Competitor Showcase: The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Considering a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI? Drive These Cars Before You Buy.

The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is one of the hottest compact performance machines on the market. Modeled after the same vehicles that helped Subaru achieve great success in the World Rally Championship, the WRX STI is a hatchback whose aggressive bodywork and aerodynamic treatment helps to set it apart from the standard Subaru Impreza. A hood scoop, rear wing and large front fascia indicates to other drivers that this is no ordinary econo-box. STI logos embroidered on the vehicle’s sport seats along with a special steering wheel and gauges complete the impression in the vehicle’s interior.

Priced at $34,995, the WRX STI is a favorite amongst driving enthusiasts, and it’s not hard to see why. The vehicle’s 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder engine is turbocharged to provide 305 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque, channeled through a superb all-wheel drive system by a 6-speed manual transmission. Aside from spectacular handling in dry, wet and even snowy conditions, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds. This has made the vehicle one of the top choices for amateur rally and road racing teams, as well as for those who want a performance car but are forced to regularly deal with winter driving conditions.

While the Subaru WRX STI maybe be one of the most popular performance compacts on the road, it does face some fairly stiff competition from other manufacturers offering their own take on the small, quick and nimble formula. Before handing over your hard earned cash to your local friendly Subaru dealer, make sure you test drive each of these four vehicles which offer very similar performance and aggressive styling when compared against the WRX STI.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – MSRP $32,990

The longtime traditional foe of Subaru rally machines, the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a vehicle with a distinguished motorsports history of its own. Based on the Lancer compact platform, the Evolution is a pure sports car that is filled to the brim with high tech innovation. Its Super All-Wheel Control system uses a computer to manage the amount of torque sent to each wheel through the vehicle’s active center differential and active stability control. Yaw control is also integrated into the Evolution’s rear differential in order to keep the vehicle extremely controllable no matter how hard it is thrown into a corner. The vehicle’s handling characteristics can be customized by the driver for three different settings, which include tarmac, gravel and ice. This gives the Lancer Evolution a unique versatility not often seen in a performance car.

The centerpiece of the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is its turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine. Displacing 2.0 liters, this engineering marvel produces 291 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, and thanks to variable-valve timing and a new turbo design lag is almost non-existent. This power, combined with the grip of the vehicle’s all-wheel drive system allows the Lancer Evolution to sprint to 60 miles per hour in right around 5 seconds, as well as rip through the quarter mile in the high 13’s, trapping around 115 miles per hour. Brembo brakes help to haul the vehicle down from triple-digit speeds without any drama. The Evolution can be ordered in base GSR trim, which includes a 5-speed manual transmission, or the more content-heavy MR trim, which substitutes a 6-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission that the company claims is the most efficient way to move through the vehicle’s gears.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a bit more hardcore than the WRX STI, but it offers a slight edge in terms of performance in return for a less refined interior and ride.

2009 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 – MSRP $22,740

Not all compact sports cars go the all-wheel drive route. The 2009 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 follows the time-honored tradition of taking a small, lightweight vehicle and dumping a powerful engine in it in order to tickle the fancies of lead-footed buyers. The 2009 MAZDASPEED3 is available as a hatchback only, and it grafts a spoiler and a sport exhaust system onto the otherwise unchanged exterior, giving the car a somewhat sleeper feel. One significant change to the platform that can’t be seen by the casual observer is an undercarriage cover that improves airflow and increases high-speed stability. Special 18-inch wheels and HID headlights round out the package. The passenger compartment of the hatchback is similarly low-key, although aluminum pedals are standard and the sport seats are emblazoned with the “MAZDASPEED” logo. The MAZDASPEED3 can be ordered in either Sport or Grand Touring trim, with the latter including the option of a navigation system and XM satellite radio.

The front-wheel drive layout of the 2009 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 is one of the biggest differences between this vehicle and the WRX STI. More street racer than rally pro, the MAZDASPEED3 nevertheless manages to impress with its 2.3 liter, direct-injection 4-cylinder motor. A single turbocharger works hard to produce 263 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, which allows the hatchback to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds – still very competitive. A limited-slip front differential does its best to reduce the effects of torque-steer as well as provide ample grip during hard launches. The only available transmission is a 6-speed manual unit.

Priced well below the 2009 Subaru WRX STI, the 2009 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 is a veritable bargain for those who don’t require the traction of all-wheel drive but who still crave lightning-fast acceleration and spirited handling.

2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe – MSRP $30,375

New for 2009 is the hardtop edition of Pontiac’s newest roadster, the Solstice GXP Coupe. This slick-looking vehicle’s removable targa roof completely changes the appearance of the somewhat ungainly convertible and gives it more fluid styling. The GXP trim features a significantly upgraded drivetrain when compared to the base coupe. Its 2.0 liter, direct-injection 4-cylinder engine is turbocharged in order to produce 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle can be equipped with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission, and Pontiac claims that the Solstice GXP Coupe can hit 60 miles per hour in just 5.5 seconds. Unlike the WRX STI, the Solstice GXP is rear-wheel drive, which gives it a classic sports car feel when driven at the limit. It also reduces the sensation of understeer inherent in many all-wheel and front-wheel drive platforms.

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe is also unique in that it is a two-seater, which makes it far less practical than the Subaru but adds a certain charm for those who want to embrace its traditional sports car image. The GXP model features a much higher level of equipment than the regular Coupe, providing buyers with power windows and door locks, cruise control, a leather wrapped steering wheel and nicer 18-inch wheels wrapped in performance rubber. Leather seats are available, as are a rear spoiler and an upgraded stereo system.

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe is very quick, stunning to look at and a definite departure from the driving dynamics of the Subaru WRX STI. It gives off a more mature image while still allowing for immature antics such as burn-outs and donuts, in addition to serious track fun.

2009 Ford Mustang GT – MSRP $27,210

At first glance, it might seem like the 2009 Ford Mustang GT is the odd man out on this list. After all, it doesn’t boast a turbo, not does it provide exotic computer-controlled all-wheel drive. What it does provide, however, is a startling amount of performance for a reasonable amount of money – and in a compact package. Much has been written about the Mustang GT’s retro design, and in many ways it is one of the more attractive vehicles on this list. It is certainly less anonymous than the Subaru, which may be a plus or a minus depending upon the point of view of the buyer. Also far from anonymous is the sound that the vehicle’s dual exhaust makes when the driver presses down on the go-pedal. The Mustang’s calling card is its rugged muscle-car charm, and it possesses a road presence that most other compact cars do not.

The 2009 Ford Mustang GT compares quite well to the Subaru WRX STI in terms of power and acceleration. The coupe’s 4.6 liter V8 engine provides ample motivation: 300 ponies and 320 lb-ft of torque are on tap low in the power band, and a 5-speed manual is used to direct that grunt to the Mustang’s rear wheels. Acceleration to 60 miles per hour occurs in a mere 4.9 seconds, and the quarter mile disappears in just 13.5 seconds. In terms of handling, the Mustang is somewhat hampered by its live rear axle, which gives the WRX STI an advantage when it comes time to slide around a hairpin.

The 2009 Ford Mustang GT is a car that appeals more to the heart – or the gut – than to the intellect. It is hard to deny the primal appeal of a big V8 engine, and combined with its affordable price the Mustang GT makes a formidable alternative to the WRX STI. However, the Ford is less track-ready than the Subaru, which should be taken into consideration by amateur club racers looking for a dual street / track ride.