Subaru Impreza WRX 2007 review: snapshot

There are plenty out there who like their performance cars to live on the edge; screwed-down suspension that will rattle your teeth and power delivery that is raw and nasty.

They were the characteristics that won the original WRX, following more than a decade ago when it burst on the affordable performance scene.

The exterior is certainly more mainstream with softer lines which mimic small-car competitors.

Inside the cabin, however, is where the philosophy really shifts gear.

Gone is the “workbench” look of the previous models. Where once flat surfaces dominated; there are curves and softness. Just the ticket for a car that is actively courting female white-collar shoppers. The styling is designer chic.

Is all this at the expense of performance?

In a word, no.

In fact, the new WRX is more useable, more stable and considerably quicker point-to-point than the outgoing model. Overall the car is a little bigger, the suspension a little more compliant and the output from the 2.5-litre turbocharged flat four stays the same at 169kW.

The additional advantage of a marginal increase in torque; some 5 per cent; pales beside the huge benefits of that torque arriving earlier and sticking around longer.

The wider, earlier torque band equates to a claimed 0.1sec improvement in the 0-100km/h sprint; now a claimed 5.8sec. In real world terms the benefit is that the WRX still has the ability to jump when called on but with less need to frantically shuffle the five-speed box.

The gains from the engineering changes can be felt from the driver's seat.

Ride quality improvement is immediately evident as is improvement in noise, vibration and harshness levels.

A redesigned double wishbone rear-end and slightly (5mm) lower centre of gravity; gives the car better mid-corner stability and grip.

Subaru Australia technical services manager Derk Ashby; said the new dynamic chassis control concept provides for a highly rigid platform on which to base a more compliant and flexible suspension package.

“This intelligent suspension control system provides for even higher levels of grip, steering response and vehicle stability ... at the same time (delivering) vastly improved levels of ride comfort with much lower levels of shake, bounce and impact harshness,” Ashby said.

There is slightly improved fuel consumption from the WRX; some 2 per cent but more from the 2-litre models, up to half a litre per 100km.

See this car at the Australian International Motor Show