Of the compact Impreza's many versions, the WRX is in the middle - more powerful than the regular models but not as unfettered as the WRX STI. Available in sedan and four-door hatchback forms, the 2011 WRX receives extensive exterior and interior changes that move it closer to the STI in style, though its drivetrain remains the same.
The WRX has adopted the 2010 STI model's wider body and more aggressive exterior.
Because the current-generation STI had been available only as a hatchback, the wide-body styling appears on a sedan for the first time this year in both the WRX sedan and an all-new STI sedan. It includes wider fenders and squared-off bumpers. The grille is now black; gone is the previous model year's chrome bar. Carrying over from last year are a prominent hood scoop, to funnel air into the turbo's intercooler, and a spoiler on the hatchback's liftgate. The WRX sedan has an optional spoiler on the trunklid that's more subtle than the STI's. The sedan's taillights are red, whereas the hatch has clear lenses.
The widening isn't limited to the body. The distance between the left and right wheels, known as the vehicle's track, is 1.5 inches wider. The WRX's suspension is firmer than the regular Impreza's, and for 2011 it has slight changes, including firmer rear bushings. The standard wheels are 17 inches, and this year they're 8 inches wide, up from 7 inches, for more grip.
All WRX models employ a turbocharged version of Subaru's 2.5-liter four-cylinder that generates 265 horsepower and 244 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed manual is the only transmission, and the standard all-wheel drive uses a viscous coupling center differential rather than the more sophisticated system that works with an automatic transmission in the more modest Imprezas.
By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com
April 21, 2010
Vehicle Overview