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SUBARU IMPREZA WRX REVIEW
It’s a gutsy move and one that’s sure to get existing WRX – and WRX STI - owners riled up, but Subaru’s decision to gift the 2011 WRX range with the STI’s wider bodywork is a laudable one.
Not only does it give the WRX vastly more aggressive visual style, but there are dynamic improvements as a result.
The widebody panels facilitate an increase in track width of 35mm at the front and 40mm at the rear, and tyres now have 10mm more tread width. Both endow the WRX with greater lateral stability, while the wider tyres increase overall grip.
Wheelbase has grown 5mm too, giving a slight improvement to high-speed stability.
Or at least that’s the theory. To demonstrate the 2011 WRX’s performance, Subaru Australia invited the media to Victoria’s Southern coast, where it was put to the test on winding backroads and gravel tracks.
The engine is unchanged from the MY2010 model’s 2.5 litre turbocharged flat four, which produces 195kW at 6000rpm and 343Nm of torque between 2500 and 4800rpm.
The latter numbers are important – at 2500rpm the WRX’s engine produces more torque than the STI manual, and the STI automatic’s peak torque figure is just 7Nm more than the WRX’s.
You can feel the difference on the road. With more low-down urge and an appreciably wide torque band, the WRX pulls cleanly from low RPM right up to 6000rpm, just 500rpm shy of redline.
The tractability of this engine is fantastic, and it allows a great deal of flexibility in how the car can be driven.
Whether using low-end torque to accelerate while in a higher gear, or using revs to provide maximum power in a lower gear, the WRX seems to be adaptable to either technique.
For maximum performance though, keep revs high. The turbo doesn’t start to supply peak boost until just under 2500rpm, and letting the tachometer needle drop below this number results in rather sluggish progress.
Like all turbocharged engines there’s a bit of throttle lag, but it’s a relatively brief pause that can be quickly adjusted to.
The sole gearbox available is a five-speed manual, which has a nice shift action and clearly defined gates.
An extra ratio would be of great benefit on the highway, but, given the WRX’s performance intent, it’s excusable. Besides, compared to the STI’s six-speed manual, the WRX’s five-speeder is 20kg lighter.
Power is taken to all four wheels with the viscous centre differential set to a default 50-50 torque split. The front differential is open, but the rear diff is a Torsen limited-slip item.
Aside from an increase in track width, the WRX’s rear suspension has also come in for some minor revisions.
Bushing materials have been changed in favour of stiffer items that give greater control over toe and camber. The 17-inch alloy wheels are made by Hitachi and measure 17x8 +53, with the OE tyres 10mm wider than before.
Although the wheel/tyre package is wider, each corner is now 400g lighter, improving suspension response.
Out on the road, the WRX is remarkably nimble. The level of grip it has in tight cornering is reassuring when the road is narrow and you’re not sure what’s over the next crest, and steering response is crisp.
However, the WRX lacks refinement, with sharp bumps and potholes eliciting loud clunks from the suspension and coarse pavement generating a great deal of tyre roar at highway speeds.
The tiller feels overly light too, but it does at least make reefing it from lock to lock a less straining exercise.
The suspension tune is near-perfect for blasting across poorly-maintained country roads. There is ample suspension travel and quite supple spring-rates and compliant damper tuning iron out even the lumpiest tarmac.
It’s no boat though, and body pitch and roll is kept to a minimum by the swaybars and dampers.
That said, we did manage to have the dampers riding on their bumpstops a couple of times.
Crossing a rapid succession of bumps tends to make each damper ‘pack down’, especially when one side of the car is already loaded up in a corner.
Even so, it proved difficult to upset the WRX’s composure, and its handling is impressively benign. Power out of a gravel-strewn corner with the stability control off and you can get the tail out, but on tarmac the WRX is very hard to unstick.
On a cruise down to Phillip Island from Melbourne airport, the WRX offered a comfortable and smooth ride – despite the aforementioned tyre roar.
TMR Verdict
The WRX is back wearing more muscle, and has the performance to back up its aggressive visual package.
According to Subaru Australia’s Managing Director, Nick Senior, endowing the WRX with the STI’s wide-body panels was “a conscious decision to appeal to the performance fans and enthusiasts” that typically buy Subaru’s high-performance models.
The company expects the WRX sedan and hatch to become even more popular now, with sales predicted to rise from the current level of 140 per month to as high as 175-182 per month.
In our opinion, the arrival of the 2011 Subaru WRX somewhat diminishes the argument for spending extra on the full-blooded STI.
With the WRX you get all the visual impact of its hi-po brother (minus the STI sedan’s lairy wing and bigger wheels, of course), with more than enough performance for the odd ‘spirited drive’.
The WRX STI still is the ultimate performance Subaru, but the WRX is an excellent alternative for those on a budget - or those without intentions of taking their car onto a racetrack.
At $39,990 for either sedan or hatch (plus on-roads), it’s a real performance bargain. Cheaper than the Mitsubishi Ralliart by almost $4000, the WRX offers tremendous bang for your buck.
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Filed under: Featured, review, Small Cars, Subaru, impreza, subaru impreza, performance cars, first drive, awd, first drive review, sedan, hatch, performance, turbo, subaru impreza wrx, Subaru WRX, impreza wrx, wrx, small, subaru impreza wrx sedan, 2011 subaru impreza wrx, subaru impreza wrx hatch, family, enthusiast, 5door, 4door
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2 years ago
2 years ago
Thats a great opinion, but in my opinion as an enthuisiast, end user, vehicle purchasing decision maker and a 2 time owner of STi's and more recently an 09 Spec R, you might as well *** the STi off and just pile on the add-ons to the WRX instead of selling 2 separate models.
You've lost the plot Subaru, and I'm sure all of the 08-10 STi owners will be wanting to stab Nick Senior one in the back - because thats how we all feel like we've been treated.
2 years ago
We might as well just go spend $200 at www.japanparts.com and buy 2 STi logos, 2 side strips, $1200 on an ECU flash and bingo, we got ourselves an STi....
So much for that STi premium label... Will end up nuttin but a chinese chop shop.
2 years ago
Yes anyone can tart up a WRX but that has always been the case. Same as the losers who buy a 1.5 ltr lancer and then chuck a evo body kit on. One look at the pathetic brakes and you know the loser is just a poseur!!!
The big news is the improvements to the STi suspension, not a few body panels on the WRX.
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Waiting for the mythical 3.6 TT Liberty STi ..... pretty please FHI
2 years ago
I'd buy a Golf Gti methinks.
2 years ago
I haven't loked at pricing for the ralliart lately but I'm pretty sure they're about the same price now, besides, the handling on the RA is way better than the STi, I always watch wrx's and sti's fail miserably both handling and in a straight line.
Subaru has lost the plot though, they forgot to apply the design process to the interior, still looks like it got treatment from a massive heat-gun and material selection is terrible.
Lack of recaros, both Mitsu and Subaru have failed miserably in that department .. these are not standard models and in other markets they get recaros as standard, .... so .... !!
2 years ago
2 years ago
The Spec R with the racing recaros is now pegged at RRP $66,990 before onroads and other taxes. That means it'll be a $71-72k net on the road - and thats without SatNav!!...
Pretty insane really, and so is the slap in the face on loyalty... Seems a lot of us will be heading elsewhere shortly...
2 years ago
They need to change the attitude and start to respect previous especially loyal customers.How long has Subaru been selling the latest and greatest to only bring out a better and cheaper model when sales start to tank....as long as I can remember and that goes back to the 80s.
But today there is more choice so it is a very dangerous game they play and one which it looks like they are going to lose.Pity cause they were innovative once but can no longer trade off that.
2 years ago
Verrrrrrrrrrrry nice, imo.
The car looks a lot better in the metal than it does in the press shots. Front is very aggressive, looks great. The rear is a little busy, but not too awful. Exhaust tips are nice, but for some reason they're recessed about 2 inches too far. First thing to fix.
Interior is still a bit ***, but with the black leather, sat nav and sunroof it's quite a bit nicer. Instrument cluster looks a bit better than it did, also. The seats don't seem to be particularly supportive though - definitely a step backwards from both my 02 STI and my 99 WRX, which is a pity.
Brakes look pitiful, but without a test drive i can't really say if they're up to the task or not. They're the same 2 piston sliding jobs from the 08, but with bigger disks apparently. I haven't read good things about them as fitted to the 08, but perhaps they're better now.
All in all, i'm more than a little tempted to trade in the STI on one. In fact, i'm going to call the bank manager and see what my options are
1 year ago