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2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Quality Review

March 30, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Front seating is pleasantly comfortable, even during long stints
Edmunds

Interior storage is poor with a small center console
ConsumerGuide

Relatively Spartan cabins with decent but not great materials quality
Cars.com

The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX lineup impresses with its versatility and passenger room, but some reviews read by TheCarConnection.com still point out materials quality issues.

Both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Subaru Impreza WRX offer seating for five, which is no surprise, but the fact that four adults can fit for long rides is a huge plus. Jalopnik reviewers proclaim that the Subaru Impreza WRX's "Alcantara-covered Recaro seats look great and feel better, and any true driver's car that can accommodate four adults in comfort is a winner in our book." Edmunds similarly notes that "front seating is pleasantly comfortable, even during long stints behind the wheel" of the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. In back, Edmunds reports that "the rear seats provide ample headroom.”

Aside from passenger space, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX boasts a respectable amount of usable cargo room—on the hatchbacks, at least. Car and Driver is quick to point out that the Subaru Impreza WRX STi is "a practical hatchback packed in flaring fenders," with Cars.com mentioning the available "19 cubic feet" of cargo space, which is "competitive with the competition." However, for those opting for the conservatively styled Subaru Impreza WRX sedan, Edmunds warns that, "in terms of cargo space, the WRX comes up short—not just because of the fairly small trunk (10 cubic feet), but due to an uneven and sloped floor." In addition to the rear storage space, both versions of the Subaru Impreza WRX offer a small amount of interior storage, although ConsumerGuide notes that "interior storage is poor with a small center console and just average glovebox and door map pockets."

One area where Subaru has traditionally trailed its competitors is in terms of materials quality. When Subaru redesigned the WRX for 2008, materials were a major area of improvement, and that generally carries through onto the new 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX. While most reviewers appreciate the step up in quality, Edmunds cautions, "Upon closer inspection, the plastic surfaces (which have the appearance of softer-touch materials) are actually textured hard plastic that seems to amplify the relatively low amount of road noise." Cars.com also reports that the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and regular WRX feature "relatively Spartan cabins with decent but not great materials quality." Finally, ConsumerGuide points out that "while the materials look nice and show good assembly quality, they're comprised mainly of cheap feeling, hard plastic."

On the positive side, as some reviewers contend, overall assembly quality is fine on the Subaru Impreza WRX lineup. However, that doesn't necessarily reflect itself in terms of road noise. ConsumerGuide reviewers note that "the hatchback is particularly susceptible to wind, road, and bump noise."

Conclusion

The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX's seats are comfortable enough for an all-day drive, but the sedan's limited cargo space might prove annoying.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Front seating is pleasantly comfortable, even during long stintsEdmundsInterior storage is poor with a small center consoleConsumerGuideRelatively Spartan cabins with decent but not great materials qualityCars.com The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX lineup impresses with its versatility and passenger room, but some reviews read by TheCarConnection.com still point out materials quality issues. Both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Subaru Impreza WRX offer seating for five, which is no surprise, but the fact that four adults can fit for long rides is a huge plus. Jalopnik reviewers proclaim that the Subaru Impreza WRX's "Alcantara-covered Recaro seats look great and feel better, and any true driver's car that can accommodate four adults in comfort is a winner in our book." Edmunds similarly notes that "front seating is pleasantly comfortable, even during long stints behind the wheel" of the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. In back, Edmunds reports that "the rear seats provide ample headroom.” Aside from passenger space, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX boasts a respectable amount of usable cargo room—on the hatchbacks, at least. Car and Driver is quick to point out that the Subaru Impreza WRX STi is "a practical hatchback packed in flaring fenders," with Cars.com mentioning the available "19 cubic feet" of cargo space, which is "competitive with the competition." However, for those opting for the conservatively styled Subaru Impreza WRX sedan, Edmunds warns that, "in terms of cargo space, the WRX comes up short—not just because of the fairly small trunk (10 cubic feet), but due to an uneven and sloped floor." In addition to the rear storage space, both versions of the Subaru Impreza WRX offer a small amount of interior storage, although ConsumerGuide notes that "interior storage is poor with a small center console and just average glovebox and door map pockets." One area where Subaru has traditionally trailed its competitors is in terms of materials quality. When Subaru redesigned the WRX for 2008, materials were a major area of improvement, and that generally carries through onto the new 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX. While most reviewers appreciate the step up in quality, Edmunds cautions, "Upon closer inspection, the plastic surfaces (which have the appearance of softer-touch materials) are actually textured hard plastic that seems to amplify the relatively low amount of road noise." Cars.com also reports that the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and regular WRX feature "relatively Spartan cabins with decent but not great materials quality." Finally, ConsumerGuide points out that "while the materials look nice and show good assembly quality, they're comprised mainly of cheap feeling, hard plastic." On the positive side, as some reviewers contend, overall assembly quality is fine on the Subaru Impreza WRX lineup. However, that doesn't necessarily reflect itself in terms of road noise. ConsumerGuide reviewers note that "the hatchback is particularly susceptible to wind, road, and bump noise." ConclusionThe 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX's seats are comfortable enough for an all-day drive, but the sedan's limited cargo space might prove annoying. 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STYLING | [7 out of 10] Jalopnik: "STi...carries an air of purposeful muscularity" Cars.com: "Impreza is athletically styled, avoiding the bulbous look that plagues some hatchbacks" Edmunds: "Simple and intuitive climate control knobs are likewise well-placed" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The MazdaSpeed3 is a sharply styled beast with similar turbo thrills, less turbo lag, and an equally roomy interior; economy is surprising, but front-wheel drive only means that torque steer can give unpleasant driving surprises—especially on less-than-perfect pavement. Mitsubishi's turbocharged Lancer Ralliart is nearly as fast as the legendary Evo and a good match for the WRX, but its interior doesn't match the WRX's quality, and it, too, suffers from turbo lag. The Chevrolet Cobalt SS is a surprisingly good performer, but also front-wheel drive; GM's new direct-injected turbo four is blistering and refined, handling is grin-inducing, and the low-rent interior is Avis abysmal. Dodge's Caliber SRT4 melds a roomy, convenient hatch layout with good performance stats, but refinement is sorely lacking in every sense and the interior is down there with the Cobalt's. The STi directly competes with the BMW 1-Series and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Compared to the STi, the Evolution is hard-edged, with a firmer ride but handling that's crisper in the tightest corners; the experience is a bit twitchy, and ride quality is barely good enough for daily driving. The Evolution also has the advantage of a wonderful automatic-clutch manual transmission that's our favorite manu-matic option to date. The 135i is a worthy competitor, but it has a somewhat cramped interior and rides like a bigger, heavier car; it's remarkably close in size to the 3-Series, and between the two TheCarConnection.com prefers the 3.

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See the Subaru Impreza WRX in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2006 | 2004

Comments (1 total)

  1. By erik #1, Posted: 9/11/2009

    My WRX need a new engine after 1400 miles. The local dealer said he will order a new one and pick up the cost but I was very disappointed. Whatch out!

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