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Fresh off a round of upgrades for 2006, Subaru's Impreza WRX STi was fiending for a rematch with Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
(vehicle detail)
Ups: Euphoric acceleration, perfectly tuned suspension and steering, sticky tires, seats hold you tight in turns.
Downs: No side airbags or cruise control, undersized speedometer.
First Impression: The best performance buy at the $35,000 mark. Arguably the best performance buy at any price.
Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $31,994
Options on Test Vehicle: Sun, Sound and Leather Package ($3,120 — includes 315-watt Infinity audio system with 7 speakers including subwoofer, sunroof, front leather seating surfaces, HID headlights and foglights).
MSRP of Test Vehicle: $35,114
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2006 Subaru Impreza STi 4dr Sedan AWD w/Gold-Painted Wheels (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
(vehicle detail)
Ups: Stops and corners hard, revs with authority, sticky tires, roomy and comfortable enough for a road trip.
Downs: Personality isn't as intense as Evo's, steering isn't as quick or direct as Evo's.
First Impression: Less capable than the Evo, but a satisfying compromise of performance and practicality for everyday use.
Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $32,995
MSRP of Test Vehicle: $32,995
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Underneath that boy racer bodywork are sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems, rally-spec running gear and turbocharged four-cylinders that make tremendous power.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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(Enlarge photo)
The split grille is gone on the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Loaded with the Sun, Sound and Leather Package, our base IX model tester came in at $35,114.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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An Alfa-inspired fascia and a smaller hood scoop identify the 2006 Subaru WRX STI. Our tester had the gold-painted BBS wheels and a $32,995 price tag.
(Photo by Scott Jacobs)
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Road Test: Comparison Test
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2006 Mitsubishi Evolution IX vs. 2006 Subaru WRX STI
Introduction
By
Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor , Edmunds.com
Date posted: 02-06-2006
Video
Highlights of these vehicles
Forget about the rear-drive V8 renaissance happening on the domestic front. Forget about the pedigreed sport sedans coming out of Germany. If you want the most performance $35,000 can buy, the only cars you need to drive are the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
These scrappy ex-economy sedans may not look upscale or retro, hell, they don't even look that expensive, but they're fast. Brutally fast. And they'll out-handle any upscale, retro-styled sports car you can name.
You see, underneath that semi-juvenile, boy racer bodywork are sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems, rally-spec running gear and turbocharged four-cylinders that make tremendous power. Performance is so densely packed into these cars that they begin to rewire the driver's brain. You drive faster. You take more risks. You howl like a demented chimp when people scoff at your F1-size spoiler. And, you love every minute of it.
Two years ago we tested these rivals, and the faster Evo came away the winner. For 2006, however, both cars received a short but significant list of mechanical changes so we thought we would give the WRX STI a rematch.
Evo vs. STI, part two
The Apex Silver '06 Lancer Evolution in this test is a base IX model, which falls between the top-line MR and the stripped RS in the Evolution lineup. Our test car had the $3,120 Sun, Sound and Leather Package, which provides a sunroof, an excellent 315-watt Infinity sound system, mediocre leather upholstery and HID headlights. It also balloons the sticker price from shy of $32 grand to $35,114. Given the choice, we would have taken the HIDs and left the rest.
Subaru sent over a more sensibly equipped WR Blue Pearl '06 WRX STI with gold-painted BBS wheels, no options and a total price of $32,995. Despite the $2,000 disparity, the cars are equipped with almost identical hardware. Each is fitted with three limited-slip differentials, 17-inch wheels and tires, and four ventilated Brembo brake discs. ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution were also standard on both, and the WRX STI provided HIDs at no extra charge.
However, the most impressive bit of standard equipment is under their aluminum hoods. On the Evo, that hood conceals a turbocharged, double-overhead-cam, 2.0-liter inline four that makes 286 hp at 6,500 rpm and 289 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, amazing numbers for an engine displacing fewer liters than your daily coffee intake. It hooks up to a five-speed manual gearbox.
Working from an extra half-liter of displacement, the Subie's turbocharged, DOHC, horizontally opposed four-cylinder cooks up a cool 300 hp at 6,000 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. It's matched with a six-speed manual.
Even though Subaru doesn't offer a leather or sunroof option, inside, the WRX STI is the better equipped of the rivals. Our STI tester included amenities like front-seat side airbags, automatic climate control, cruise control and an in-dash CD changer, none of which is even offered on the Evo.
No rest
The cars showed up just in time for a holiday weekend.
No problem.
We handed off the keys to two editors for a late-night run from L.A. to San Jose. Once there, they ditched the relatives and headed straight for the Santa Cruz Mountains, where secreted away amongst the redwood groves, pinot vineyards and expensive homes are some of the best driving roads Northern California has to offer. These two-laners are damp, narrow and riddled with sharp curves. In other words, they're perfect for testing a couple of rally cars like the Evo and STI.
After a couple of days of terrorizing this mountain utopia, they switched cars and made a few more runs up Skyline Boulevard, a road the locals know as the back way to San Francisco. It's two-lane blacktop, sometimes with a center line, sometimes not, with steep grades aplenty.
The next morning the real work began back in L.A. We took the STI and Evo to the track where we put them through a full battery of acceleration, braking, slalom and skid-pad tests. There was a lot at stake: These numbers counted for 30 percent of the final score.
Choose a hero
Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution IX and Subaru's Impreza WRX STI are as closely matched as any two rivals have a right to be. Buy either one of these turbocharged, all-wheel-drive sedans and you're getting one of the very best performance bargains out there.
However, the manic Evo is still the more refined and capable performance machine. It's faster, turns in significantly better handling numbers and supplies its driver with more feedback. A lot more feedback. Plus, if you drop our test car's extraneous Sun, Sound and Leather Package, the Evolution IX costs $1,000 less than the STI. And don't forget that Mitsubishi is currently throwing in free scheduled maintenance for three years/45,000 miles.
Although the STI offers a smidge more comfort and equipment, the Evo is the one to get if you want the most fun per hard-earned dollar.
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