Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

When searching for a performance compact car under $30,000, you'll find you have plenty of options. Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley suggests you check out the Subaru Impreza WRX. Hanley looks at how the hatchback stacks up against its main competitor, the Mazdaspeed3, and weighs the merits of paying a little more for performance and safety. Read his full review to find out if the Impreza WRX deserves your attention over the competition.

2009 Subaru Impreza Review

Comments

[Paul]

The WRXs main competitor would be the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO.That like the WRX is turbo and AWD.

[DL]

Paul,

most people actually consider the STI as the direct competitor to the EVO.

Interestingly, depending on the publication you read, the new WRX (not the Impreza GT) is almost as fast as, sometimes even FASTER than, the current STI.

regardless, until we get the hot hatch version of the Lancer Ralliart (?never?), you cannot compare the Ralliart or the EVO to the hatch version of the WRX/STI.

[J]

Is this a review of the car, or a comparison to the Mazdaspeed3?

[rev]

The Evo costs $10k+ more than the WRX and is not its competition. Evo/STI. WRX/Ralliart.

[J]

But according to Motor Trend, the Ralliart is using some soft suspensions like the regular Lancer. I wondered how will it stack up against the WRX, not the 2.5GT.