2010 Subaru Impreza WRX vs 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

2010 Subaru Impreza WRX

The WRX is available in both hatchback and sedan forms, but only comes with the five-speed manual transmission. The WRX is the sportiest Impreza.  It's powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Subaru Impreza WRX is an engaging, appealing car, and almost unique in the marketplace. It is fast and fun to drive yet practical. Based on the Impreza compact, they are economical to operate (given their performance) and, more than ever, they make excellent cars for commuters who like a little spice in their daily drive.

Powering the Subaru WRX

The WRX gets a boosted version of the 2.5 GT's engine that puts out 265 hp and 244 lb-ft, and a five-speed manual is mandatory. The STI ups the turbocharged output even further to 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, and it boasts a six-speed manual. All engines send their power to all four wheels via the standard all-wheel-drive system. The WRX suspension is tuned to have high-rate springs, large-diameter stabilizer bars and dedicated damping force tuning for sharper handling response.

2010 WRX Design

 The WRX comes with most of the Impreza's options as standard and has specialized wheels, tires and suspension tuning for increased handling ability. The STI is also only available in hatchback form and gains more muscular body panels, an upgraded suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes and aggressively bolstered sport seats.

Inside the Subaru WRX

Standard equipment includes tailpipe tips for WRX four-door sedans, and aluminum-alloy pedal covers, including one for the driver's footrest.  The interior of the 2010 WRX has a businesslike feel to it. Metallic inlays flank the center controls, and the center console houses an optional navigation system. All models come with a 60/40-split fold-down backseat. The hatch gets a cargo area cover and tie-down hooks. The current WRX models are smoother and more comfortable than pre-2008 versions, and easy to live with during the typical commute. Their 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 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

 A well-equipped MR Touring trim level is new for 2010 and includes a moonroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats and automatic headlights. Subtle styling changes include revised taillights and a new antenna. The Evolution (or "Evo") is based on the Lancer compact sedan. The two cars don't have much in common, however. Whereas the regular Lancer is a perfectly adequate economy car that's easy to lose in a parking lot, the pumped-up, flared-fendered Evo is turbocharged, boisterous and ready to lay down rubber on a racetrack.  Packing a powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, the Lancer Evolution quickly became a successful rally car. Finally, for the 2003 model year, Mitsubishi started importing official road-going Lancer Evolutions to the North American market.

Powering the Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution performance sedan uses a 291-horsepower turbocharged engine and features a standard all-wheel-drive system that features three selectable modes for various surfaces. Hard-core enthusiasts may find that the new car feels a bit blunted compared to the razor's-edge performance of its predecessor. The trade-off, however, is in refinement, as the Evo X is leaps and bounds ahead of the Evo VI by this measure. Yet it remains one of the most capable cars in existence for the money. The Lancer Evolution's optional twin-clutch automated manual works much like Volkswagen's DSG gearbox, with the next gear at hand as soon as the previous gear is released. This is designed to produce lightning-fast shifts, which are performed automatically or with paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Mitsubishi Evo Design

With a new generation, the Evo has become considerably more stylish than its taxi-like predecessor while continuing to offer impressive performance for the buck. The current Evo is available in two trim levels -- GSR and MR. The GSR is intended to attract traditional driving enthusiasts, as it offers more aggressive suspension settings and a slick five-speed manual transmission. The pricier MR features a marginally softer suspension and Mitsubishi's new automated twin-clutch manual transmission, which is operated via paddle shifters and also functions as a traditional automatic when not in manual mode. Mitsubishi has done its homework with this transmission -- it's one of the quickest in the business when you're firing off full-throttle upshifts. Mitsubishi says the Evolution's shark like nose was inspired by the air intakes on fighter jets. The current Lancer's forward-leaning stance is already one of the more aggressive shapes among compact cars, and the Evolution looks even more so.

Inside the Mitsubishi Evo

Although the Evo's exterior styling has taken a significant step forward, the interior can't hide its humble econocar roots. The control layout is functional, but there's no getting around the fact that you can get essentially the same interior in a base Lancer sedan. Overall, the interior looks similar to the regular Lancer's, except it has heavily bolstered Recaro racing seats.

Conclusions

The Mitsubishi Evo is one of the few true competitors of the Subaru 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. The Lancer Evolution may have begun as an average economy car; the Evo can accelerate and corner with all but the fastest production cars on the market. The 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, technically known as the Lancer Evolution X, offers a level of performance typically found in European sports cars and sport sedans that cost considerably more. As a bonus, the Evo looks the part of a legitimate high-performance car as well. The Evo X's sports-carlike handling and responsiveness offers the ability to go around tight corners quickly and securely is rivaled by only a handful of cars on the road today. Acceleration, too, is top-notch, as the Evo can give far more expensive cars a run for their money. The Impreza WRX starts at $24,995, while the 2010 Evo starts at $33,590. These are both very capable vehicles as far as performance goes,  and affordable as a bonus.