The New and Improved Impreza WRX

The 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX is better than ever. It has improved handling, brakes, and interior—and, oh, that turbocharged engine

by Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Quickness, practicality, all-wheel drive

The Bad: Plain interior, mediocre fuel economy

The Bottom Line: The WRX has gone more mainstream—and that's a good thing

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

Of all the Subarus I've driven, the new '08 Impreza WRX may be my dollar-for-dollar favorite (though I still lament the demise of the late Legacy station wagon (BusinessWeek.com, 3/27/07).

Most buyers go with the sedan, but the version of the new Subaru (SBUOF) WRX I like best is the four-door hatchback, which is not only quick, sporty, and fun to drive, but extremely practical. The regular Impreza hatchback is an economy car; the WRX is a speedster that competes with models such as Mazda's (MZDA) Mazdaspeed3 (BusinessWeek.com, 12/3/07) and BMW's (BMWG) Mini Cooper S (BusinessWeek.com, 5/29/07).

That's largely a function of the WRX's turbocharged engine. The regular Impreza and the related Outback Sport are powered by 2.5-liter, 170-hp four-cylinder engines and are far more sedate. In the WRX, turbocharging raises the horsepower rating to 224 hp—a lot of power for a compact car. Many driving enthusiasts prefer the Impreza STI, which has a 305-hp turbocharged four-banger under its hood, but that's far more power than most people need.

The WRX hatchback, which ranges in price from $24,850 to $29,595, also costs about $10,000 less than the STI. Of course, you can always save money by going with the regular Impreza hatchback, which starts at $18,140 with a stick shift and ranges up to $22,640 with a navigation system, satellite radio, and a few other amenities. But you're getting a lot more pizzazz (to say nothing of a cool-looking air scoop on the hood) if you step up to the WRX.

On top of that, the new WRX is better than the model it's replacing. At 173 in., it's two inches shorter than the previous WRX, yet has a wheelbase that's nearly four inches longer, which improves handling. The '08 also has a new double-wishbone rear suspension system and better brakes than in the old WRX. Plus, the interior is nicer than before and there's more head and shoulder room in both the front and rear seats.

Like other Subarus, the new WRX is packed with safety gear. The '08 Impreza is a "Top Safety Pick" of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning a top rating for both driver and passenger safety in frontal, side, and rear-impact crash tests. The Impreza comes standard not only with road-gripping all-wheel drive but with antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution; traction and stability control; seat belt pretensioners; active head restraints in the front seats to help prevent whiplash injuries; plus front, side, and cabin-length side-curtain airbags.

The downside of the WRX's turbocharged engine is reduced fuel economy. The WRX is rated to get 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, which is less than the regular Impreza (20 mpg, city/27 mpg, highway) but more than the STI (17/23). However, if my experience is any indication, the WRX will come in on the low end of the range. In a stretch of 296 miles of mixed driving, I got 19.7 mpg.

Subaru doesn't break out sales of the Impreza WRX, but the Impreza is the Japanese carmaker's hottest-selling U.S. model, especially since the new '08 versions came out last fall. Impreza sales were up 23%, to 5,376, in December, and up 13%, to 46,333, for all of 2007. The Impreza trails the bigger Legacy (2007 sales of 78,428) and Outback (56,079) but its sales are growing much faster.

Behind the Wheel

The new WRX has drawn a lot of criticism from car-buff reviewers, who complain that it doesn't have the raw look and feel of the old WRX. However, I figure most buyers of sporty cars don't end up doing rally-style driving any more than most SUV buyers end up doing serious off-roading. And I think most buyers will prefer the new WRX to the old one.