Wow – WRX – Wow
By Michael Binstock
Acorn Automotive Editor

You can read all about a car but until you get behind the wheel there is always something missing. When they delivered the Suburu WRX, the driver handed over the keys with a broad grin and after just a few minutes of driving I saw why.

Inspired by the Subaru Impreza World Rally Championship racecar, the 2002 All-Wheel Drive Impreza WRX offers performance in a league with such respected European all-wheel drive sport sedans as the Audi A4 Quattro and the BMW 325xi.

Subaru designed the 2002 WRX to convey the look and feel of a "high-density" performance car and they have succeeded.

The turbocharged Impreza WRX performance models demonstrate the value of a racing pedigree in a road car. Subaru captured the grueling World Rally Championship (WRC) three years in a row with a specially prepared turbo Impreza. This type of rallying encompasses all-weather, high-speed driving on pavement, hard-packed gravel, mud and snow. The 2002 Impreza WRX blends experience gained in rally racing with real-world safety, comfort and renowned Subaru durability.

In addition to the 227-horsepower turbocharged engine and All-Wheel Drive, the 2002 Impreza WRX model comes equipped with a full roster of standard high-performance equipment. Sport-tuned four-wheel independent suspension provides sharp handling response and a compliant ride. The front suspension features a Subaru-optimized MacPherson strut layout, and the rear uses a redesigned dual-link strut arrangement.

Standard four-wheel disc brakes with twin-piston front calipers, 11.4-inch front brake rotors and a standard anti-lock brake system (ABS) provide ample stopping power. The WRX comes equipped with standard 16 x 6.5-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 tires. Subaru dealers can install accessory 17 x 7-inch alloy wheels with recommended 215/45 R17 tires.

The interior design and equipment of the car clearly moves the WRX above the entry segment. Smooth contours, upgraded trim quality, and greatly expanded standard equipment help define the new Impreza models as premium sport compacts.

My WRX included bolstered sport seats, a Momo four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum alloy pedals with rubber grips. Subaru designers took inspiration from high-performance motorcycles for the 2002 Impreza instrument gauges, which on the WRX feature silver-painted frames. The silver metallic audio and ventilation bezels provide another bright contrast to the sporty black WRX interior.

The 2002 Impreza WRX brings the company’s years of experience with rally-winning turbocharged cars to the road. The WRX engine uses aluminum-alloy construction for the cylinder block and heads.

The WRX engine produces 227 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 217 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. The resulting beefy midrange gives the WRX 2.0-liter turbo the response of a much larger engine. The WRX engine’s specific power output compares to some supercars with 113.5 horsepower per liter of displacement. In plain words, this little powerhouse knocks you back into the seats as the power comes on and leaves every other car in the dust.The functional hood scoop supplies cool air flow for the intercooler.

I’m not condoning fast driving. In fact I’m the first to stress that driving a car should be an exercise in caution and safety, but there are some roads, locally, where it is possible to let the juices flow and put your driving talents to the test. The WRX is a car that can test you. It’s not the usual competent sedan but a high performance "wolf in sheep’s clothing."

You can get this car with an automatic, but why bother. The fun is driving with a stick shift.

After just a week with the Suburu WRX, I wasn’t looking forward to giving it back. It has been some time since I’ve enjoyed a car so much. There’s enough room for the family, a cavernous trunk and all the driving excitement I could possibly want, and in a car that sells for less than $25,000.

And it doesn’t stop there. Suburu of Thousand Oaks Performance Center can do even more to this car, increasing the horsepower to almost 250 bhp and tuning the WRX into one of the most amazing cars I’ve driven for some time.