NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Rivals battle for small car market

NZ Herald
24 Nov, 2013 04:30 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Golf TSI 90kW pushes Subaru Impreza X as top contender

This year, Subaru essentially pulled the plug on its Impreza range. It axed what was a comprehensive line-up and replaced it with a single model: the X hatchback, which will be ordered and distributed in limited runs. The first allocation of 250 are sold; more to come in 2014.

The move partly proves the worth of the Impreza-based XV crossover, which continues in several different specifications. But it also illustrates how much things have changed in the small-car segment.

Until recently, Subaru had the luxury of being a pseudo-premium contender in the small-car segment. Whether it was because of its motorsport heritage, unique engine technology or trademark all-wheel drive, Subaru was considered by most to be a cut above small-car convention.

That's no longer the case, as upmarket brands move towards populist pricing. The main culprit is the Volkswagen Golf. Importer European Motor Distributors has made a huge effort to put the new seventh-generation model head-to-head with mainstream brands. VW now offers a 1.4-litre TSI Golf automatic at $34,750 (or $32,250 for the manual) and it's far from basic. That's a big threat to any small-car maker that has been perceived as a bit special in the past.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

So Golf is giving the small-car market a push.

In the simplest possible terms, the Impreza X is Subaru New Zealand pushing back. It has no intention of fighting on volume, but there is a moral victory at stake. The powertrains of this pair are different in character, because both makers like to go their own way with engine and transmission technology: Subaru is inextricably linked with horizontally opposed (or "boxer") engines, while VW is a pioneer of low-capacity, high-output engines.

The Impreza's 2.0-litre flat four makes 110kW/196Nm and drives through Subaru's development of continuously variable transmission technology, which it calls Subaru Lineartronic Transmission (SLT).

Golf's 1.4-litre turbo mill makes an impressive 90kW and outdoes its rival on torque, with 200Nm. VW's signature transmission is the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), a seven-speed manual with an automated twin clutch system.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Both powertrains offer plenty of character - even if there's less boxer "throb" in the Impreza than in previous generations. With the right driving technique the Subaru's transmission is the ideal conduit for its 196Nm, but if you're heavy with the throttle things can turn thrashy quickly. There is some relief with a pseudo-manual mode, which can be operated either with the gearlever or the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The Golf is the opposite: it revels in spirited driving. The turbo engine thrives on revs and the DSG changes gears with alacrity. It gets better the harder you push it, although the Golf lacks the manual-shift paddles of its Japanese rival (they are an option).

DSG still has a few limitations in urban driving - especially in low-speed manoeuvring or on hills, where the automated clutches can slip and shudder. Low-speed stutter is often a weak point of continuously variable-type gearboxes as well, but Subaru seems to have the SLT's smoothness pretty well sorted. It's certainly superior to the Golf's DSG in tricky parking situations.

The days of thirsty Subarus are long gone, with the Impreza X managing 6.8 litres per 100km in the Combined cycle. Impressive, but no match for the lighter, smaller-capacity Golf: it delivers an astonishing 5.2 litres in the same fuel-economy test.

Volkswagen Golf TSi. Photo / David Linklater
Volkswagen Golf TSi.
Volkswagen Golf TSi.
Volkswagen Golf TSi. Photo / David Linklater
Volkswagen Golf TSi. Photo / David Linklater
Subaru Impreza X. Photo / David Linklater
Subaru Impreza X. Photo / David Linklater
Subaru Impreza X. Photo / David Linklater
Subaru Impreza X. Photo / David Linklater

Image 1 of 9: Volkswagen Golf TSi. Photo / David Linklater

You could be forgiven for thinking neither car is particularly focused on dynamic driving. The Impreza rides on paltry 16-inch wheels ... but still looks macho next to the Golf on its 15-inch rims. However, both provide a pleasing drive. The Golf feels more nimble and responsive, and has the better ride. The Impreza has more substantial steering and superior chassis balance.

Discover more

New Zealand

Little or large, these two are big-time performers

29 Sep 04:30 PM
New Zealand

Skoda versus Honda

14 Oct 04:30 PM
New Zealand

Peugeot 2008 v Holden Trax

04 Nov 04:30 PM

Of course, the Subaru's unique selling proposition is all-wheel drive, which brings benefits in active safety and extra traction when you need it. There's no way a front-drive car can feel as surefooted in adverse conditions as a four-wheel drive one.

These cars are about the same size (wheelbases within 10mm of each other) and offer similar levels of spaciousness. However, there's no contest when it comes to cabin quality: the VW is trimmed in carefully chosen tones and tactile materials, while the Subaru is a sea of hard black plastic by comparison. The latest Impreza is a huge improvement on past generations, but still a long way behind the upmarket environment of the Golf.

Consider the bigger picture and the Golf is a much more sophisticated car than the Impreza, no doubt about that. Its engineering, build quality and cabin ambience are outstanding compared with most mainstream small cars.

In some respects, the Impreza X can still claim that moral victory. It's cheaper than the Golf TSI 90kW, brings four-wheel drive to the segment and has some detail touches that its rival lacks: dual climate control for the air conditioning, reversing camera and those paddle shifters. But the Golf's overwhelming sense of engineering integrity and quality takes this contest - a lot of car for the money.

The bottom line

We totally understand if you're swayed by the Subaru's broad range of abilities and superior equipment levels. But the sheer sophistication and powertrain efficiency of the Volkswagen mean a win for the Golf here.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

06 Jul 06:00 PM
New Zealand

Teen's sudden cancer diagnosis puts close-knit family on 'rollercoaster ride'

06 Jul 06:00 PM
New Zealand

Morning quiz: Which country is the world's largest wool producer?

06 Jul 05:58 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

06 Jul 06:00 PM

The change is part of the agency scrapping hundreds of social houses.

Teen's sudden cancer diagnosis puts close-knit family on 'rollercoaster ride'

Teen's sudden cancer diagnosis puts close-knit family on 'rollercoaster ride'

06 Jul 06:00 PM
Morning quiz: Which country is the world's largest wool producer?

Morning quiz: Which country is the world's largest wool producer?

06 Jul 05:58 PM
What can the Government do to change voters' minds on the cost of living?

What can the Government do to change voters' minds on the cost of living?

06 Jul 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP