Car Enthusiast - click here to access the home page


 



WR excess? Image by Mark Nichol.

WR excess?
The Impreza WRX is accused of being too soft, so this Prodrive-fettled one is supposed to address that.

   



<< earlier review     later review >>

Reviews homepage -> Subaru reviews

| Week at the Wheel | Subaru Impreza WRX-S |

Inside & Out: star star star star star

As I walked around our freshly delivered test car, resplendent in classic Subaru WRC-spec blue paint, I heard the words, "don't touch it with a bargepole mate - looks like a Vauxhall Astra." I turned, and was confronted by a gentleman who it later transpired was a builder, taking a break (fancy that). If it were needed, my fears about the new shape Impreza were confirmed right then: it hasn't worked. There's nothing wrong with an Astra (and presumably he was thinking about a similarly coloured VXR version in making the comparison, which isn't actually that unreasonable), but a proper Impreza should be awe-inspiring and mesmeric, especially to alpha male types like my builder friend.

The package of Prodrive improvements bestowed upon the standard WRX in the upgrade to WRX-S is a massive boost, though. The 18-inch rims, STI body kit (including a big roof spoiler) and wide-bore Prodrive tailpipe all add aggression befitting of a car with such an illustrious rally heritage. Some might still find it all too normal - a bit Astra-ish, you might say. Of course, that's because Subaru decided the Impreza would compete like-for-like with cars like the Vauxhall this time around, adding hatchback practicality, better quality, improved economy (yet still no diesel in the UK) and, thus, a wider target demographic. Focus groups would approve.

But for us it has backfired quite spectacularly because - putting its performance credentials aside for a moment - the Impreza is about two generations behind even run of the mill hatchbacks for quality and practicality. Open the sardine can doors and it really is dreadful in there: the plastics are Tamagotchi spec; the design is a big clod of grey insipidness; the space behind the rear seats is miniscule; and the boot is already half full before you've even put anything into it. It's like a Kia - before they went all decent - except with the burden of raised expectations.

Engine & Transmission: star star star star star

Ah, this is better. There's nothing quite like the power delivery of Subaru's turbocharged boxer engine, which dishes up the lively combination of lots of low down urge with the tenacity to keep going fervently way past its 5,600rpm peak power mark. The noise that trickles into the cabin is nowhere near the popping, throaty fizz you expect should vociferously emanate from the girthy Prodrive tailpipe, but it's loud and bassy enough to elevate this particular Scooby above a regular hot hatch.

It is quick though: 0-62mph takes 5.9 seconds. This S model is supposed to plug the gap between the standard WRX - which is widely regarded as a bit of a nancy boy - and the very expensive, supposedly mentalist (but not really) WRX STI. To that end, in addition to the stoked visuals, it gets an extra 25bhp and a Lou Ferrigno's worth of additional pulling power - 52lb.ft. In fact, it's tangibly almost as quick as the STI because it's got only a gnat's breadth less torque, but it all comes about 1,000rpm lower down in the rev range.

And obviously that makes it notably quicker than the WRX. But the problem is that it's linked to an anachronistic five-speed gearbox, which although tactile enough to work through makes this a diabolically whiney motorway car. If you keep it off the A-roads (as you'll wish to), it is supercar-esque in its inefficiency too. We never, not once, got it above 20mpg according to the dashboard readout - even though it's supposed to achieve mid-twenties economy.

Ride & Handling: star star star star star

Let's start with the driving position: must try harder. You sit too high on seats with virtually no lateral thigh support and the steering wheel is too low. Basically, there's a feeling of sitting on top of the car, rather than sinking into it, which plays a major part in never quite feeling connected to the Impreza in the way you should.

However, a bad handler this is not. The levels of grip afforded by the four-wheel drive system are phenomenal, and it's hilariously tractable too. Take it to a roundabout, plant your foot in second gear and you'll get some nice, friendly understeer on turn in. Lift off and the back end will slip out, but keep your foot pressed in and it's four-wheel drift time. Easy. Sadly, Subaru has slackened the suspension a little more than feels right for a car with this level of talent. Presumably it serves two purposes: first, more wheel travel can mean more grip because it prevents wheels from jumping off knobbly roads at high cornering speeds, and secondly it makes life a bit more comfortable when you're meandering to the garden centre.

However, it also means the front wheels can feel distinctly distant from the steering wheel, and it also exacerbates the Impreza's poor cruising ability because the car bounces along like a chicken on a pogo stick. The steering rack is progressive enough, but it's too slack and vague at the centre and there's loads of body roll around corners. Basically, the whole thing feels like it could do with stiffer springs, a tighter chassis setup and slightly less steering assistance. It's far from bad, far from dull, but for the majority of the time it also seems some way short of the level of expectation presented by its reputation and visual histrionics; it's almost as though its talents are buried too deep.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: star star star star star

Equipment? Erm... there's a crappy stereo and manual air conditioning, some blank switchgear in the centre console and a Momo gearstick top that looks laughably aftermarket. The floor mats have WRX-S badges, as do the seats - and that's about it. This car costs just over £22k, is in insurance group 18, serves up sub 20mpg economy at the best of times and is in VED band G - good for a £455 annual tax bill.

Now, if you measure the list price purely against the acceleration, it probably represents good value for money, but at the same time, the running costs are astonishing, and its value will probably sink faster than an average X-Factor finalist's career. Now compare that to the cream of hot hatches. Sure, nothing of a similar price can match the Impreza's devastating straight line or cornering speeds, but most embarrass the Jap in terms of running costs, quality and day-to-day usability. Then there's the small issue of the new Focus RS, which for an extra £3k almost renders this Subaru completely pointless.

Overall: star star star star star

Despite all we've said above, the Impreza WRX-S is a good car. Sadly, once you look through the Prodrive livery and get used to the way it accelerates, it's lacking the theatrics that used to come as standard on WRX-and-above Imprezas. That would be easier to swallow if it was fundamentally a decent hatchback, but it isn't. The thing about fast Scoobys of old was that it didn't matter how tacky the plastics were or how bilious certain people found them, because they were so manic, so different. The latest Impreza is neither of those things, which you probably already knew, but this WRX-S should have done something about that while keeping things at a reasonable price, and it just doesn't. Fast? Very. Enjoyable? Quite. Buy one? No thanks.

Mark Nichol - 1 May 2009



  www.subaru.co.uk    - Subaru road tests
- Subaru news
- Impreza images

2009 Subaru Impreza specifications:
Price: £22,030 on-the-road.
Top speed: 130mph
Combined economy: 24.6mpg
Emissions: 246g/km
Kerb weight: 1395kg

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.



2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX-S. Image by Mark Nichol.
 






 

Internal links:   | Home | Privacy | Contact us | Archives | Old motor show reports | Follow Car Enthusiast on Twitter | Copyright 1999-2024 ©