1997 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport review from North America

The electronic throttle system needed to be reset once.

For those looking for reliable and affordable transportation there are few choices that top an Impreza. Fuel efficiency varies on driving style, as with all vehicles, but it consistently averages in the mid to high twenties per gallon.

The compact wagon won't fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood by a long shot, but the cargo area is holds a great deal of stuff with the seats down.

My Impreza Outback is an automatic. Sometimes I wish I purchased a stick just for the fun of rowing through the gears on back roads. Although the 2.2 litre engine only pushes out 140 horsepower or so it has plenty of juice in the low end due to the transmission gearing.

For snow country this car is hard to beat. With a low center of gravity due to the boxer engine the car holds the road better than most in any weather. Slap a set of studded snow tires on in the winter and nothing, but a blizzard will stop you.

Couple AWD with the weight distribution and you have a car that just plain seems like it wants to accelerate into a turn.

The greatest drawback are the Subaru seats. They are fine unless you are used to Volvo or some other big fat ride kind of seats. As well, the factory supplied Bridgestone Potenza tires are just plain terrible. Replace immediately if yours is outfitted with them.

My next car will be a 5 speed WRX wagon.