Subaru Impreza WRX STI test drive since 2008 sedan

Comparative Test in the Class Sport Compact

Thanks to three turbines, 724 hp And five differentials of increased friction compare Mazdaspeed 3 (American analogue of Mazda3 MPS), Subaru Impreza Wrx and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliarit even more fun than watching a fight without rules when the Valuev ring against the duet Smash! Just imagine! One flies from the wall to the wall, and the other was thrown into the crowd.
Valuev’s fight against Smash! It will not be very different from what we see here: the current champion in the class of the sports compound Mazdaspeed 3 against Subaru WRX and Lancer RallIart. On the track there is a fight not for life, but for death.
But the winner in comparative tests is not always detected on the track. Since all these cars are created with a bias of daily trips, we took 25% of the total estimate to the share of running qualities, and the remaining interest was divided as: 20% cost, 20% of amenities and innovations, 15% economicality, 15% of our subjective preferences and 5% personal choice.
Of course, how the car drives is of great importance, but the most balanced car will win.
Participants in the test
 

When it is time to measure the muscles, not one of the participants can compare with the champion. Mazdaspeed 3 The most powerful car in this group. It is equipped with a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine with a direct fuel injection with an in-line arrangement of four cylinders, which produces 263 hp. and 379.6 nm torque. It is aggregated with a 6-speed manual gearbox, differential blocking, a steering system control system and a touchscaping system, which turned out to be a front-wheel drive unit, virtuoso transmitting the entire moment to the wheels.
This is also a hatchback with an expressive design, excellent build quality and high -class materials in the cabin. You can also purchase a car identical to the tested, but with leather seats, Bose audio system with a satellite radio receiver and a navigation system for $ 26,640.
Subaru Impreza WRX is a new generation of a machine that has at one time a standard for all -wheel drive. In the basic configuration, the car is equipped with a multi -link rear suspension, a more comfortable and spacious interior, while the weight remained almost the same. A 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder opposition produces 224 hp. and 306.4 nm moment. The Subaru chip is a symmetrical system of all -wheel drive, equipped with a central differential with a viscous coupling, which distributes the moment along the axes.
The WRX in the back of the hatchback, which we tested, with a satellite navigation and dynamic control system, with a central armrest for $ 163 and a cargo tray for $ 75 cost $ 29,833.
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is offered with a slightly deformed 2.0-liter 4-cylinder in-line engine from Mitsubishi Evo X. In the version of Ralliar, this engine produces 237 hp. and 343 Nm of torque. In the standard configuration, the car is equipped with a magnificent 6-speed transmission with double clutch with steering licenses of speed switching, an active central differential with the possibility of choosing modes when driving on asphalt, gravel or snow, as well as differentials on the anterior and rear axles. In general, this is a real younger brother Evo X.
The cost of the new Ralliart is not yet officially announced, but according to our estimates, the tested set should cost $ 29,415, including $ 1,750 per sports package, consisting of recar's front seats, an improved support, anterior xenon optics and 650-wow RockFord Fosgate audio system for 6 discs from 6 discs from Satellite radio.
3rd place: Subaru Impreza Wrx
Subaru WRX, theoretically, is the most obvious opponent of Lancer RallIart. The all -wheel drive of this car offers exactly the same whole cross -country ability as Lancer. But the running characteristics cannot compete on equal terms in the class of a sport-compound.
The second generation of WRX in Subaru approached radically differently than the first. Where first -generation cars were sharp and responsive, the second generation demonstrates lethargy and lack of reaction. Undoubtedly, such a choice of settings is due to the desire to expand the consumer audience for WRX to make this model attractive for those who think to purchase Corolla or Camry. This was given at the cost of deterioration of the running characteristics of the car. The true connoisseur, in fact, has no choice if it comes to buying a frisky and controlled Subaru: it will be Subaru Impreza WRX STI for $ 36,995.
On the track, Mazda got off with WRX, without straining, it was easily and without much effort. Even all -wheel drive and a mechanical gearbox did not help WRX quickly accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. Nevertheless, Subaru turned out to be reliable, because it withstood numerous starts from a place of 5,500 revolutions per minute with the best result of 6.2 s. The quoter car passed in 14.6 seconds at a speed at the finish of 148 km/h.
The brakes of WRX were better than that of Lancer Ralliart. And although a stop from 100 km/h/h for 0 37.5 m cannot be called brilliant, this is still less than 39 meters in Lancer. A soft brake pedal and a strong nod forward with a sharp braking on WRX delivered much more anxiety.
Having passed the slalom-test with a maximum speed of 102 km/h, WRX proved that controllability was not a priority when creating a second generation of cars. This is 2.4 km/hour less than Lancer showed, and 6.92 km/h slower than Mazda. The combination of demolition, which cannot be ignored, and not too successful suspension settings make the WRX susceptible to irregularities in the center of the turn, and on the test it disturb the driver no less than on the real road. The side acceleration indicator in WRX and Lancer was the same 0.81G and does not honor any car or another.
The only advantage of WRX over Lancer was its versatility. Our WRX-Hatchback turned out to be simpler than Lancer in the sedan back. Its seats, forming a flat surface in a folded form, allow you to easily transport large objects. There is also a navigation system that is absent in Lancer.
Subaru Impreza WRX in the back of the hatchback is a good car. He offers you practicality, convenience and functionality, but if you consider it from the point of view of fast driving, then this is not about it.
 
 
 
2nd place: Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
Forget everything you thought you know about this car, and think about this: in Mitsubishi Lancer Rallisa, 90% of the Lancer Evolution MR configuration for 75% of the cost. Of course, Ralliart has no aluminum details in the suspension, which EVO can boast, a narrower base and less power. But you still get the most delicious: a magnificent transmission with a two -disc clutch, three differentials and a suspension that was tuned for those who know a lot about good driving.
In addition to an incredibly dynamic transmission with steering wheel speed switches, Ralliart boasts its excellent all -wheel drive system. It provides the all -conquest of WRX, but thanks to the front and rear differentials of limited friction, it also offers some involvement of the driver in the process than the WRX cannot boast of. It provides Ralliart with such a rapid exit from complex turns that even the fastest front -wheel drive apparatus is not capable of.
The machine provides a great sense of control of the steering and the steering of the steering wheel resemble evolution, although due to the very solid tires and the absence of Ayc contrasting system, the capabilities of the Ralliart capabilities are more limited than that of EVO X. The tires screech more than the publisher of rare books with news of successful sales, adhesion With the road is also not on top. In the test for lateral acceleration, we managed to squeeze only 0.81G from Ralliart, and the speed of slalom was less than that of Nissan Altima, although higher than that of WRX 104.6 km/h.
The weak point of Ralliart was its inability to quickly leave the start of the side effect of a two -disc transmission. To accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, it takes 6.6 s. The passage of a quarter of a mile is also lame, because Ralliart spends 14.8 seconds on it at a speed at a finish of 152 km/h the lowest in the group. However, these indicators should not be judged by the car as a whole. From 32 to 144 km/h, Ralliart accelerates for 11.7 s. Subaru, tearing out the advantage at the start, shows 12.6 s in this period. And Mazda fits in 10.7 s.
Ralliart’s braking also did not please us, since at a speed of 100 km/h it stops at 39 meters almost the same results show small SUVs. With an aggressive descent along the mountain highway, we noted the fatigue of the brakes. Most likely, the brakes here do not reach the heat capacity and resistance to the effects that the BreMBO brakes are installed on EVO. And this does not surprise at all, given that the mass of these cars is almost the same (1,593 kg mass of Ralliart versus 1 647 kg EVO).
In the standard configuration, Ralliart starts without a key and is equipped with an airbag for the driver’s knees, neither Mazdaspeed 3 nor WRX. And if you put this car in good rubber, then it will overtake Mazdaspeed 3 on many roads.
Fold it all together, and you will understand why two of our three testic editors have chosen Ralliart with a subjective assessment. This is an excellent car for little money.
 
 
 
1st place: Mazdaspeed 3
 
There is one reason why Mazdaspeed 3 came out of all comparative tests that we conducted with her participation. As already mentioned, when it was in the first place according to the results of the comparative test of 2006, it is impossible to ride so quickly, to be so funny and more practical for less money. Even three reasons, but I think the essence is clear.
As for speed, no one in this test could get ahead of Mazda. It accelerates to hundreds in 6.1 seconds, and a quarter mile overcomes 14.4 s at a speed of 156 km/h is better than WRX and RallIart in both indicators. From 100 km/h, she stops with the hardness of a sports car, and she needs only 33.83 m of the best indicator in the group, and with a decent margin from the rest.
Mazda’s handling, again, is better. The side acceleration indicator is 0.88G, the speed on the slalom was 109 km/h (less than in the previous test) on the head higher than that of Ralliart and WRX. And on the highway she had no equal at all. Mazda easily passes medium -sized complexity and complex turns at higher speed, and in a straight line demonstrates unsurpassed acceleration. It is easier than Ralliart for 145 kg (Mazda weighs as much as WRX) that it is an indisputable advantage at any maneuver at speed. In fact, Lancer had an advantage in only one situation when leaving complex slow turns, where all -wheel drive allows you to press the gas pedal earlier and begin to accelerate.
We also really liked the steering from Mazda. It combines confidence in the effort and accuracy inherent in Ralliart, and excellent clutch of tires, as well as the ideal balance of the chassis. The brakes are more resistant to prolonged exposure than the other two participants in the dough, although with prolonged aggressive driving they also heat up and somewhat lose their effectiveness. Mazdaspeed 3 is just the best car on this test. If we needed to complain about anything, then we would mention shock absorbers, they could be worse in both directions. But this, as it seems to us, is planning to engage in Mazda in the very near future.
Mazda is not inferior as assembly and practicality. Her body with five doors is more convenient than that of Ralliart, and inside is not much less space than in a spacious WRX. But the salon is more pleasant than other participants in the dough. The combination of black color in the decoration and materials of various textures, as well as restrained sports seats seemed to us the most successful. Those of us who have not come out of growth do not find themselves sitting at the floor level, as in Ralliart, although there are established by all other recaro sitting parameters (which do not have height adjustments).
As before, we believe that Mazdaspeed 3 is unlikely to be able to surpass in this price segment. If you do not believe that the confidence that gives all -wheel drive should be in every car, then this is a car for you.
 
 

 
Results

This is the second case when Mazdaspeed 3 prevails over Subaru WRX in equal terms, so this time the test results did not have a surprise for us. Honestly, we are somewhat puzzled by the Subaru strategy. This is the most expensive of the tested cars and the most unattractive in terms of management. And it doesn’t matter whether all -wheel drive is symmetrical or not, the transmission simply does not give confidence what you feel when managing RallIart.
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, nevertheless, made serious competition to the winner, offering excellent handling and many pleasant little things. And if its price was 1,000 less, and the tires were better, then it could well have been in the first place in our ranking.
But it is precisely the combination of power, grace, practicality and cost proposed by Mazdaspeed 3 that allows this car to retain the championship title. Perhaps the battle turned out to be less spectacular than a duel between Smash boys! And Valuev, but the result of the former champion is still at the top of the pedestal.
View from the outside
The opinion of Chris Walton, editor -in -chief on road tests:
Trying to choose the best in a certain group is the same as trying to choose the best film with Bill Murrey in the title role. They are all good, and each has its own strength.
WRX is like a groundhog day, almost the same thing, repeating over and over again. To the displeasure of Subaru, the car does not get better day by day. Undoubtedly, there are changes, and they make a car more attractive to a wide audience, but the mischievous WRX that we always dreamed about and which we received in 2002, with age, flashed and washed. I think that this mission is now entrusted to the STI unit, and, nevertheless, it is very sad that Subaru decided to reduce WRX to a common denominator for each denominator.
Mazdaspeed 3 more resembles the film of a strip of classic a genre, very funny from beginning to end, with memorable episodes that are forever remaining in memory. The only problem is that it does not change. You cannot turn it off, but sometimes you want to go calmly and slightly lazy. Yes, Mazdaspeed 3 is a cheerful, frantic and at the same time practical car in which there is a lot of space for your baggage. But he is some kind of flat from the point of view of daily driving along the streets. I want something more multifaceted.
Only Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart remained. Some extroverts will consider it boring. Well, buy an EVO or watch the movie Golf Club. Like the film, the difficulties of translation, the more you go to Ralliar, the more fully it is revealed. Of course, he has some shortcomings when what is happening is poorly explained by logical explanation (for example, why cannot Ralliart leave normally from the start?), But it is multi -layer, and, finding another layer under one layer, you get a general quite positive impression of the car.
Mitsubishi behaves perfectly in a dense flow of movement, because it is an economical sedan with an automatic transmission, but you don’t get bored on the Glenodor mountain track, it will willingly support your desire to ride with a breeze. He does all this without a desire to show which of us the main one, and, most importantly, without the desire to kill me in one of the many turns. I am also impressed by the fact that with Ralliart, I, perhaps, could realize my cherished dream to go like Aria Vatanen along the Pikes Pick highway, flying one turn after another.
Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, as well as its excellent transmission and an advisory all -wheel drive, make this car universal. If I chose a car for myself, I would choose this one.
 

A source: Insideline