click on this:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/2979

I think from this angle and in these colors, the car doesn't look as bad as I originally thought.

The cladding is f@#king horrible and tasteless.

Um, as far as I can tell, it's just a two-tone paint job, like the current Impreza Outback.

The "Outback" treatment looks more ridiculous on the 2008 hatchback than it did on the 2007 wagon version of the Impreza. Subaru needs to stop trying to make this car have SUV/crossover traits to increase sales. It just doesn't jell with this car. Use the development money to give this car a competitive five or six speed automatic instead of a goofy "I wished I was a crossover" appearance.

Ugly, as all subarus have traditionally been. The 2-tone paint, hugely reminiscent of the bloated cladding which is subaru's trademark, is both strange & hilarious.

Oh Subaru, you have the current Legacy/Outback for good looking models and that's...about...it...

The cladding is f@#king horrible and tasteless.

in addition to your correct thought, overall, the car is just plain FUGLY

subie finally got the looks right on the 07 impreza. finally, a subaru that looked ok. but NO....had to ruin it.

Edited August 27, 200717 yr by regfootball

Completely cheapens the design, even though I hate the design to begin with.

The cladding is f@#king horrible and tasteless.

I'm surprised you don't like this Japanese rice-burner.....

????????????

<note HEAVY sarcasm>

Edited August 28, 200717 yr by The O.C.

You know, I had no problem with the new Impreza hatch as it was, regardless of the dodgy-looking grille treatment. I can live with that, because I like the packaging and the general Subaru "feel" (thumpy engine noises and all). But the "Outback Sport" always has to come along and ruin things.

Seriously, what other self-respecting small car these days offers a two-tone paint job? Hell, not even in the 1970s - the "bad old days" of small cars - could you get something that looked this mismatched. And that was back when they offered stripe kits to fill up the whole bodyside!

Cire hit it right - just sell the Impreza, and stop trying to make it butch. People who want that are already falling all over themselves to buy REAL two-tone posermobiles like the RAV4 or the Tucson. And anyway, don't you already have the Forester to fill that worthless niche?

Nice Previous gen Vibe...

That's not saying much though.

Nice Previous gen Vibe...

That's not saying much though.

Yes it is. The Vibe had useful cladding. Still ugly, but at least useful.

The bodyside molding and lower two-tone paint at least make it look different from all the bland plain looking other Subies.

I still think it's the best looking new Impreza variant. I do like the STi's 5 spoke rims, though.

I haven't see one of these.....