Driving Sports

For the last 7 years, the Subaru WRX has been the gold standard for all wheel drive sports sedans. The WRX took the import world by storm in 2002, offering 235 turbocharged horsepower from a 2-liter horizontally-opposed boxer engine and Subaru’s full-time symmetrical all wheel drive system. The car was offered as a sporty four-door “boy racer” sedan or a low-key wagon. But the real news was the price - coming in at about $24,000, the WRX raised the bar for affordable performance.

Fast forward to today and an affordable car with 235 horsepower isn’t even remarkable. Subaru introduced the STI version of the WRX in 2004 and took engine performance to 300 horsepower for $32,000, and today even Mazda’s MAZDASPEED3 offers 260 horses for $24,000. But the WRX is still an icon, and the 2009 version of the sporty Impreza sedan shows how the model has evolved.

In 2006, the WRX moved up to the same 2.5-liter engine that powers the STI. Some differences still exist, but the WRX now boasts 265 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque wrapped up in an all-new body. That’s a boost of 41 horses and 18 pound-feet over the 2008 model. And the new WRX still comes in under $30,000. In fact, our test car this week is the loaded “Premium” edition, and including the destination charge, the MSRP is $30,190. You can still get the base WRX sedan for $25,690.

For the Premium money, you get a nice AWD sport sedan with all the features you want. The Premium edition includes CD player and satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone support, controls on the steering wheel, air, cruise, remote keyless entry, heated front seats, power moonroof, and of course all the safety equipment that comes on modern cars. There's an optional touch-screen GPS navigation unit available for an additional $2,000 - personally, I'll stick with my Magellan Roadmate portable!

Even with the high performance engine, the WRX still delivers fuel economy of 18/25 MPG, which isn’t bad for a hot rod. The WRX comes stock with a 5-speed manual transmission, and as of the '08 model year, they've discontinued the automatic option for both WRX and STI.

Every car has a weak point, and with Subarus it always seems to be the interior. “Plastic-y” is the criticism that is constantly leveled at the cockpit of just about every Subaru. That’s true and valid, but the Subaru interior is really not any more plastic than any other Japanese car in its price range. Still, if Subaru wants to set the WRX apart, they’ll start with the interior. It’s the panels and switches and dash that need attention. The design center copied a bit of the “Spaceship Megatron” design from Subaru’s ill-fated Tribeca mini-van-SUV-crossover thing into the current WRX.

But in the final analysis, a car like the WRX isn’t for those who are picky about the finer appointments of the cabin – this car is made to be driven! And the driving experience is impressive. The car is low and fast and handles well. It’s comfortable and the sport seats really hold you place. Even Subaru aficionados were impressed when I laid into the gas pedal and slammed their heads against the seatbacks.

The bottom line on the WRX is that it’s still Subaru’s come-hither vehicle. Maybe once you’re on the lot, they’ll upsell you to an STI or even into the more luxurious Legacy GT, but the WRX still has the power to inspire, and since they’ve matured the body, the new 2009 WRX should attract a wider range of buyers. If you’re looking for great performance under $30,000, the Subaru WRX should be on your test drive list.

Watch the video review with a different perspective from editor Ryan Douthit