By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National September 15, 2008Vehicle Overview
The Impreza is available as a sedan or hatchback. Trim levels include the naturally aspirated four-cylinder 2.5i and Outback Sport, as well as turbocharged 2.5GT and WRX models. All can be had with a manual or automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard. Competitors include the Mazda3 and Volkswagen Jetta.
A 300-horsepower Impreza WRX STI topped the previous model line, but Subaru has not yet released details on the STI version for 2009.
(Skip to details on the Impreza Outback Sport and WRX)
New for 2009
The Impreza gets brake assist and incline-start assist, plus a new sport 2.5GT option. The WRX gets an added boost of power as well as some sporty tuning changes.
Exterior
Like the previous Impreza, this one comes in both hatchback and sedan body styles. The sedan is 180.3 inches long and 68.5 inches wide; the hatchback is 173.8 inches long and the same width as the sedan. The sedan is the longest and narrowest of the competition.
- Available 16- or 17-inch wheels
- Standard dual tailpipes (sedan)
- Standard body-colored door handles and mirrors
- Standard power mirrors (heated on 2.5GT)
- Standard rear lip spoiler (hatchback)
- Functional hood scoop on 2.5GT
- Optional fog lamps (standard on 2.5GT)
- Optional power tilt/slide glass sunroof (standard on 2.5GT)
Interior
The interior has a businesslike austerity to it. Metallic inlays flank the center controls, and the center console houses an optional navigation system. All models come with a 60/40-split fold-down backseat. The hatch gets a cargo area cover and tie-down hooks. Both models provide 94.4 cubic feet of passenger volume, and there's 11.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the sedan's trunk. That number jumps to 19 cubic feet in the hatch. These numbers are competitive with the competition.
- Standard air conditioning
- Standard cruise control
- Standard power windows and locks
- Automatic climate control on 2.5GT
- Optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter (standard on 2.5GT)
- Optional touch-screen navigation and Bluetooth
Under the Hood
All models now get four disc brakes instead of last year's rear drum setup, providing better performance.
- 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 pounds-feet of torque
- 224-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 226 pounds-feet of torque (2.5GT)
- Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
- Sport-tuned suspension (2.5GT)
Safety
All Imprezas include an impressive array of safety features.
- Standard side impact and side-curtain airbags
- Standard electronic stability system with traction control
- Standard antilock brakes with brake-force distribution and brake assist
- Standard incline-start assist (only on manual-transmission versions)
- Standard daytime running lamps
Impreza Outback Sport
The Impreza Outback Sport is a more rugged Impreza, similar to how Volvo distinguishes the V70 from the XC70. It's only available as a four-door hatchback featuring a two-tone appearance, with the lower section of the body a contrasting silver hue.
- 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 pounds-feet of torque
- Five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
- Heavy-duty raised suspension
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Dual-mode heated front seats
- 10-speaker surround-sound system
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WRX
The WRX is the sportiest Impreza, competing with the Mazdaspeed3 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. For 2009, the WRX gets a more powerful version of the turbocharged four-cylinder engine. New suspension tuning has higher-rate springs, larger-diameter stabilizer bars and dedicated damping force tuning for sharper handling response.
Newly standard is an Aero Package featuring an STI-type grille with a WRX badge; new tailpipe tips for WRX four-door sedans; and aluminum-alloy pedal covers, including one for the driver's footrest. The WRX is available in both hatchback and sedan forms, but only comes with the five-speed manual transmission.
- 265-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 244 pounds-feet of torque
- Five-speed manual transmission
- 17-inch alloy wheels with performance tires
- WRX-tuned suspension
- Carbon black cloth performance seats with red stitching
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter with red stitching
- Automatic climate control
- 10-speaker surround-sound system
- Power tilt/slide glass moonroof
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Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Bill Jackson | Cars.com National | July 17, 2009 |
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | December 22, 2008 |
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | October 24, 2008 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | September 15, 2008 |
Affiliate Reviews
| G. Chambers Williams III | Star-Telegram.com | May 1, 2009 |
| Warren Brown | washingtonpost.com | February 1, 2009 |
| Tom Strongman | KansasCity.com | January 29, 2009 |
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