Subaru Impreza Reviews

However, the lasting impression of the RS is that it has not taken the Impreza performance into any new territory.

The WRX is a legend, of sorts, in car world, but it's never, ever been bought, or stolen, because of its visual features.  From the very first, it's been about as attractive as the offspring of an anteater and a Tonka truck.  And yet young men of a thrusting temperament, older blokes who still favour No Fear t-shirts and criminals who enjoy driving into shop windows have chosen these cars in their droves.It would be fair to say that each successive WRX has been slightly uglier than the last, which makes the original something of a collector's item, but this time Subaru's designers have really outdone themselves.The new Impreza is perhaps the most diversely derivative car ever. The fact that it's now a hatch and no longer a sedan is a fairly rude shock to start with, but it also looks like part BMW 1 Series, part Daewoo, part Seat Ibiza with a large sprinkling of Mazda 3. In fact, just about the only car it doesn't look like is a Subaru. While being ugly is nothing new for a Rex, the new one is kind of plain as well. At least the old ones had presence as well as pugilist features.The feeling of massive changes being afoot continues inside, where the front seats no longer look like they've been stolen from a rally car. Sure, they're still buckets and still sportily supportive, but the people in the back seat can actually see the windscreen, for the first time ever.Before even turning the key, the feeling that this WRX was no longer a Rex was niggling. Then I fired it up and waited for the fireworks. I have to say that for the first few days, pootling around town, I was deeply disappointed.Imprezas of old always gave you the feeling that they wanted to rip your arms off and use them to punch a police officer, but this new car felt polite and refined. It wasn't slow, exactly, but it wasn't a balltearer below 3000rpm, and there's not much room in Sydney traffic to explore beyond there.Then there was the sound, or lack of it. While 98 per cent of Rexes you see on the road have aftermarket pipes that make them sound like a fat man blowing raspberries into a megaphone, even the standard one always had a bit of oomph to it. But the sounds of the new WRX were so distant and decorous that they seemed to be coming from another car.All was not going well, so we headed out of town for the real test — could this super Sooob still tear up a bit of country road and put a smile on your dial? Fortunately the answer was a resounding, surprising yes.Given its head, the WRX is still a seriously quick, slick sportscar, it just makes a lot less fuss about what it's doing. Grip-and-go cornering has always been this car's forte and the way it can hang on through, and launch out of, turns is still a highlight.What is different is the slightly softer feel to the way it does this.The suspension set-up feels a little more gentle and this means the driver is a little less involved with the road than before. Even the steering feels a bit lighter, which is a shame.The 2.5-litre boxer four-cylinder still boasts the same power figures as the previous model — 169kW and 320Nm — but the engine has been retuned to deliver its grunt lower in the rev range.This means less turbo lag and more instantaneous acceleration.While the new car is certainly more grunty from lower down, it still doesn't get exciting until about 4000rpm. On the plus side, it does continue to be exciting all the way up to 6500rpm. Mind you, even at that pace, the noise you'd expect seems to be missing. And despite being lighter, the new car certainly doesn't feel quicker - although apparently it is, 0.1 of a second faster to 100km/h at 5.8 seconds.The five-speed gearbox is a slick and faultless little unit, but it's still missing a gear, no matter how you look at it, and not having sixth on long freeway runs could get wearing.Over all, though, as motoring scribes have been bleating for years, it's hard to think of another car that delivers as much for the money as a WRX. This latest impressive Impreza is still $39,990, the same price the Rex was 10 years ago. What you don't get for your money these days, though, is the hard, harried edge of old. And that's a shame, for purists at least.So, the new WRX is a lighter, more refined, quieter, more roomy and (very slightly) faster car than before, yet I'd still take an old one, every time. Perhaps looks do count for something after all.PS: After handing back the WRX, I took an RS Impreza for a week, but I can't tell you anything about it, because the automatic transmission it was fitted with rendered it too boring for words.It also had a “Sport” feature, the only function of which seemed to be to illuminate a dash light that says “Sport”. Stick with the WRX.

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.Now the WRX has become, in its own way, refined.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    

If 'fully sick' is your preferred state of being, Subaru's new Impreza range isn't quite so virulent as the one it replaces. While no-one free of visual or emotional disorders could have found the previous generation aesthetically pleasing, it was certainly striking, if only because of the series of unfortunate facelifts.It was though Subaru's styling department; an enigmatic bunch at best was being directed by an especially avid plastic surgeon.Next to these apparitions the new Impreza is a more or less generic hatch (the door windows now have frames, for heaven's sake), a 'bitser' with elements of what seems to be half-a-dozen different designs.Which is apt, really, given that the Impreza has to compete against at least that many models.More tangibly, once you get past the appearance and the drive that at outset seems almost decadent, you'll find a car that's better in almost every respect than the one it supplants.And of the four Impreza versions, that applies to none more than the very base model, the 2.0 R.Indeed, at $24,490 for the entry-level five speed manual ($2K more for the four-speed-auto) it's a class-leading package.Bigger yet lighter at 1340kg, like all new Imprezas it's five-star rated for occupant protection in ANCAP crash testing and likewise wins the maximum pedestrian rating.Unlike the class defining Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, the Impreza has Vehicle Dynamics Control (Soob's Electronic Stability program) as standard to supplement the marque's trademark constant all-wheel-drive.Even as the professed stripper version, the steel-wheeled R is bountifully equipped. Apparently, I've not been the only one to call Subaru wondering if this was indeed the base model.As to safety, it sets new standards in this class. Measures include ABS with four-wheel discs (ventilated front, solid rear), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist and VDC. Passive devices run to six airbags with double seatbelt pretensioners on the driver's seat, hill start assist and shock absorbing brake and clutch pedals.If the cabin is hardly redolent of luxury and the driving position some way from ideal, there are creature comforts enough, including MP3/WMA compatible stereo and adequate storage.If you want alloys and more stuff, the RX model adds a few bits of leather, six-stack CD with 10 speakers, and front fog lights from $26,490.If you want more stuff still, another two grand on top of that gets you into the RS with its sports seat and body kit, 17s and mesh grille. From there it's an $11k leap to the hero WRX.All three lesser models share the atmo 2.0 DOHC horizontally-opposed four potter, good for 110kW at 6400rpm and 196Nm at 3200rpm, so more dough doesn't mean more go.While progress is respectable rather than rapid with not a lot happening under 3000 revs, it is pretty much class competitive and leagues of magnitude better than the wheezy single cam item of yore. It even sounds pleasantly raspy.“Pleasant” indeed is the most just for the R car.While affording the AWD grip and assurance you'd expect from even a base model wearing an Impreza badge, the suspension is tuned in a way to absorb potholes rather than batter through them.Ride quality is a highlight, though there's just enough spice in the mix to make for a fun drive as long as the fairly close ratio five-speed gearbox is rowed with some vigour.But that rules out approximating Soob's claimed 8.9-litre per 100km combined fuel consumption figure. Just shy of 500km of city and extra urban driving netted us 9.8.The Impreza prefers 95 RON in its 60-litre tank.That's why five gears, as opposed to a more contemporary six, is one too short. At the state's legal maximum speed, the R is buzzing fairly frenetically at upwards of 3000rpm in top gear.Of course, the comparably priced Toyota and Mazda also run a cog short of contemporary, but the R is a better bet than both and not just in terms of safety, in which respect daylight separates them from the Soob.There's more to even the base Impreza model than this (vital) aspect,though.The new gen is a more practical people and load carrier than the old model and a friendlier daily drive. But it doesn't forsake the virtues that have made Subaru a greater success per capita than any other major market.If it's far from sick, the R feels at least a bit off colour.

The days of the hot-rod WRX are over. The turbo tearaway has been tamed as part of a complete model change for the Subaru Impreza that emphasises refinement, value and safety.The new Impreza is still fun, and the WRX can still hustle, but this is a more grown-up, compact car than anything Subaru has produced.It reflects new thinking, a new customer target and a confidence that has been built on the Euro-Japanese approach to car design and development. It has already worked with the Liberty.You only have to shut the doors for the first time to hear the change from tin-can carmaking to something much more substantial.The Impreza is not cheap it's $24,490 to $39,990, but it has a far better chance of luring people and keeping them.And there is great news for fans of all-wheel-drive performance; the coming Impreza STi will be wild and fast. The styling will be a direct steal from Subaru's coming World Rally Car, right down to the flared guards and large wings. The engine and gearbox will be more responsive.The upscale STi is one of the reasons for the stealthy new WRX, but it also reflects a change in Impreza thinking.The car moves up and away, leaving the regular Impreza models, including the WRX, to get down to business.“It's an exciting opportunity for us. It's a vehicle that ticks all the boxes,” Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says. “We believe we can redefine and reshape the small-car class in Australia.”That's unlikely. Subaru will be selling about 1000 Imprezas a month; Toyota is selling more than 4000 with its latest Corolla.But Subaru is touting five-star safety, improved economy, reduced weight and better value for the Impreza. And it is aiming at the class leaders, including the Corolla, Mazda3 and Honda Civic.“We believe, for the first time, we can go head to head on any details,” Senior says.The Impreza will be sold only as a hatch, at least for a year, as Subaru emphasises a single body style.The styling has all sorts of hints but is closest to the BMW 1-Series, particularly from the side.But some things, such as the 2-litre flat-four engine, are Subaru. It is now revised with more technology, 20 per cent more power and 7 per cent more torque — and the all-wheel-drive system in every car.The model lineup is R, RX, RS and WRX. Changes run to a body that is shorter, taller and wider, but a substantially bigger cabin.There are framed doors for the first time on an Impreza, double-wishbone rear suspension, upgraded seats and trim, better cabin insulation and isolation, and a height-reach adjustable steering column.Subaru gets a five-star ANCAP rating for standard electronic stability program, anti-skid brakes and six airbags. It also rates highly for pedestrian protection.The Impreza is also lighter, at a time when most all-new cars are heavier. The company claims better fuel efficiency for all models.But there are shortcomings; a four-speed auto, a shift back to a five-speed manual in the WRX, the missing Impreza sedan, and the lack of a local on-sale date for the coming diesel engine.Still, Subaru is even touting the new Impreza as a rival to the VW Golf, as well as a safety-first car that is a better deal than the cars that won Volvo its safety-first following. On the roadThe new Impreza is impressive to drive. It feels more solid and substantial than the previous model. The engine is smoother and more responsive. And the car has more space and is more refined.The WRX is not as punchy or memorable, but that should make the STi special.Subaru Australia wants to net older businessmen with the new WRX. They will not miss the whistling and boofing from the turbo system or the trousers-down body bits.Subaru previewed the new Impreza models over testing roads near Byron Bay. They would have had the previous model bucking and banging and rattling and crashing even at touring speeds.The new cars, from the R through to the WRX, are more composed and quieter. They are significantly nicer to drive and nowhere near as tiring or demanding.The seats still do not have enough shape or support. The auto needs an extra gear. The centre console looks cheap and under-done. And you cannot pick the WRX from the rear until you get close enough to read the badge.A rear luggage cover on one of the test cars was ripped, a quality flaw that was reported to Japan for an investigation and fix.But the positives are extensive, starting with the solid feel of the doors, the extra cabin and boot space, and a dash that is more elegant and looks less like a sub-$20,000 cheapie.It is a common theme. The Impreza has been upscaled in every area to run with the Corolla, Mazda3 and Civic crowd, and you can see, hear and feel the differences.The ride is smoother. It has more travel and better control. The cornering grip is good. There is more response as you turn into corners.The brakes are fine and there is no reason to doubt Subaru's claims on the safety front.The updated engines feel a little smoother with more urge, and the WRX gets along nicely with more boost and response from lower revs.The new Impreza is a landmark car in most areas.And the WRX is far less boy-racer and more likely to bring a high-profit sales boost from older buyers who may be jumping out of a fast Ford or Holden.

In a move that promises to benchmark small car safety standards for the next decade Subaru has claimed the moral high ground with its new Impreza. The all-new car will come standard across the range with electronic stability control, all-wheel-drive, a full suite of airbags and maximum five-star crash and four-star pedestrian safety ratings, a first for any car in Australia.“Undeniably, we have the high ground in the small car sector when it comes to total safety,” Subaru general manager Nick Senior says.“This will redefine the small car in Australia. That is a big statement, but no longer will small car buyers be disenfranchised from safety.”Impreza is only the second car (after the $100,000 Citroen C6) to earn five-star crash safety and four-star pedestrian safety, both maximum ratings. “It is certainly the only car to test in Australia to this level,” Senior says.The decision to include a stability system in every car and absorb the cost, the new Impreza entry level model at $24,490 is just $50 dearer than the equivalent outgoing model, which is as daring as the company's move almost a decade ago to sell only AWD models.Senior says that from the time the decision was made to maximise safety in the Impreza, there was never any suggestion of holding anything back for the premium models.“Safety was non-negotiable,” he says. “There are other features and styling that can be included for higher-specified models. Safety was something we were going to deliver to every buyer. This will be the first time in the small car segment that there will be VDC (vehicle dynamic control) in every model, not just the more expensive variants in the category.”The Impreza will launch as a five-speed manual hatch only in four specification levels, the R ($24,490), RX ($26,490 — $450 less than the current model), RS ($29,490 — $950 less) and WRX ($39,990 — $450 less). The optional four-speed automatic will add $2000.The red-hot STi will join the garage early next year with the sedan version of the new car available about the middle of next year.The R, RX and RS will come standard with the normally aspirated 2.0-litre DOHC engine with 110kw of power and 196Nm of torque.Subaru claims improved fuel consumption on 95 RON but says the engine also operates on 90 RON fuel without issue.The entry-level R will have front, side and side curtain airbags, full-time symmetrical AWD, VDC stability control, ABS with EBD, brake assist, 16-inch steel wheels, telescopic and height adjustable steering, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and mirrors and a single CD, MP3/iPod compatible four-speaker stereo.The RX adds 16-inch alloys, fog lights, six- stack in-dash CD player with MP3 and iPod compatibility, 10 speakers, audio controls on the steering wheel and climate control.The sportier RS has 17-inch alloys, body kit, mesh grille, privacy glass, sport seats and trim.Across the range, a fully integrated touch screen satellite navigation and DVD entertainment system with Bluetooth compatibility is $2990.The WRX steps up to a turbocharged 2.5 litre engine with 169kW and 320Nm, specific 17-inch alloys, high intensity discharge headlights, electroluminescent gauges and a security system as effective (but far more user-friendly) than the outgoing model's number pad. In the new car the pad still exists but is tucked neatly out of sight and with programmed security is not needed each time the car is started.“For the first time we can go head-to-head on detail with anyone in the small car market,” Senior says. “The WRX may be the emotional and headline story but it is the naturally aspirated model that presents us with the greatest opportunity, younger customers, more female customers and new customers.”Subaru is confident of supplying 1000 cars a month, increasing to 1200 a month when the sedan joins the model range next year. On the road'It's soft; it's lost its distinctive look; it's become just one of the crowd...' observations of the new WRX question what Subaru has done to the turbo titan. All have some validity but the biggest question of all is, how does it drive?There are plenty out there who like their performance cars to live on the edge, screwed down suspension that rattles your teeth and power delivery that is raw and nasty.They were the characteristics that won the original WRX its outlaw following more than a decade ago when it burst on to the affordable performance scene, somewhat unfortunately, as the ram-raider's car of choice.If you are set in your ways, then the new WRX is going to disappoint you. It is, in its own little way, quite refined. The exterior is certainly more mainstream with softer lines. There are times it looks distinctly European, at others there is a hint of Korean.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 plastics are still hard and the materials still speak of cost awareness, but the styling is designer chic. Does this come at the expense of performance? In a word, no.Indeed the new WRX is more useable, more stable and considerably quicker point-to-point than the outgoing model.Overall the car is slightly 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. Most of the 320Nm of urge is on tap from as low as 1500rpm right through to 3600rpm.The wider, earlier torque band equates to a claimed 0.1sec improvement in the sprint to 100km/h, now a claimed 5.8 seconds. 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.Subaru declined the six-speed manual for the WRX, saving 20kg on weight and claiming a better ratio fit from the five-speeder.The gains from the engineering changes can be felt from the driver's seat. Ride quality improvement is immediately evident as are improvements in noise, vibration and harshness.A redesigned double wishbone rear-end and slightly (5mm) lower centre of gravity give the car better mid-corner stability and grip, most noticeably by not needing to take a second bite at the steering when getting back on the power.Subaru Australia technical services manager Derk Ashby says 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 says.The company is also claiming a slightly improved fuel consumption from the WRX, about 2 per cent but more from the 2.0-litre models with improvements up to 0.5L per 100km.

Subaru revealed its new Impreza range at picturesque Byron Bay today. The rolling green hills of the country’s most easterly point was an apt setting for the new look Impreza, where traditional buzzwords like ‘muscle’, ‘aggression’ and ‘performance’ made way for more refined variants like ‘elegance’, ‘cosmopolitan’, ‘sophistication’ and ‘safety’.The range will debut at this year's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October.Subaru is offering four Imprezas: R, RX, RS, plus the turbocharged WRX manual.The roomiest ever Impreza is launched as a five-door hatch, with a four door sedan expected to arrive in Australia around this time next year.Subaru is trying to steer away from WRX as the ‘hero’ model and has instead focused more on the mainstream Impreza versions, in a bid to attract a more diverse consumer base.In his launch speech, Subaru managing Director Nick Senior said: “..While the emotion and headlines for this new Impreza may well centre around the WRX version, it is the normally-aspirated models that provide us with our greatest opportunity.“To be able to sell a $24,490 vehicle with five star safety, four star pedestrian safety, all-wheel drive, anti-lock braking system, Vehicle Dynamics Control, 2-litre double overhead cam engine, air conditioning, six airbags, cruise control and the rest of the equipment …is exciting for the brand.” said Senior.Subaru is highlighting the new range’s safety credentials — the new, lighter and stronger Impreza has as a five-star ANCAP rating for occupant safety, giving it one of the strongest safety stories in its class.“Undeniably we have the high ground in the small car sector when it comes to total safety,” Senior claimed.Senior said key structural points on all Imprezas are now reinforced by high tension steel, which has increased rigidity and ride comfort. Subaru claims improvements have been achieved with Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) in all Imprezas.The new-generation Impreza comes in normally-aspirated and turbo charged variants. The new double overhead camshaft provides improvements in power (more than 20%) and torque (more than 7%) over the SOHC engine used in the superseded 2.0i and RV. Compared with previous models, the turbo-charged engine delivers smoother torque from lower revs.As usual, All Wheel Drive is a standard feature. Improved ride comfort and more interior and cargo space are the result of a longer wheelbase and new double-wishbone suspension.Aesthetically, the sophisticated new style is an obvious change from earlier models.The new shape has sparked debate among WRX purists, who claim the rounder, softer Impreza is too bland.The MY08 Impreza hatchback is slightly taller and shorter, emphasised by a distinctive shoulder line that carries through to the front end for a more integrated feel.Clear headlight lenses and rear LED lights with metallic highlights distinguish the premium look. The change is consistent, not only outside but also throughout the interior of the vehicle.The sweeping twin-cockpit design offers greater head and shoulder room, and the use of plastics and other materials throughout the cabin is offset by aluminium-style highlights, across the range.Subaru Impreza starts at $24,440 for the R model, through to $39,990 for the WRX.

As proof, we have the car which Subaru created to fill the previously invisible niche between its very hot and ultra-hot models.They gave it an odd name — by the time you say Subaru Impreza WRX Tuned By STI, it's gone from sight — but otherwise this is a superb package deal, loaded with clever engineering, fine-tuned by experts.Subaru got into this sideline with a Tuned by STI (Subaru Tecnica International) version of the larger Liberty a year ago.So, according to Subaru, the extras — tweaked engine, suspension, bodywork and interior — are worth $12,000 separately, but the Tuned By STI car costs only $7000 more than a normal WRX.The car I drove was No. 1 in the series, and was proof that someone got this $46,990 package spot-on from the start.Its 179kW engine output (regular WRX 169kW, regular WRX STI 206kW) is only part of the story, because it also responds earlier, and more smoothly.The ride is quite comfortable, taut without being harsh, while grip (bigger wheels and tyres) feels never-ending.Think of it as Subaru's reply to recently arrived challengers such as the Mazda 3 MPS (190kW, $39,990), Ford Focus XR5 Turbo (166kW, $35,990) and Holden Special Vehicles VXR (176kW, $42,990).It also is a handy way to keep the faithful interested in the Impreza range until a new-look series is introduced later this year.The Subaru is dearer, sure, but has the benefit of all-wheel-drive. It also, unfortunately, has the usual WRX anti-theft system, so the car's PIN must be entered in a keypad on the dashboard before it will start. Get it wrong, or encounter any other hassle, and an ear-piercing alarm erupts.

This is the last drive report until the arrival of the new model in the second half of the year.The next-generation Impreza will be revealed next month at the New York Auto Show and Subaru is already planning its WRX attack on the World Rally championship from the start of next year.We are not sure of the final timing for the new Impreza in Australia, particularly the WRX, which has to face off with the great-looking new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, but it can't come soon enough.We have lived with and loved the original for almost longer than we can remember, and still love the turbo rush and the cornering grip, but the car is showing its age.The dowdy body needs a change, quality needs an upgrade, and time has dulled performance.It is all obvious in the newest and last of the current family, called the WRX tuned by STi.Subaru Australia has dipped into the STi parts bin in Japan, added some local development work and created a last blast for the WRX.It does have some good stuff, particularly a super-slick gearshift and more go from the engine room, but . . .This is the latest in a series of limited-edition WRX models.They have worked well to polish the halo over both the Impreza and WRX, as well as keeping young guys — the obvious target market — tickled at the prospect of putting a super-Suby in their garage.The package spreads the love in a more general way than in the past.There is a tweak in the turbo motor's electronic brain backed by a low-pressure muffler to liberate an extra 10kW and 20Nm.Official figures are 179kW and 340Nm, a significant improvement over the basic WRX but not as edgy as the full-on STi model.The car picks up lowered springs, tuned struts, a larger front stabiliser bar and changes to the rear stabiliser and suspension arms.Inside, there is the short-shift gear change and a sunroof, and cosmetically there is an STi lip extension to the front spoiler and 18-inch STi alloy wheels.The bottom line is up by $7000 to $46,990, but Subaru Australia says it is a $12,000 package."This locally tuned variant has put a priority on low-down engine performance," Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says."We've used specialised STi engine tuners from FHI (Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan) to tailor this car to suit Australian conditions."But the WRX by STi still has to face the latest Evo IX from Mitsubishi, and there are other trendy hot-hatch contenders including the Renault Megane Sport, the Ford Focus XR5 and the raunchy Mazda3 MPS.ON THE ROADTHE latest WRX is still a fun drive. For a while. But the longer we drove the WRX by STi, the more we found ourselves complaining and comparing and wondering about the changes for the new car next month.Yes, the car is a little punchier than a standard WRX but we have been spoiled for a lot of years.The STi was a flat-out rocketship and the best of the local developments was the WRP10, which had a great balance of suspension upgrading and go-faster improvements.This time, and after driving a lot of hot-hatch hopefuls over the past year, the WRX feels a bit flat.It still has good go, and there is a little more from the bottom, but it does not give us the same buzz as in the past.The gearshift is excellent, the car sits flatter in corners and has great grip, but we were distracted by other things.The remote boot release did not work and that's a reflection of the age of the basic design, and a lightweight boot struggles against the latching with the extra weight of the WRX's wing. The rest of the car is light too, which is becoming more of an issue as things such as tinny doors and thin carpet grate against a near-$50,000 price.The STi lip spoiler and big alloys look nice, but the reality is they are window dressing on an old car with a shape that never was particularly sexy."It looks like a nanna's car. It has a big butt," Miss Ali says after her first drive.She complains about the touch-pad alarm system, which also shows the car's age. Added when the WRX was the most-stolen car in Australia, it has been overtaken by newer systems that use hi-tech keys. It is just plain annoying, even if it gives a visual deterrent.Still, the sunroof is nice, the STi alloy knob on the gearlever feels good, and we still like the sports seats in the WRX and the feel of its leather-wrapped steering wheel.But — and here we go again — the dash is far too basic and there is too much cabin noise.The tuned-by-STi car also comes with a Kenwood sound system raunchier than in the past, but the buttons are tiny — difficult to use.Nice for twentysomething drivers, but not worth the trouble for most of our testers.So what is to like? A lot, of course. The WRX has always been one of the rare cars that is enjoyable to drive quickly, even without rattling a 100km/h speed limit.It still slingshots out of corners, responds when you turn the wheel, and feels safe and secure despite the extra power.It also looks good value, because the Evo comes in at almost $10,000 more. Even a topline Megane Sport is $44,490 and a 3MPS is knocking on $40,000. The WRX is feeling more like a $20,000 economy car with $20,000 of go-fast gear. We're over it. We can't wait to drive the new one. THE BOTTOM LINE73/100AN OLD friend in urgent need of a makeover.

It's the 2006 package and continues a fun run that began in 1994. But time is catching up with Japan's Impreza WRX, and not just because it has been run down by the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.The basic car is showing its age and, even if you're into turbo-charged total traction, it is hard to fire up every single time there is a new WRX.The '06 car is more enjoyable to drive with its 2.5-litre engine and extra torque and we are coming to like the new nose, but several questions still have to be answered.Park an Impreza alongside the latest Ford Focus and you get the picture. The Subaru looks small and outdated.Every Impreza still has the advantage of all-wheel-drive and Subaru deserves big ticks for its constant and successful update work, but we are still left wondering how much more can be done.WRX fans will rush to the new car and there is also an STi forpeople with big budgets and a need to beat a Lancer Evo.There is nothing wrong with that approach, but the buts keep coming.Subaru Australia says we are wrong."Sales have increased since the launch of the 2.5 engine. We are averaging around 200 cars a month, and they were selling around 140 to 150," Subaru Australia general manager Nick Senior says. "We have just sold an all-time record number of Imprezas. In terms of safety, value for money, equipment level, it is still a very competitive vehicle in the small-car market."He also says the second-hand support of the WRX, and the Impreza in general, proves Subaru is doing a good job. Still, WRX sales are down from their 2000 peak. It will be a couple of years before we see an all-new Impreza, which means the 2006 upgrade work has to get the job done.Subaru Australia concentrated a lot of effort on the basic models, even changing the name to 2.0i and holding the price for the five-speed manual model at $23,990.That price includes front and side airbags, automatic air-con, CD sound, cruise control and the all-wheel drive deal, and is pretty good value even in the hotbed of small-car action.The price of the WRX actually rose, but is still great value at $41,440 and includes the new 2.5-litre engine, xenon low-beam lamps and a big-bore exhaust.To put numbers into the picture, the new powerplant has 169kW and 320Nm, a slight drop in power but a 6.5 per cent boost in torque. And there is always the new nose.We were shocked at first but it is looking more and more familiar, and will be a must-have item for WRX fans as soon as Petter Solberg - or maybe even Australia's Chris Atkinson -- wins a round of the World Rally Championship with the new look."I think WRX is one of the few iconic names in the motor industry," says Senior. "You have to think about names like the Mini Cooper S and the hot Escorts."The recipe is that they are performance cars based on a stock small car, and at an affordable price. And that's the appeal of them. They never over-promise and under-deliver."ON THE ROADI first drove the 2.5-litre WRX at a Subaru test track in Japan. It was a left-hand-drive car for American drivers and it felt more responsive and easier to drive than the car sold in Australia.I was hooked and hoped to see it Down Under. Now it is here.The 2.5 drops a little maximum power from the previous 2-litre turbo four, but 169kW is still more than enough for most people, and the pay-off is a turbo surge from little more than 2000 revs and the extra torque.The result is a car easier to drive fast and not as hard to handle.There has always been some turbo lag in the WRX, but the new car feels to have less - a lot less than an Impreza STi or a Lancer Evo. This means ordinary driving is more relaxed and enjoyable.You can flow the car better along twisting roads without having to push to keep it boosting or compensate for off-boost bits, and it is stronger when overtaking without penalising fuel economy.The engine also seems a better match to the basic WRX, which has become my favourite over the all-or-nothing STi. It makes the whole car feel more mature.I also like the new xenon low-beam lamps, though a full set of the hi-tech headlights would be better. Subaru has always been a bit dim after dark, but is finally getting on the pace.As always, I was happy to slide into the comfy sports buckets and to use the meaty leather-wrapped wheel and smooth five-speed shifter.But I looked deeper this time, at the rear-seat space and comfort, the thinnish sound system, the standard of the carpet and other little things that small-car makers now do well.The Impreza is falling behind. It is not back at the level of a Holden Viva, but it is nowhere close to the Mazda3 and Ford Focus, which are setting the pace and winning most friends in the small-car business.Even cars such as the Renault Megane, which comes as a 225 sports model, are raising questions. And the Golf GTi, a ripper driving car with superior quality, makes a powerful alternative to a WRX, if you can wait three months.The WRX is a special case and will always be a winner because of its pace and the appeal of its all-wheel-drive, but it cannot just be measured against the Lancer Evo.Anyway, the Lancer is getting old and has many similar shortcomings.It is about time Subaru did something to freshen the cabin and took a good look at the rest of the car. We still like the WRX a lot, but it is not love.