2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Road Test Review
Impreza WRX STI Photos
The wait to drive a 2009 Subaru WRX STI liftback was excruciating. Each time I was scheduled over the past three months, something would happen, from a journalist’s faux pas to other media duties for the car.
Finally, the Alpine White (on charcoal suede) STI appeared for airport pickup as scheduled and, happily, the wait was worth it.
Where Subaru once marketed the WRX STI as a sedan, it now arrives in the guise of a five-door liftback. Where once the STI sprouted a rear wing as high as an elephant’s eye, it now has a mild harelip at the tip of the hatch to aid aerodynamic flow. So, what was initially a screaming zonker of a sedan has now morphed into a stealth fighter, one that can eat up the road easily without making a big fuss about it.
There are little aero tweaks here and there that announce this is not your usual Subaru Impreza wagon. Slits in the front fenders for air intake, functional hood scoops and flares to the fenders are part of the upgrades, but they don’t scream and carry on about the good equipment underneath the nearly staid exterior.
And, oh, that equipment! Subaru, of course, fits its proprietary symmetrical all-wheel-drive to each and every one of its vehicles, which allows them to be driven in even the most horrid weather conditions. Coupled with that, the ‘09 Subaru WRX STI has a driver-controlled center differential that can be adjusted for all conditions, using the front and rear limited slip diffs. An all-independent suspension features inverted struts with aluminum alloy lower L-arms at the front and double wishbones at the rear, with stabilizer bars all around.
At the heart of the WRX STI is its engine, a 2.5-liter dual overhead cam intercooled turbocharged aluminum 4-cylinder boxer that has 305 rollicking horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Torque of 290-lb-ft comes on at 4,000 rpm. The engine features direct ignition, together with sequential multiport fuel injection and electronic throttle control. Its engine management has integrated self-diagnostics with adaptive capability to each driver’s nasty habits.
A fully synchronized close ratio 6-speed manual transmission (with ring lift for reverse) includes incline start assist and excellent gearing that has this puppy turning 3,250 at 80 mph en route to a redline at 6,600 rpm. The speedometer races to 160 mph on the black gauges that have orange numbers (day and night) together with silver-white pointers.
The true command center of the 2009 Subaru WRX STI is the SI-Drive that changes the ECU’s tempo with the flick of a knob. There are three modes: the numb intelligent mode (I), sport (near-performance) and sport sharp (bring it on!!). The adoption of sport (S) and sport sharp (S#) modes changes the clutch uptake and ECU to emit far better throttle response and tip-in. Using the SI-Drive really enhances the driving experience for an enthusiastic pilot.
Subaru furnishes a page of instructions for all clueless journalists to follow when using the SI-Drive. In normal driving, they suggest we keep the Drive in “S” mode and use the adjustable vehicle dynamics control (VDC) in normal and the center differential on automatic. For performance applications, they advise to place SI-Drive in “S#” and put the VDC to traction, while putting the diff to auto (-). For snow, keep the drive in “S” or “I”, put VDC in normal and place the diff to auto (+). For performance application, all systems off. It’s a good “cheat sheet”.
In terms of size, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is about right for a compact sport wagon at 173.8 inches long, 70.7 inches wide and 58.1 inches tall. Its wheelbase stretches to 103.3 inches and it has good 6.1-inch ground clearance. The STI five-door weighs in at 3,395 pounds, easily overcome by the power and torque inherent in the machine. It has a 36.1-foot turning circle, not bad for all the equipment it carries and with its engine speed sensing variable power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering.
Hauling the entire enterprise to a rapid halt falls to the Brembo performance brake system, comprised of all-wheel ventilated discs with 4-piston front and dual-piston rear calipers, a 4-channel, 4-sensor Super Sport antilock system with electronic brakeforce distribution. The brake disc swept area comprises 12.8 inches at the front and 12.4 inches at the rear. It’s all good and direct, with nary a bit of grabbiness.
Keeping this car firmly planted, Subaru fits Dunlop P245/40R rubber on 18-inch 5-spoke alloy rims.
These tires have got just the right amount of grip without being too soft for normal use. There’s a temporary spare under the floor.
In the realm of passive safety, Subaru earns the highest five-star ratings for its frontal impact absorption, five stars for the front seat occupants in a side impact and four stars for rear seat riders. The rollover ratings are four stars all around. There are front, side and head curtain (front and rear) airbags to help sustain survivability and a tire pressure monitor to guide the driver to the roadside in case of lost pressure.
The sole options fit on this delightful little hatch are a cargo tray at the rear ($75) and a $163 telescoping center armrest, which brings the entry fee to a crescendo of $35,878 delivered. You can also get the BBS Package at $2,000, that fits 18 x 8.5-inch 18-spoke BBS alloy rims and fog lights, or the BBS and Navigation Package for $3,800 extra, that, you guessed it, gives you all the BBS Package features plus a 7-inch high resolution touch-screen navigation system, but you may have not guessed that you also get a 10-speaker audio system with single-disc in-dash CD player and Audyssey MultEQ “audio enhancement”, a trip computer, auxiliary inputs for portable multimedia devices, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
Standard items include HID headlamps and halogen fog lamps, aluminum alloy pedal covers with rubber nubs, tilt & telescoping steering column, 6-CD audio system (3 FM bands and satellite setup) with auxiliary jack, automatic climate control, manually operated STI logo-stitched suede performance front seats with excellent lateral and lumbar support, keyless remote and leather steering-wheel-mounted audio (left) and cruise (right) controls.
Mileage isn’t great, but considering the performance in this vehicle, it’s not all that bad either. The EPA expects 17/23 mpg from the 16.9-gallon tank using premium fuel only and I achieved just under 20-mpg in my 300-mile jaunt, with foot firmly planted to the floor.
On my watch, I discovered the suspension is firm without being jarring, the power is readily available whether the ECU is set on “I” or the preferred performance modes and the overall driving impression is one of confidence and capability. The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI does everything I ask of it and never skips a beat. It turns, goes and stops like the rally machine it could be, even with the wagon back.
The hold swallows 19 cubic feet of cargo and, with the 60/40 fold in use for the back seats – instead of a trio of occupants – increases to 44 cubic feet. The reach to close the hatch is easily accomplished. Rear seat occupants have their own bottle holders in doors, together with the requisite pull-down armrest, but no airflow. Rearward vision is excellent.
Subaru has made all the right changes to the WRX STI to make it more salable for drivers of all ages – not only the Gen X-ers who want a flashy and potent machine. Is it worth the wait? Absolutely.
Recently Added To Our Network
| 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Roseville, CA | Price: $21,995 | |
| 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Austin, TX | Price: $24,926 | |
| 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Renton, WA | Price: $18,480 | |
| 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $17,990 | |
| 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Caldwell, ID | Price: $17,941 | |
| 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Houston, TX | Price: $20,994 | |
| 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | San Jose, CA | Price: $24,988 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Cornelius, NC | Price: $23,888 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | San Diego, CA | Price: $25,880 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Caldwell, ID | Price: $28,991 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Santa Monica, CA | Price: $26,994 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Killeen, TX | Price: $24,239 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Bristol, CT | Price: $25,996 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Bristol, CT | Price: $24,882 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Yonkers, NY | Price: $27,989 | |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi | Yonkers, NY | Price: $25,990 |