Subaru Impreza WRX History
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The Subaru WRX and STI are that brand's factory hot rods, appealing to an entirely different audience than do the basic, fuel-efficient Impreza compact sedans and hatchbacks from which they're derived. They compete most directly with their archrival, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, which is also a compact sedan with a high-performance turbo four and all-wheel-drive. The WRX (referring to the World Rally series where Subaru made its reputation for tough all-wheel-drive performance cars) is the "base" performance version, and the STI (standing originally for Subaru Technica International) is the hottest model. The WRX and STI are well respected by tuners, and Evo-versus-STI battles take on aspects of West Side Story's Sharks and Jets. But they've never been particularly cheap, especially given their severe economy-car interiors, easily running over $30,000 for top-end models.
Two generations of Subaru's fierce performance car have been sold in the U.S.: the 2004-2007 model, as either a two-door or a four-door model, followed by the current five-door hatchback version, starting in the 2008 model year. The first four years encompassed quite a few running changes, with fender flares for 2005 and new front-end styling introduced in 2006. In 2007, the last year of the sedan body, a WRX STI Limited model was also launched, with amenities that added a bit of luxury to the severe standard model, including leather upholstery, optional moonroof, trunk spoiler, and fog lights.
The first year of the new design, in 2008, wasn't particularly well received by WRX fans: It was viewed as underpowered, and though the hatchback body was shorter and better suited to performance use than the Impreza four-door sedan, it caused grumbles as well. For 2009, its 2.5-liter turbocharged flat four engine got a boost of 41 horsepower, to 265 hp, with the STI now rated at 305 hp. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, with an optional (and somewhat outdated) four-speed automatic offered as well. Maximum performance comes from revving the engines, as road tests report a fair degree of turbo lag on both models.
While they may be compact hatchbacks, the WRX and STI are hardly fuel sippers. For 2010, the EPA rates the WRX at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, with the STI even lower, at 17/23 mpg. Still, they're bought for performance, not fuel efficiency; that's what the base Impreza is for. The current generation gets high marks for ride and roominess, as well as its acceleration and roadholding. Downsides are a high level of cabin noise and an occasionally balky shift linkage on the manual. For the 2011 model year, a four-door sedan version will be added back to the range, which now comprises only the hatchback model.
