2009 WRX, What a Sport Compact Should Be

Fixed. If you needed one word to sum up the changes made to the 2009 WRX, that would be it. Subaru of America has done a fantastic job of distilling the needs and wants of the US-buyer and convincing their Japanese counterparts that America wants a real performance car and not a more “mature,” economical performance car, whatever that is. The 2009 WRX: proof that if you cry loud and hard enough, someone just might listen and give you what you want. You wanted more power? Done. You wanted more aggressive looks? You got it. You wanted better handling and better tires? Your wish is a command. At least the internet is good for something.

With more power, better handling and better tires, Subaru has effectively taken the 2008 WRX and turned it into a factory tuned car for 2009. A bigger turbo, upgraded suspension and steering rack and more aggressive looks makes the 2009 car a real head-turner in both performance and styling.

Before we get to the driving portion of our program, let’s recap what’s new for the 2009 WRX. Two words this time: Power and Handling.

This is the most powerful WRX ever released into the United States. With a larger turbo and much more aggressive tuning than that of the 2008 model, this WRX manages to deliver massive quantities of torque and horsepower with just a dab of the throttle and it does so without that Si Drive nonsense. This car feels like a GD STI, albeit a little more refined and with a tad less power.

Bury your right foot in the carpet and the car surges forward, all at once. Gone is the hesitating and lurching of the 2008 model that would dole out power in jerking stages. This car just goes. Need to pass someone on a tight mountain road? No problem, just stomp on it in just about any gear, the turbo bangs to life and the car rockets ahead.

It was on the holiday traffic-choked back-roads of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada that this “power to pass” showcased the additional power of the new car. According to Subaru, the 2009 WRX makes all of its 244 lb/ft of torque by 3,000rpm and holds it almost all the way to redline. The 2008 TD04-powered car would start to lose breath at extra-legal speeds, the 2009, however, just keeps charging as horsepower also climbs through redline. This turbo may be perfectly matched to the EJ255 and will be a great upgrade to anyone unlucky enough to have bought a 2008.

Part of the power-delivery equation seems to be a strengthened transmission. The Subaru 5-speed has never been known as a monster gearbox and has continually been upgraded over the years. Once again it has received enhanced internals that will, hopefully, be up to the task of handling the added power. Although I am sure that side-stepping the clutch will still be the quick way to shredding your transmission.

The biggest change is in handling. It is hard to believe that this car is based on the same chassis as the 2008 WRX, so drastic are the improvements. And we are not talking huge changes either; re-valved dampers, stiffer springs and 1mm larger sway bars front and back. That is all. The steering rack was also revised a bit as well, but the changes are seemingly minimal. Also, the addition of Dunlop SP Sport rubber in 225/45 R17 makes a world of difference. No more blaming poor performance on the crap RE92s that Subaru has insisted on using on just about everything since… ever; this new tire is the final ingredient in a potent package.

The biggest help does come from the steering rack and the dampers. Even our brief 2008 WRX project car with springs, sway bars and tires, couldn’t compete with the 2009 WRX.

Go into a sharp bend and flick the wheel and the car hooks and turns without protest. Where the old car would wallow and sea-saw back and forth on its suspension and fight quick steering inputs, the 2009 WRX feels planted and sure-footed. The stiffer dampers have done much to reduce the body lean and roll in the new car as well as the stiffer springs and sway bars. Over rough and undulating pavement (which in Canada, rough pavement is denoted with an orange sign with three humps on it) the car never felt rough or unstable. In fact, I marveled at how hard you could push the car over questionable surfaces without upsetting the balance. Like a car set up for tarmac rally.

Subaru was kind enough to set up a gravel stage just to prove how quick and well-thought-out the car is. And with the addition of a set of soft gravel tires, the WRX showed just how capable it is. When I say rally stage, I mean it. This was a loose-gravel road cut through the trees. On either side were pines big enough to give you a bad day, a swamp and then some boulders, just to keep you on your toes. Luckily, we did have some professional drivers that acted as our co-drivers with helpful ideas on when to brake and turn the wheel and where the road might be headed.  I must confess that in my hands the car was no where near as quick as it was when the pros took over, but my god, what a ride! Sideways around a decreasing radius sweeper in a stock car while looking at trees fly by is one of those moments that I will never forget. In a proper rally car with a cage and racing seats, it’s not such big a deal. In a road car with none of those safety features, it’s a much bigger deal.

On the “track” (really a big autocross course,) the car is a delight. Fast, quick to turn in, stable through the corners and able to pull away from braking zones without hesitation, it sets the standard for what a sport-compact should be. Through the quick switchback sections of the course, I was able to fling the car at will and it never got tripped-up nor had that slogging feeling that the 2008 had. It was like I could go one direction really fast, and once something got in my way, I would turn and the car would do it; brilliant!  There is still understeer. When I mentioned this last point to Subaru I was reminded that Subaru’s have always pushed, it is the way they set-up the suspension to keep it safer for novice drivers and bad weather, which is where many of these cars end up being driven, through the rain and foul weather.

The car still has some little foibles. It does feel a bit cheaper still than the GD Impreza did. It in no way is the raw car that the older Impreza was and it still has the buffered feeling that all drive-by-wire cars seem to have. But this car captures the essence of what the Impreza was and is: A cheap, fast box that corners like a swinging ax, and accelerates like there is a rocket on your bumper.

Story by Travis Geny
Photos by Ryan Douthit & Subaru of America

For a video review of this car, visit our sister-site, www.drivingsports.com

Comments

[Roger B]

Thanks for the review, but please take a writing class before you post another article.

[darren L]

good to know, but the styling is subjective, i find it lame and generic (like a total rip off and modernizing of a protege3), and much prefer any model from 99-05, i think its lost its soul in the looks department and was a major reason why i decided on a 09 lancer gts when my 04 rs lease was up, and i a huge huge suby fan,. i feel like they don't care to alienate there fans, in order to get a more mainstream appeal.. i guess that toyotas influence though.. i guess thats what we have to look forward to a world full of toyotas and similar looking cars

[Bobby]

Fixed. If you needed one word to some up the changes

You mean "sum"?

Throw on 40 HP and magically it's the WRX we've all been waiting for. Throw on an Sti grill and magically it's the way the WRX should have always looked. I don't understand... I thought the AWD and boxer engine made subaru awesome.

[darren L]

they do, but you still gotta look at it.. and explain to everyone why you bought such an ugly car

[matt]

Not gonna lie - I dig the Suby styling on most the Impreza models... The 05 sedans are still my favorite - and I wouldn't ever buy an 08/09 sedan - but the wagon is still pretty tight... and what's under the car makes it all worth it. (Agreed on the lame socalled 'redesign' for 09... 07 to 08 was a huge change... the grille and some HP is a minor change claimed to be huge.)

Is there something other than HP, the wing, and the grille that is different for this year that I haven't noticed yet?

[andrew]

it's still an ugly car... the grille is personal preference... the rear wing is what it should have had in the first place... it's still missing the huge fender flares it deserves. at least they finally gave it the power. too bad the rest of the "updates" were simply SPT options from the 08 model. save your money, buy an 08 and mod it.

[supafastR]

Ummm... yeah, where's the "butt" view, 'cause I bet it's still BUTT UGLY!!! - sorry, couldn't help it, but Subaru seriously disappointed the vast majority of us on the looks dept. More refined is cool by me, but how about: Lancer, Eclipse, Acura, BMW, M-Benz even, more refined... not Chrysler, Toyota, Saturn, Ford-ugly refined.

Power and handling on a solid Subaru platform is sweet, but I can't see myself ever buying something that looks like that. Good thing my 03' has a fresh STi in it 'cause I'm going to have to keep it for awhile until they fix the "new and improved" car up in the looks department.

[rassy]

It's grown on me over the year - but refine the already attractive car (the 07 and before models) rather than try to break in with something ripped off of the Saab or MazdaSpeed3.... (I know suby made the Saab 92x - but don't follow that style.)

[raray]

Can't wait, I have an 08 Impreza sport 5dr. I want to trade it in for the 09GT or WRX. Not sure what the Canadian price points are going to be yet. The 08's were a bit over priced. Hope the WRX stays around the 30,000 mark (give or take..)

Anyone know the specific model of tire for the 09 WRX.

[subie fan]

I have to disagree with you all. I loved my bugeye wrx, and even though this car is much different, I still like it a lot. I was close to buying an 08, but didn't for all the obvious reasons, but it sounds like most issues are now addressed in 09 (aside from the cheap feeling interior).

Now I'll have to use the 09 as motivation to get my 08 forester's power and handling past this level.

[giggles]

I love my 02 WRX too my man. But why waste the money upping a Forester to match something that costs LESS, has more power, has better parts, and has a sweet style to it (verses a lez soccer mom/old people style)

[Rally Fan]

no one ever seems to realize that the reason we even have a WRX is because of WRC, the body style was changed to the 5 door platform to make the car more competitive in WRC, the WRX brand image was built on its rally heritage so if you want to buy a rally car for the masses then you get a five door, because the balance of the focus hatch back is what enabled them dominate the championship last season

[Waiting for 2010]

As you can tell from my screen name, I cannot stand the appearance of this Impreza (corolla with a hood scoop). What is the point of patching something that cannot be fixed.
I would not care if it had 400hp and was priced at $20,000. This thing is embarrasing. And I have proof- my mother told me, " I think it looks nice. It's practical."

How many people used to fix up an AMC Gremlin just to realize that it was a feat of futility.

[Dean]

I would not waste my money on this. My 02 blue wrx is paid off and I'd rather put a few grand into it for more performance and looks. This way it looks the way *I* want it to look.

I'm also waiting for 2010.

[WRX_SEX]

I own an 08 WRX HB. Currently i'm running Perrin's stage 2 kit (Acessport, Turboback Exhaust), Cobb's Stage 2 Suspension (Sways, Springs), and various exterior mads (JDM grill, O.Z. Wheels, tinted tails, etc...)

THIS CAR F%#^IN' ROCKS

Love to hate on 'em when you don't know ballsack on what they're capable of? That's fine, when my (VERY SICK LOOKING) 248awhp 326lb/ft WRX sends you off the road from my flyby wake, I'll have the last laugh.

Hate on.....

[08rexrock]

my 08 4 dr rex is the shit. don't have a single regret buying it. so it's softer than the previous model and the 09. what the hell do you buy these cars for... you f**kin tune em' to make them what you want. subies no matter what year are the perfect platforms to start with.

[Craig]

Gee, a few more HP, new tyres/suspension and now suddenly the critics are calling it great. But I have always known that. I received a great price deal on my 08 WRX premium (with sports grill) with no worries about it's history. Modded it to my liking for not much money and have been basically driving a 09+ performing car since June. My wife has the 07 impreza and it looks so old against mine in the flesh.

[Waiting for 2010]

There is always a buyer for everything, I guess? With enough make-up and money, you can even make Rosie ODonnell look presentable. That does not mean that you would not want rather start with an Eva Mendes.
I am sure that there are some Toyota Corollas out there that are running 12's in the quarter mile. I would not want to be seen in one.

[Jay]

I got my 08 wrx, kinda regretted it at first once i found out about the 09 subies. still with 3500 off of the msrp for my car, i know i can mod the 08 the way i want it, more than the 09. still the 09 is a good option if you dont plan on modding ur subie...then again, why get a subie??? =P

now to get the sti front bumper and wing...

[Waiting for 2010]

The recent article in Car and Driver just confirmed that Subaru had abandoned its fan base. The mighty STI performed miserably against the other contenders. It even lost to a $22,000 Cobalt.
The only way to alter Subaru's decisions and policies is to abandon them at the dealerships as they have us. Also, stop rationalizing and making excuses for their pathetic family oriented Impreza.

"my 08 4 dr rex is the shit. don't have a single regret buying it."

"THIS CAR F%#^IN' ROCKS"

Did you see how, in one year, they revamped the Impreza because of low sales volume? Did they offer the poor slobs a refund or credit for getting stuck with the 08 WRX? I SAY THAT SUBARU CAN DO BETTER IN 2010.... If we don't buy their 09's.

[Zeke 555]

I just did a back to back to back (and one more back) comparo of my 03 WRX wagon, an 07 Limited wagon, an 08 WRX hatch, an 08 STI and an 09 hatch. Well ok, it was over a month really.

09 Rocks. Period. STI is the best looking, and absolutely monster round the bends, but for 10k less you get nearly as much car at the limit, and 100% of the same in daily driving... aside from the looks.

My 03? Still feels like the original thing. 07 Limited wagon just feels like a torquier (and better looking) version of my car. 08? Lets just say I feel bad for everyone who supported this model.

[MDSubieFan]

It's funny to me that the only thing people can find wrong with the new car are the looks. Form before function seems to be more important. The 08/09 sedan is a bit plain, but the hatch is very attractive IMHO. Very European looking, but then again, hatchbacks are the thing in Europe. Not that the old cars were not attractive, but the improved 09 is easily the best WRX yet. If you're worried about impressing teenage girls with gold rims and body kits, then I guess the new WRX isn't for you. If you're looking for a great, well rounded performance car for not a lot of coin, then the 09 is the ticket. Try to take a Cobalt SS, Caliber SRT-4 or the Mazdaspeed3 through the gravel, snow or mud. Not going to happen. The WRX is the original and still the best.

[Chik'n'stu]

OK. Let's be real and think now.
First off, the guy who said...a few more horses and torque big deal...well sorry your angry because you could've saved 10k if you didnt buy an 08 STI. The new WRX has 265hp 244lbs torque, an STI 13.1 pound turbo, new exhaust and converter..and soo much stiffer. Briefly put, the new WRX for 10 grand less is steppin on STI's toes. Yes its been tested for 0-60 under 5 sec through car and driver, faster than the STI at 4.7 sec STOCK... Now for looks.. cmon, change that grille to a sport(optional factory)..put mud flaps on it...and face it..clear STI tailights are UGLY. The hatch is bulging and ugly.. Just look at the rear of the standard 09 WRX. Nice tailights(red), and 2 sweet looking exhaust on both sides. Nuff said, I'm buying my 09 sedan.

[waiting for 2010]

Are you suggesting that the appearance of a car is irrelevant? Form can be just as important as function to many people. Especially since it costs the same amount of money to produce an attractive car vs a car that is "a bit plain".
There is a reason why they do not produce the AMC Pacer body style any longer.

My point is that Subaru can do both as they did in the past- before they went on this quest for broader appeal. In other words, "broader appeal" translates to luring housewives and soccer moms to purchase the WRX. Subaru already has the Forester and Outback for the "broader appeal" issue. They should have left the WRX out of it since it's an enthusiats' car; furthermore, as long as you continue to negate and rationalize the appearance of the WRX, they won't have to do both (Form and Function).

[08' WRX Satin White Saloon]

I have dreamed of owning a Subaru since the first time I chose the 2.5RS on GT for Playstation. I have watched the bodies change every year, and listened to the critics squash each and every one of them, and then come around later on saying they got it right this time.

I hated the 08', I dropped my subi flag and marched right into the Mitsubishi dealership and sat in the Lancer GTS thinking this would be it. Then I realized that it wasn't a Subaru, and it looked F@#$^ing cheap, it drove like a tin can, and had a dealer saying something about 168 in my ear.

08's and 09's will even out, I love my 08'. Thats not to say I wish I held out another year for the 09'.