2010 Subaru Impreza WRX

The WRX is the sportiest Impreza, competing with the Mazdaspeed3 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It's powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The WRX is available in both hatchback and sedan forms, but only comes with the five-speed manual transmission. The WRX may cost more than your typical front-wheel-drive compact, and the performance and all-wheel-drive come with a mileage penalty. Still, considering its performance, WRX models are a great deal, offering lots of performance for the dollar in a car that's easy to live with every day. The Subaru Impreza WRX is a driver's car. They aren't available with automatics and leather upholstery is not an option. Yet buyers seeking a smaller car with lots of safety features should like the WRX. The WRX models are superb and seem to get better every year. Subaru completely redesigned the WRX for 2008.The power was increased and the suspension was retuned for 2009, and more aggressive body cladding returned. For 2010, WRX gets more aggressive side sills between its wheel wells, while the STI gets black Alcantara upholstery with bright red stitching.

Driving the WRX

 The suspension is tuned to have high-rate springs, large-diameter stabilizer bars and dedicated damping force tuning for sharper handling response. For the first time, the WRX comes with Vehicle Dynamics Control, which can thankfully be switched off with the push of a button, and other goodies buyers get include 17-inch 10-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels. All-wheel drive comes standard. All models come with Vehicle Dynamics Control and a sophisticated anti-lock brake system with electronic brake-force distribution. The WRX gets excellent ratings in crash tests. Despite their racy appearance and serious performance, the WRX is quite refined. The current WRX models are smoother and more comfortable than pre-2008 versions, and easy to live with during the typical commute.

2010 Subaru WRX Power

 Both are powered by a 2.5-liter, 265-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder, arranged in Subaru's familiar horizontally opposed, or flat-four, configuration. The WRX offers a bang for the buck that surpasses many more expensive sports sedans. The engine of the WRX remains largely unchanged, with the same 2.5 liter displacement and horizontal, four-cylinder layout, though a new intercooler, turbocharger and intake manifold mean the power now comes earlier as the midrange is emphasized. Peak numbers remain the same as in the previous generation car, however, at 224 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 226 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm, or 400 and 800 revs sooner, respectively. Likewise, the same transmissions are carried over, unchanged, comprising the five-speed manual and optional four-speed automatic. Symmetrical all-wheel drive, a Subaru trademark, is of course standard equipment.

2010 WRX Cabin

Standard equipment includes tailpipe tips for WRX four-door sedans, and aluminum-alloy pedal covers, including one for the driver's footrest. The WRX is available as a four-door sedan with a conventional trunk, or as a five-door hatchback. The hatch adds nearly 70 percent more cargo capacity. At about $25,000, the WRX models come well equipped, with nice seats in carbon black checkered accented by red stitching, automatic climate control, a good stereo and more horsepower than all but a couple cars in this size/price class. The WRX cabins are roomier than previous versions, with an overall improvement in appointments and finish quality. They're offered with high-grade audio and an optional navigation system.

2010 WRX STI

The STI version is essentially its own car, and available only as a hatchback.STi stands for Subaru Technica International, the high-performance division that made the WRX famous through considerable success in the World Rally Championship. Nearly every major mechanical system is unique to the STI: six-speed manual transmission, special suspension and brakes, unique interior appointments and a high-tech, manually adjustable all-wheel-drive system. Yet the STi's centerpiece is a higher-tech, higher-boost version of the 2.5-liter four, generating 305 horsepower.Its acceleration times match those delivered by exotic sports cars such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Conclusions

The WRX and STI have achieved cult status among driving enthusiasts and racers. These cars have decent room in the back seat and good cargo capacity. Their all-wheel-drive system can legitimately be considered a safety and foul-weather advantage, even if, with the powerful, turbocharged engines in the WRX, it's marketed as a performance enhancement, a role it also fills. Safety features such as six airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with brake assist, traction-control and stability-control are standard. There is no question the new car is more refined, which is exactly what Subaru wanted. Visit the official Subaru Impreza WRX site for further details and pricing. The first optional package, Premium, adds fog lights, a four-piece ground effects kit with rear spoiler, dual chrome exhaust tips, heated side mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, two-level heated front seats and steering wheel-mounted audio controls for the upgraded 10-speaker sound system with in-dash 6-disc changer also with MP3/WMA capability.  The second and final options package includes all of the above, but substitutes the audio system for a 100 Watt system with a single-disc AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA player integrated into the 7-inch touch-screen LCD that provides navigation data and a multifunctional trip computer (fuel economy, driving range, outside temperature, calculator and maintenance log). Sirius satellite radio is also included.