Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback (2007 – 2010) expert review

The Subaru Impreza WRX is the motoring equivalent of a fighter jet – form takes a back seat to function, and it has a design which looks honed by mechanics rather than stylists. The bonnet air scoop might have been toned down for the new model, but it’s still vast and gives onlookers the biggest hint at the performance available. The new hatchback body is least successful viewed from the side, where it looks like a pastiche of BMW 1 Series and Ford Focus. All who commented on the WRX said it was very definitely aimed towards the male market.

Critics have always pointed out the failings in the Impreza’s interior, and while the all-new car has moved things on, it still falls short of the competition. The cockpit of a Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf GTI or Honda Civic Type-R feel significantly more modern and expensive. The seats in the Impreza are comfortable and offer pretty good support in corners while the driving position is excellent.

Subaru’s decision to make the latest Impreza a hatchback was mainly driven by its desire for its biggest selling model to enter the mainstream and compete more directly for sales with cars like the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and Vauxhall Astra. Its boot space is slightly down (301-litres) compared with the Ford Focus (385-litres), because the extra four-wheel drive hardware fitted to the rear axle prohibits its depth. If compared with more overtly sporting machinery which has similar performance to the Impreza WRX (think Honda S2000 and BMW Z4) it’s a paragon of practicality, with five-doors and plenty of interior space.

The WRX took us by surprise – we were expecting stiff suspension and quite a busy ride, but the handling is actually quite soft. Don’t think this means it lacks grip either, the extra sticking power four-wheel drive offers makes up for any play in the suspension. Over rough roads and in foul weather the WRX shows its rallying roots and will happily outpace most front-wheel drive hot hatches. Our only criticism is the steering, which fails to give the driver enough feedback. You have to trust the chassis to deliver its grip, rather than rely on the steering for information.

Power arrives in a smooth wave and accelerates the WRX with a solid punch which relies as much on mid-range torque as it does on power. The 2.5-litre ‘boxer’ engine is turbocharged and produces 227bhp and 236lb/ft of pulling power. Both full power and torque arrive early in the rev range (5,200rpm and 2,800rpm respectively) so this is not an engine which needs to be wrung out to get at its performance. Acceleration from 0-60mph takes 6.1 seconds, which is best-in-class performance. It’s top speed of 130mph is disappointing compared with the 150mph Focus ST and 155mph Mazda 3 MPS.

The Impreza WRX is good value-for-money on the forecourt, but buyers should carefully consider their longer-term budget before taking the plunge, because the WRX is not a cheap car to run. Subaru claims an average fuel consumption of 27.2mpg, but the best we could manage was 24.9mpg and it’s hard to resist the urge of such easy bursts of fuel-sapping acceleration. Emissions of 246g/km place it in one of the highest tax bands, and it’s in insurance group 18, making it out of reach of most young drivers.

Subaru regularly undertake the most rigorous testing possible, contesting the Subaru Impreza in the World Rally Championship. The engineering knowledge which has filtered down during these years of competition has helped make the Impreza a tough car, with few common faults. Be wary of crash damage and be aware Impreza owner’s often take their cars on track days, and check for signs of irregular tyre wear and other signs of abuse.

Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags are fitted as standard along with Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution to help prevent skids.

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear spoilers, side skirts, a rear bumper diffuser, leather-covered steering wheel and gear knob, rear limited-slip differential, 10-speaker radio/6-CD multi-changer and xenon headlamps.

Driving the Subaru Impreza WRX gives you the sense more money has been spent on the mechanical components of the car than its styling or creature comforts. If this tallies with your priorities when buying a car and performance is high on your wish list you will love the WRX.