Search Car Reviews



See all makes



Subaru Impreza WRX

We can’t see the Impreza appealing to anyone other than existing WRX owners.

Subaru Impreza WRX
  • Rating:
  • Latest deal price: from £16,977 to £19,720
  • On the road price: £18,345 - £49,995
  • For : Distinctive boxer engine, four-wheel traction, relaxing to drive
  • Against : Dirty engine, dated interior, drab styling, little progress over the old car
Driving
It’s the Impreza WRX’s driving experience that fans of the brand love. And owners of the old car will feel instantly at home. The 2.5-litre engine fires into life with the familiar offbeat noise of Subaru’s horizontally opposed layout. This is carried over from the former car, and shoots today’s hatch to 60mph in 6.5 seconds. However, the unit lacks character, doesn’t have the expected urgency, and makes the car feel nose-heavy. There’s too much movement on the springs, while weight transfer in corners means the Subaru can’t change direction in an instant. Grip is good, but the steering lacks sharpness and accuracy, while the agricultural five-speed gearbox is notchy and imprecise. However, the four-wheel-drive system means traction is excellent, and the Subaru will punch out of corners without scrabbling for grip. The ride is also supple.

Marketplace
Few cars enjoy such a dedicated following as the original Impreza. The current hatchback version is a real departure, yet to us appears simply too anonymous and generic. The WRX does regain some of the styling cues found on the old car: wider arches, deeper bumpers and a bonnet scoop. However, such obvious detailing looks dated. Subaru may struggle to compete against hot hatch rivals such as the Honda Civic Type-R, VW Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST and Mazda 3 MPS.

Owning
The conventional hatchback shape ensures the cabin is spacious, with the back seats proving a decent amount of legroom. The 301-litre boot is disappointing, though, with a high floor and sloping tailgate limiting versatility. The cabin is also a let-down; the materials seem cheap, and the grey plastics are unattractive. While build is solid, it feels old-fashioned. The steering column is multi-adjustable, and the sports seats are reasonably comfortable, but these do little to disguise the cabin’s drabness. At least it’s well-equipped, and the list price seems competitive. This is fortunate, though, given the WRX’s thirst; in our hands, it averaged just 23mpg.

For an alternative review of the latest Subaru Impreza visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous   Next >

Sponsored Results

1 Comment

Still great

Yes it's dirty (painful having to write a cheque for £425 of RFL) and the boot's not great and it could do with a sixth gear to help the fuel economy but the smoothness of the engine, suppleness of the ride and surefootedness of the 4WD more than make up for it.

It seems to be fashionable to knock the WRX at present but my last WRX, thirteen years ago cost me £19,800 and this one, with 1100 miles on the clock cost just £15k, the price of a 1.6 Zetec Focus. One of the greatest automotive bargains!

By lairdfp on 11 January, 2011, 9:05am

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.



Sponsored Results

More SUBARU IMPREZA WRX articles


Related Index Pages

Car Tax Calculator: Subaru Impreza
- Advertisement -

Pictures

Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX

Sponsored Results

Find New Cars

Find your new Subaru Impreza with our new car search:

Find New Cars
Find Used Cars

Find your Subaru Impreza with our used car search.

Find Used Cars
- Advertisement -