• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Photos & Videos

Subaru Impreza WRX - What the Auto Press Says

The WRX is legendary for good reason. It's fast, powerful and handles like a dream -- and has an affordable price.

The WRX is a performance-tuned variant of the highly-acclaimed Subaru Impreza, which ranks well in affordable small cars for its impressive road handling and excellent performance in federal government and insurance industry crash tests.

The WRX and WRX STI trims build on those high points with more horsepower and enhanced performance engineering, rendering them favorites of the rally racing community. Though test drivers favor the more performance-oriented STI trim over the base WRX, most say that its appeal is limited. In fact, Consumer Guide writes: "Turbocharged Impreza models offer quick acceleration and solid handling, abetted by their standard all-wheel drive. The WRX STi is faster still, but its raucous nature limits its appeal to serious driving enthusiasts only."

Refreshed in 2009 to make up for Subaru's faux pas of shaving off some of the WRX's edge in 2008, it carries on into the 2010 model year unchanged -- which leaves enthusiasts delighted.

The Impreza WRX and WRX STI are available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles.

• "The performance-tuned WRX is a card-carrying member of the sport compact club along with the Chevy Cobalt SS, Mazdaspeed 3, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and VW GTI -- and a strong member too, with swift acceleration that tops all comers in the class." -- Edmunds
• "While we hope to eventually see the 265-hp engine available with an automatic (and better yet, a dual-clutch gearbox like Mitsubishi offers), Subaru's new rides are still rugged, capable cars that provide a great deal of driving enjoyment." -- Popular Mechanics
• "The WRX and WRX STi have developed an almost cultlike following over the past few years because of their ability to accelerate hard and feel composed when tackling high-speed turns. Unless ultimate performance is your goal, the WRX is the more practical choice because it costs $9,000 less than the STi and it's rarely possible to use the STi's extra power on the street." -- Kansas City Star

The Bottom Line

For most shoppers in search of a performance-tuned car, the base 265-horsepower WRX is more than enough to leave their faces grinning from ear to ear. While the STI is more capable machine, it is engineered for thrill-seeking speed freaks who want to do with their car what 99 percent of drivers wouldn't dare... and probably shouldn't. Plus, the STI costs roughly $10K more than the base WRX. So, unless you're a track rat, there's really no point in forking over the extra dough.

Those seriously considering buying a WRX should also test drive the 291-horsepower Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Like the WRX, both of the Evo's GSR and MR trims feature a turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive and performance-tuning. While it's slightly slower than the base WRX, test drivers assert that its road manners are just as impressive. Not surprisingly, it too has built a cult-like following on the rally racing circuit.

Performance Dynamics

Test drivers praise the WRX for its powerful engine and thrilling handling dynamics. While most find the WRX STI better suited for high-performance driving, the WRX still impresses with its quick acceleration -- which, interestingly, bests the STI.

The Impreza WRX features a 2.5-liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged four-cylinder Subaru Boxer engine that generates 265-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 244 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. While the WRX STI trim comes equipped with the same engine, it produces considerably more power -- 305-horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 290 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The WRX and WRX STI Imprezas are mated to a fully synchronized five-speed manual transmission and close-ration six-speed manual transmission, respectively.

Unique to the STI is Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE), a system that enables drivers to choose from three vehicle performance modes that regulate its engine control unit (ECU) and fine-tune its electronically controlled throttle.

According to Subaru, the WRX and STI net a city/highway fuel economy of 25/18 mpg and 23/17, respectively.

Both the WRX and WRX STI come equipped with an engine-speed-sensing variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. Both vehicles' suspension systems are performance-tuned and independent. Subaru, however, claims that the STI is tuned especially for high-performance driving. All trims feature anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, though the STI adds a Brembo performance braking system, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) and a Traction Control System (TCS) to the mix.

All WRX models employ Subaru's Continuous All-Wheel Drive system, which defaults to a 50/50-split front-to-rear torque distribution. In the event that wheel speed differs between the front and rear axels, Subaru's all-wheel drive system will distribute more power to the wheels holding the most traction. The STI's all-wheel drive system slightly differs in that it has a Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD), which analyzes vehicle inputs to determine optimal torque distribution.

• "Although its power peak is well short of the STI's 305 hp, the WRX weighs some 220 pounds less than the STI, and it feels almost as quick." -- Automobile Magazine
• "Lag is evident on both the WRX and WRX STi, but those models are very strong above 3500 rpm." -- Consumer Guide
• "[T]he revised WRX now blasts to 60 mph from a standstill in an electrifying 4.7 seconds. That's 1.1 seconds quicker than the 2008 model-and get this-0.3 second quicker than we've managed in a WRX STI, the supposedly higher-performance version of the WRX." -- Car and Driver
• "Ride quality on the WRX models is acceptable considering the performance, but some drivers may object to the extra levels of road noise." -- Edmunds
• "A few laps at a road course with a high-speed lane change and a slalom section revealed the WRX's tenacious grip. But close to the limit it has a tendency to understeer. Turn-in isn't nearly as crisp as the STi's, but the WRX's overall handling characteristics are still impressive for a family-hauling sedan. And let's be honest, if it was as good as the STi, why would that car even exist?" -- Popular Mechanics
• "The WRX has always been a great-handling car because of its all-wheel drive that distributes drive torque equally to the front and rear wheels. If the front or rear wheels slip, the center differential compensates by sending more power to the wheels with the most traction." -- Kansas City Star
• "The 310-mile run here from my house in Northern Virginia was a total joy, even with the complication of intermittent snow and ice on mountain roads. The all-wheel-drive system in the Impreza WRX handled the mess with ease. Straightaway runs on dry roads were nothing short of exhilarating." -- Washington Post