Subaru introduced the Impreza's second generation in 2000 and added two facelifts for it in 2002 and 2007.
Just two years after the car's launch, Subaru changed the front fascia to calm the spirits. It managed to create a better-looking car with that. But it felt like it could do more. This time, the design department had more time to design it.
The so-called "hawkeye" version came with a completely redesigned front end. The carmaker introduced a new grille that paid homage to its former parent company, Nakajima Aircraft. Its grille evoked the first jet-engine aircraft built in Japan, with the middle section resembling the fuselage and flanked by two jet engines. Its headlights featured curved lines combined in sharp angles, similar to a hawk eye. In the back, Subaru changed the taillights and moved the clear-lens reversing lights at the lower part instead of the upper side from the 2000 and 2002 versions.
Inside, the carmaker kept most of the interior parts from the 2000 model, but it added new materials and a few changes. Subaru changed the buttons for the climate control unit on the center stack and, depending on the option, changed the sound system with a better CD-stereo.
Under the hood, Subaru changed the engine lineup. There was a new 1.5-liter engine that replaced the older one and a new 2.5-liter unit for selected markets. Both were naturally aspirated and featured a low-range gear to help the driver when pulling a trailer. For the turbocharged WRX version, the carmaker used the 2.5-liter flat-four engine and increased the power over its predecessor.