Subaru IMPREZA 2.5 WRX
Subaru Are Back With A More Powerful Impreza WRX. Jonathan Crouch Assesses Their Efforts...
The latest Impreza WRX may carry the new face of Subaru but in reality, its yet another tweak on a familiar theme. A theme, it must be said, thats been extremely popular in this country. But only in performance-orientated guise.
Once upon a time, ordinary Imprezas were offered here, but few people bought them. If you went for this Subaru, it was the performance versions you chose the WRX or the WRX STi. Recognising this, the importers now only offer performance versions of this car, giving the market a choice of 2.0R and 2.
5 WRX Imprezas in the latest range, with the STI and STI spec D WRX derivatives acting as the flagship models. Of the two non-STI models, the WRX will, if history is anything to go by, be the strongest seller. Previously, this car came with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine (a 160PS version of which is now fitted to the entry-level 2.
0R variant). This improved unit largely, but not completely, dispenses with the turbo lag that always plagued 2.0-litre WRX models. However, if you want to completely get rid of the irritating delay between plonking down your right foot and feeling the car surge forward, its the latest 2.
5-litre WRX model youll be needing. Which is the variant we look at here, costing either £20,945 as a saloon or £21,445 as a five-door hatch. The change to 2.5-litre power ensures far more useable power low down in the rev-range, just where you need it for everyday driving.
The downside of the engine change is that CO2 emissions have suffered and with them the cars BIK tax banding (which has jumped from 30% to 35%). Fuel consumption has also slipped, from more than 30mpg to 27.4mpg. Power is fractionally up to 230PS and you can feel the improvement behind the wheel, sixty appearing from rest in 5.
9s on the way to a maximum of 143mph. All 06 Imprezas feature agressive bumpers, a spread-wings mesh grille and hawk-eye headlamps matched by new 3-D cylindrical rear lamps. The gearbox is slicker-shifting too.
"Subaru have listened to customers in making the recent improvements and the Impreza is a better car as a result."
Equipment levels are high, including air-conditioning and a single disc CD player. You also get driver, passenger and side airbags and new HID headlamps with pop-up washers. Plus power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking, a hill holder clutch, spoiler kit and 15" alloy wheels, so the WRX certainly doesnt want for standard equipment. Factor in a Category One remote alarm and immobiliser, sports seats and four-channel anti-lock brakes, and it looks good value. As befits true driving enthusiasts, the engineers at Subaru have spent most effort fine tuning the engine, suspension, bodyshell and steering. As with so many evolutionary models, the latest generation Impreza range emerges as a better car, although perhaps not quite so exciting as the original first generation model.
It certainly feels a more mature proposition. The exterior is distinctive and although the single nostril front grille brings to mind some coke-ravaged Z-list celeb, it combines well with the hawk-eye headlights to give the Impreza a more aggressive personality than ever before. Subaru seems to have jumped onto the clear lensed tail lights bandwagon just as most other manufacturers have jumped off and they dont do a lot to lift the impression of overall quality. Despite its many facelifts and revisions, the Impreza never feels like a thoroughly modern car.
The doors clang shut, the trim feels cheap and hard in almost every area and the seating position is far from ideal. Occupant safety has also been boosted in recent times with the fitment of anti-raindrop door mirrors which stay cleaner longer, thus enhancing visibility. The Impreza also takes a cue from the Forester, featuring active front head-restraints which reduce the risk of whiplash injuries. The brake pedal is energy-absorbing, being designed to snap away under severe impact, protecting the drivers lower limbs.
In the rear seat are two ISOFIX-compatible child seat mountings. Subaru has had to think long and hard about the positioning of the Impreza 2.5 WRX, and appears to have pitched for the position of best rally replica around. In going head to head with cheaper versions of Mitsubishis Evo, the WRX model has a tough task on its hands, but many will be seduced by the more characterful engine, the more evocative rally heritage of Burns and McRae and, to these eyes at least, the more menacing styling.
Subaru have listened to customers in making the recent improvements and the Impreza is a better car as a result.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Subaru Impreza 2.5 WRX
PRICES: £20,945-£22,945 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 19
CO2 EMISSIONS: 244g/km
PERFORMANCE: [WRX 5dr] Max Speed 143mph/ 0-60mph 5.9s ECONOMY: (urban) 19.6mpg / (extra urban) 35.8mpg /(combined) 27.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Drive and passenger airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] Length/Width/Heightmm 4465/1740/1440
The latest Impreza WRX may carry the new face of Subaru but in reality, its yet another tweak on a familiar theme. A theme, it must be said, thats been extremely popular in this country. But only in performance-orientated guise.
Once upon a time, ordinary Imprezas were offered here, but few people bought them. If you went for this Subaru, it was the performance versions you chose the WRX or the WRX STi. Recognising this, the importers now only offer performance versions of this car, giving the market a choice of 2.0R and 2.
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0R variant). This improved unit largely, but not completely, dispenses with the turbo lag that always plagued 2.0-litre WRX models. However, if you want to completely get rid of the irritating delay between plonking down your right foot and feeling the car surge forward, its the latest 2.
5-litre WRX model youll be needing. Which is the variant we look at here, costing either £20,945 as a saloon or £21,445 as a five-door hatch. The change to 2.5-litre power ensures far more useable power low down in the rev-range, just where you need it for everyday driving.
The downside of the engine change is that CO2 emissions have suffered and with them the cars BIK tax banding (which has jumped from 30% to 35%). Fuel consumption has also slipped, from more than 30mpg to 27.4mpg. Power is fractionally up to 230PS and you can feel the improvement behind the wheel, sixty appearing from rest in 5.
9s on the way to a maximum of 143mph. All 06 Imprezas feature agressive bumpers, a spread-wings mesh grille and hawk-eye headlamps matched by new 3-D cylindrical rear lamps. The gearbox is slicker-shifting too.
"Subaru have listened to customers in making the recent improvements and the Impreza is a better car as a result."
Equipment levels are high, including air-conditioning and a single disc CD player. You also get driver, passenger and side airbags and new HID headlamps with pop-up washers. Plus power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking, a hill holder clutch, spoiler kit and 15" alloy wheels, so the WRX certainly doesnt want for standard equipment. Factor in a Category One remote alarm and immobiliser, sports seats and four-channel anti-lock brakes, and it looks good value. As befits true driving enthusiasts, the engineers at Subaru have spent most effort fine tuning the engine, suspension, bodyshell and steering. As with so many evolutionary models, the latest generation Impreza range emerges as a better car, although perhaps not quite so exciting as the original first generation model.
It certainly feels a more mature proposition. The exterior is distinctive and although the single nostril front grille brings to mind some coke-ravaged Z-list celeb, it combines well with the hawk-eye headlights to give the Impreza a more aggressive personality than ever before. Subaru seems to have jumped onto the clear lensed tail lights bandwagon just as most other manufacturers have jumped off and they dont do a lot to lift the impression of overall quality. Despite its many facelifts and revisions, the Impreza never feels like a thoroughly modern car.
The doors clang shut, the trim feels cheap and hard in almost every area and the seating position is far from ideal. Occupant safety has also been boosted in recent times with the fitment of anti-raindrop door mirrors which stay cleaner longer, thus enhancing visibility. The Impreza also takes a cue from the Forester, featuring active front head-restraints which reduce the risk of whiplash injuries. The brake pedal is energy-absorbing, being designed to snap away under severe impact, protecting the drivers lower limbs.
In the rear seat are two ISOFIX-compatible child seat mountings. Subaru has had to think long and hard about the positioning of the Impreza 2.5 WRX, and appears to have pitched for the position of best rally replica around. In going head to head with cheaper versions of Mitsubishis Evo, the WRX model has a tough task on its hands, but many will be seduced by the more characterful engine, the more evocative rally heritage of Burns and McRae and, to these eyes at least, the more menacing styling.
Subaru have listened to customers in making the recent improvements and the Impreza is a better car as a result.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Subaru Impreza 2.5 WRX
PRICES: £20,945-£22,945 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 19
CO2 EMISSIONS: 244g/km
PERFORMANCE: [WRX 5dr] Max Speed 143mph/ 0-60mph 5.9s ECONOMY: (urban) 19.6mpg / (extra urban) 35.8mpg /(combined) 27.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Drive and passenger airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [saloon] Length/Width/Heightmm 4465/1740/1440
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