Based on the same platform as the Impreza Sedan, Subaru developed the Wagon to offer more trunk space, so the husbands could claim that they bought a family vehicle.
Subaru became a highly successful vehicle due to the World Rally Championship, where it gained a great image. Despite its look, the car was rock-solid on the reliability index and great on slippery surfaces, regardless of the engine version.
While the engineers burned the midnight oil, Subaru's designers seemed to be off-duty, and the car's design was one of the most unsuccessful ones in the brand's history. Its big, round headlights attracted the nickname "bugeye." A pair of big fog-lights was installed on the lower part of the bumper, depending on the trim level. The station wagon version featured a longer hood with an additional set of windows behind the rear doors. To cut costs, the carmaker fitted the exact same frameless doors as the sedan version.
Inside, the Impreza Wagon kept the same bolstered seats for the front passengers or sport-bucket seats for the WRX version. In the back, the carmaker installed a split-folding bench, which could expand the trunk space.
Under the hood, Subaru installed a small choice of three engines ranged between 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter. While the all-wheel-drive system was fitted as standard for the latter, the former was offered with front-wheel-drive as well.