating 34 years of a name that has found its way into global rally stages, daily commutes, garage tuning projects and plenty of dream-car lists …… including ours.

We have in our garage the ‘comfort’ version which is the Subaru Legacy GT, but somehow it does NOT have the same effect on the road.

For us, the first-generation Impreza cars are still a huge part of the Subaru appeal. Meanwhile, this yellow example pictured here, with its headlights on and hit intake scoop catching the overhead light, makes a pretty good birthday portrait. Yes?

Thirty-Four Years of the Subaru Impreza

First introduced in 1992 as a compact family car to replace the ageing Subaru Leone, the Subaru Impreza established a legacy defined by horizontally opposed Boxer engines, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and world-renowned rally heritage. Over six generations, the Impreza transitioned from an underdog Japanese saloon into a motorsport titan, a pop-culture icon and a practical modern car that can take 4 adults (5 in a pinch) in comfort to their destination.

Replacing the Subaru Leone (1992)

Subaru launched the first-generation Impreza (GC/GF chassis) to compete against established compact rivals like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Unlike its front-wheel-drive mainstream competitors, Subaru equipped the Impreza with its signature layout which is, a ‘Horizontally Opposed Boxer Engine with a Lower center of gravity for improved cornering balance. Then they added Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) for exceptional traction across low-grip road conditions.

World Rally Championship Glory & The WRC Legend

The Impreza became a household name through its dominance in the World Rally Championship (WRC). Partnered with Prodrive, Subaru’s iconic blue-and-gold liveried cars conquered dirt, gravel, and snow worldwide.

1995: Colin McRae captured the WRC Drivers’ Championship, cementing the Impreza’s status.

1995–1997: Subaru won three consecutive WRC Constructors’ Championships.

1998 (The 22B STi): To celebrate its third WRC title and Subaru’s 40th anniversary, Subaru built the legendary Impreza 22B STi which is a widebody, 2.2-litre turbocharged hatch now regarded as one of the most sought-after JDM performance cars in history.

2001 & 2003: Richard Burns and Petter Solberg added further Drivers’ World Championships to the Impreza’s trophy cabinet.

So, will this article remind you to go out and buy yourself a used Impreza WRX or STI in the very near future?