2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Milwaukee WI

November 18, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Content Editor



2009 Subaru Impreza Wagon
WRX

DriverSide Overview
In 2009, a rift will form in the house Impreza built. While the WRX used to be the odd middle child – purchased by rally-obsessed boy racers and active youngsters starting out families alike – it’s now moving upstream, closer to big brother WRX STI . This is because the old 224 horsepower WRX powertrain has now moved its way into the more sophisticated, everyday Impreza 2.5GT , giving the Impreza family four distinct models. The WRX, on the other hand, has been down at the Dojo practicing ‘Kyo-ka,’ Japanese for strengthening and Subaru’s philosophy behind the car’s increasingly hardcore demeanor. Now with 265 hp, stiffer suspension, more rigid stabilizer bars and plenty of STI-esque running gear, the WRX has ticked all the boxes necessary to make it the factory enthusiast’s car would-be STI owners and WRX tuners have lusted after since its introduction back in 2002.








What's to Like
The extra top-end power and mid-range torque give the WRX a long, useful powerband, making shifting less frequent. Permanent all-wheel drive adds to the model’s appeal for those forced to deal with variable weather conditions. The updated suspension is more resistant to understeer.

What's Not to Like
Fuel economy figures aren’t terribly good for a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The sedan’s styling, while an improvement over last year’s model, remains somewhat bland – unsurprising considering the new Impreza was launched with the five-door as its poster child.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The extra power from the larger turbo is immediately apparent from the instant you jump on the throttle in the WRX. There’s a strong thump from the midrange torque above 4,000 rpm, and the engine really comes alive from 5,500 rpm on, with a strong turbo whistle present in the soundtrack. The brakes have little trouble bringing the car down to speed, and while they can fade after repeated hard stops, required pedal pressure remains predictable. The symmetrical all-wheel drive system tends to understeer if you stay on the throttle through a corner, but trail braking will eliminate the issue by keeping weight over the front axle, and the car rewards smooth throttle inputs out of corners. Oversteer can be achieved by lifting off the throttle at the limit, the all-wheel drive system quickly gathering up slip angles without incident.

Engine and Drivetrain
The 2009 WRX is powered by the same turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter horizontal four-cylinder engine as the 2008 model, but aided by a larger turbocharger, intercooler and revised exhaust produces 265 horsepower and 244 lb-ft of torque. Power is driven through all four wheels via Subaru’s Symmetrical All-wheel Drive system and, in true performance car fashion, only a five-speed manual t...

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