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Offers Horses, Fun Copley News Service Subaru has a slightly different philosophy for sport-utility vehicles. Like several carmakers, it doesn't have a truck. All its sport-utish vehicles are all-wheel drive and come from a car, including the Forester, which is closest in appearance to a sport-utility vehicle.
Until this year, the only engine available was a 4-cylinder. Now a 212 hp, 3.0 liter 6-cylinder is offered in two top-line versions of the Outback wagon. Subaru appears to have embraced the idea that there's nothing like horsepower to reinforce a good idea. Going on sale are turbocharged versions of the 2002 Impreza, a compact class sedan and wagon. Prices start at $24,520 for the sedan and $24,020 for the wagon. Add $1,000 for a 4-speed automatic transmission. Aimed at the younger buyers in the sport-compact segment, the WRX models will be the first turbo-powered Imprezas to be sold in the United States. Joining the WRX line will be the 2.5 RS sedan, 2.5 TS Sport Wagon and the redesigned Impreza-based Outback Sport Wagon. All Imprezas have all-wheel drive. The 2002 2.5 RS sedan, 2.5 TS Sport Wagon and Outback Sport use the non-turbocharged 165 hp, 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine from the Legacy sedan and Forester. The 142 hp Impreza L has been discontinued. The Impreza WRX is patterned after Subaru's World Rally Championship race cars, and Subaru is putting it up against cars such as the Audi A4 Quattro and BMW 325xi. The turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is of Subaru's traditional horizontally opposed cylinders with double overhead camshafts. Horsepower is rated at 227 with 217 foot-pounds of torque. The Audi 2.8 quattro puts out 190 hp and 207 foot-pounds of torque and is priced at $31,000. Other WRX features include fog lights, aluminum pedals with rubber grips and an aluminum hood with air scoop to feed the turbo intercooler. I just spent a week in a metallic blue WRX with 5-speed manual transmission and managed not to get a speeding ticket. The styling is aggressive enough to call out its uniqueness without being obnoxious -- the horsepower takes care of that. The 4-cylinder thrums happily around town but really lets out a healthy wail when the rpms rise. The shifter and gear box are uncomplicated, and I never missed a shift even when keeping the turbo at full boil. You can take the WRX sailing into a corner and feel the tail tuck in and the tires bite into pavement. Acceleration is a little slow away from the light, but put the pedal down and the power explodes as the turbo crams air into the cylinders -- Yee-haw and hold on. The power is a blast, literally, but because the engine feeds all four wheels there is no screaming burnout and scrambling tires. Safety features include dual front and side-impact air bags, anti-lock brakes, front seat belt pretensioners and load limiters and 3-point belts at all seats. The front seats are nicely bolstered to hold occupants safely in place and there's plenty of power to the audio system with in-dash CD. The instrument panel is contemporary, but the 4-spoke Momo steering wheel has been robbed of its aftermarket stylishness to meet corporate standards. Too bad. The back seat area is basic with no cup holders, but there is a flip down center armrest with ski pass-through to the trunk. Subaru has won more World Rally Championship races (31 events) than any other manufacturer since 1994 when it started racing the Impreza. As a marketing tool, it is debatable whether young American car shoppers can relate to this race series that is held everywhere except the United States. There is no doubt, however, that American drivers can relate to horsepower and a fun-driving car. Race the WRX at the SCCA Slalom II events on Sunday and have a blast getting to work on Monday.
All Imprezas come with:
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Nothing wrong with that. Fuel mileage and ride quality are much better than a truck, but Subaru horsepower was always a tad below expectations for many buyers in this country.