2011 Subaru Impreza WRX: Performance and personality!

After a complete overhaul in 2008, the Impreza line is still running strong. They’ve all adopted a similar, homogenous style, and it’s working for them. In fact, Impreza sales have shot way up since the new generation was released. The most popular is the wagon, which is winning buyers over with its improved looks and practicality. Sporty, stylish and featuring terrific AWD, maybe it’s no surprise that this vehicle is so successful.

For 2011, Subaru is making a few modifications to the WRX, mainly to correct any criticisms it received in the past. Many complained that the WRX had not done enough to set itself apart from the base Impreza in terms of its looks (the kind of thing you think about when you’ve spent thousands extra for a sportier version). This concern is essentially what fuelled most of the changes to the 2011 model.

An STI on the outside

Even at first glance, you’re going to notice changes made to the  2011 WRX’s. In fact, you might even mistake it for an STI, the high-performance edition that is back this year in a four-door version. Yes, that’s how much the WRX’s looks take after the STI – and it’s almost certainly something that buyers are going to like. Goodbye timid appearance, the Impreza WRX has panache! Subaru has brought back its airs of nobility. It all starts with a wider body for beefed up presence. The front features a more prominent air intake, and the set of skirts improves its aerodynamics. On the sides, you’ll note wider fenders with functional air intakes behind the wheel. Add to this new, more stylized wheels, which also happen to be lighter.

At the rear, there’s a new quadruple exhaust with a low-lying spoiler. Actually, the spoiler is what will help you quickly distinguish the WRX from its older sister the STI (big sis is decked out with a much bigger spoiler). But with all this, the Impreza WRX is a world apart from the base models. And yet, you have to wonder if Subaru has corrected the problem, or just shifted it over. Now, they run the risk of irking STI buyers, whose vehicles are now practically indistinguishable from the WRX (except for the spoiler, of course).

Inside, the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX is mostly unchanged, save for a new instrumentation layout. The tachometer is now bigger, more visible and placed in the middle. Full marks for the new sound system, which delivers better sound and offers improved connectivity options. Subaru isn’t known by audiophiles for its sweet sound, but this time you’ve got to acknowledge the effort. Aside from that, the WRX focuses on being sporty and sober (as opposed to luxurious and comfortable). The seats offer good support and a relatively comfortable on long drives – much better than the Mistubishi Lancer Evolution and Ralliart, which are more extreme. Attention has been paid to the fit and trim, and the materials seem good too. Above all else, we appreciated the driving position and the feel of the steering wheel. You really get the impression that you’re in control of the vehicle!

On the road

We had the chance to take the new WRX out for a few laps on a racetrack, and its sport qualities earned full marks. While the vehicle’s looks have been transformed for 2011, the mechanics remain unchanged. Since 2009, the WRX has come equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Boxer that delivers 265 hp at 6,000 rpm and 244 lbs-ft at 4,000 rpm. This power is more than acceptable and more than enough to deliver on this car’s athletic aspirations. We expected the engine to be less economical and noisier at cruising speed, given that the manual gearbox has only five speeds (as opposed to six on the STI). But, surprise, surprise, the gears are well spaced. The transmissions draws every ounce of power  out of the engine, while keeping revs low enough in fifth for more pleasant driving. The engineers also tweaked the muffler sounds, making them richer and more muffled. Perhaps that’s just a detail, but true fans will appreciate it.

Even though the mechanics haven’t changed, performance is up thanks to the vehicle’s improved road handling. First off, it has a wider wheelbase (5 mm) and track width. These changes also made it possible to adder wider 17-inch tires, which increase the car’s stability. The suspension has been given different settings and other changes, lending the vehicle better support when cornering and minimizing weight transfer. In short, road handling is greatly improved. However, reduced suspension clearance means reduced comfort. We took a few hard hits when going over bumps.

The WRX’s hidden weapon is its excellent constant AWD that distributes power 50/50. This is a major advantage over competitors with FWD. Regardless of weather or road conditions, this vehicle delivers with confidence, making you feel more secure. Equip the WRX with good winter tires and you’ll have truly fast car that’s fun to drive in winter, even during storms. The AWD boasts great performance in snow, while enhancing the vehicle’s performance on the circuit. By distributing torque to all four wheels, it gives you better exits out of corners.

The 2011 Impreza WRX is more attractive than ever, and its new clothes are sure to catch your eye.