Subaru Impreza WRX 2009 Review

Subaru Impreza WRX

Road Test

Also consider: Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart (more here), Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mazda3 MPS

About our ratings

Subaru's Impreza has fallen a long way in recent years. It wasn't that long ago that it was hero-worshipped as 'the' low-cost performance icon. Then came a series of highly questionable styling decisions for the little sedan, before the MY07 'new generation' model limited the car to hatch-only status. At the same time Subaru decided that the car needed less emphasis on performance and more on refinement.

History shows it was the wrong move. But Subaru has been quick to rectify it with the new MY09 model. It put the performance back in and added a sedan to sit alongside the hatch. So the question is -- has the WRX regained its lost mojo?

The time I spent in an MY08 WRX hatch left me feeling somewhat disappointed. For a car that had been one of the most talked-about over the past decade, the so-called 'refinement' was a major let down when I was expecting raw performance. I was anticipating a car that would leave me wanting more, but instead I got an adequate car but an uninspiring experience.

Since then the game has changed -- namely Mitsubishi has re-entered the sub-$45,000 performance car market with the Lancer Ralliart. That left Subaru with only two options: keep up or get left behind.

Thankfully Subaru appears to have realised the error of its ways and given the WRX a dose of the right medicine; more grunt and sharper handling, wrapped up in a sedan package once again (more here).

It takes no time to feel the difference once you are behind the wheel. The unmistakable flat-four growl is backed up by immense thrust from right at the very bottom of the rev range. In fact, the engine feels so strong you could mistake it for its bigger brother found in the STi.

Even after a week in the car the shove-you-in-the-back feeling every time you launched it off the line never got tiring.

What did get frustrating was the five-speed manual gearbox. Even though its action and feel was an improvement over other Subaru shifters we've sampled in the past, it was still unimpressive.

Obviously Subaru needs something to differentiate the WRX from the six-speed equipped STi but the WRX certainly suffers for the lack of the extra cog. This becomes especially obvious if you spend anytime on freeways or motorways, where the engine is revving too high to let you relax and cruise. This has a big impact on the overall driving experience and drags the whole car down.

The chassis and suspension changes have certainly made the MY09 a more aggressive and responsive car. Even around town you can feel the effects with the open road only magnifying the good work of the Subaru engineers. Ride comfort is also good for a car of this kind.

One of the major criticisms of the new hatch when it was launched in 2007 was the harsh interior plastics that were underwhelming to the senses. Unfortunately nothing has changed in this department with the same layout and dull plastics reveal the car's heritage as a sub-$25,000 small passenger car.

On a positive note our test car was equipped with optional leather seats and a sunroof which lifted the overall presentation. Indeed the leather was more impressive than some European cars we've sampled recently.

Which brings us to the exterior styling -- a controversial topic when it comes to Subaru.

The sedan is slightly longer than the hatch overall, despite retaining the same wheelbase, height and width. While the updates around the grille have undoubtedly improved the front-end styling, the rear-end is a different proposition.

After a week with the car it's still hard to make a clear judgment. From some angles the tail shares more than a passing resemblance to an old Hyundai Accent. But look at it a different way and it looks taut and muscular. It's a personal judgment potential buyers will have to make for themselves.

So what's the verdict? In many ways the biggest failing of the previous WRX was it was trying to be something it's not. It simply doesn't have the refinement and polish of the European hot hatches. But they lack the sheer performance and fun that you get from the Impreza!

With the MY09 model the WRX has rediscovered itself. Not only is the performance back but so is the passion. More than anything else it has left me wanting more. Perhaps that's the biggest compliment you can pay the reborn WRX.