Used 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium 5-Door Sedan Review & Ratings

The Subaru Impreza WRX Premium 5-Door is a turbocharged version of the Subaru Impreza sedan. Like all Subaru vehicles, it comes equipped with AWD. The WRX is available in sedan or wagon variations. The WRX variation of the Impreza was first introduced to the Japanese in 1992. Australia, Europe, and New Zealand releases followed shortly afterwards. The WRX first featured a 2.0 liter engine (and later a 2.5 liter variant) version of the 4-Boxer engine found in Subaru's EJ series. In comparison with the base Impreza sedan model, the WRX also has bigger brakes, lower profile tires, thicker wheels, and stronger, better-quality suspension components. The WRX began its American tour in 2001 when it was labeled as a 2002 model year. So, now you that you have a brief history of this new, sporty Impreza, we'll move to the review: We have a lot of positive words to say about the new WRX, but we have to admit, we weren't overly "wowed" by this vehicle. The new WRX doesn't have the traditional "best-in-class" designation that most companies like to boast about- in truly any category. It's not the most powerful; it doesn't have the roomiest interior, and it doesn't even have a jaw-droopingly comprehensive warranty. The major component the new Impreza has that its competitors don't have is standard AWD. Subaru made a name for itself with this offering in the early days of the company, and it continues to offer the feature on its vehicles as standard to this day.

Subaru is hoping to get one best-in-class mention, and that's in the drivability department. A new 2.0-liter flat-4 engine leads to extremely engaging steers and heads the substantially impressive driving package the sporty 2012 WRX offers. The most impressive attribute of the new Impreza, compared to previous models, however, is its improved interior. The cabin is simple and elegant. It doesn't try to be too "trendy" (which can lead to look "gimmicky"), but some of the plastics could be of better quality- as could the leather wrap on the steering wheel. One cool feature the WRX Premium does offer inside is its fixed integrated head restraints. These have more movement than any adjustable seats we've seen before, and they're just plain fun. The exterior of the WRX, like most Subarus, leaves something to be desired, but it does look a lot better than last year's version. The front end is more aggressive and has more angular-shaped headlights. A fresh grille looks a lot like the 2010 Legacy-and should be present on many more of models in Subaru's future.