more about this model
Pros Plentiful power, smooth ride, capable handling, fun to drive.
Cons Bland styling, plasticky interior, buzzy engine note, exaggerated body roll.
The 2008 Subaru WRX left many of us wanting more. Expectations were high for the all-new model, but after experiencing its distinct lack of sportiness, the disappointment from fans was palpable. Unlike the previous-gen WRX, it was an underachiever: underpowered and underwhelming with a lot of understeer.
Thanks to a raid on the parts bin of the higher-performance WRX STI, the WRX sedan is much improved for 2009. Wider and stickier tires, a revised suspension that pilfered components from the STI, along with beefed-up spring rates and stabilizer bars help the 2009 Subaru WRX correct last year's mushy and uninspiring handling. The engine also enjoys an upgrade that includes a larger, STI-based turbocharger, wider-diameter exhaust and less restrictive catalytic converter. These updates contribute to a welcome 18 percent gain in horsepower with a more usable power band.
From behind the wheel, the 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan is deceptively adept. The stiffer-but-still-soft suspension lacks the feel and confidence of other sharp-handling sport compacts, but this four-door WRX is easily tossed into difficult curves, emerging with its composure intact. Even when it's pushed to the limits, there is little drama or protest from the tires.
For 2009, the WRX sedan definitely has its mojo back, slotting in nicely behind its more athletic STI stablemate. Mitsubishi's new Lancer Ralliart is the closest rival to the WRX, and its arrival likely contributed to this 1-year-old's upgrades. Either car could serve as a poster child for the all-wheel-drive sport compact market, and they offer remarkably similar features and content. Yet because of their distinct personalities, we recommend driving both before making a decision.
Performance Our 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan Premium test vehicle came with the standard 2.5-liter intercooled and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a five-speed manual transmission that drives all the wheels. Thanks to a larger turbo borrowed from the WRX STI, output jumps to 265 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque (up from last year's 224 hp and 224 lb-ft). Even more notable than the bump in peak power is the manner in which it's delivered — there is a decent amount of low and midrange grunt, and power is spread more evenly up to the 6,500-rpm redline. The well-spaced ratios of the manual transmission's five gears capitalize on the power band's large sweet spot, though a 6th gear would probably alleviate some of the engine's highway buzz.
In testing, our WRX four-door accelerated to 60 mph in a brisk 5.2 seconds on its way to a 13.7-second quarter-mile at 98.7 mph — easily outperforming the Subaru's nemesis, the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. Fuel consumption estimates from the EPA are 18/25 mpg (city/highway) and 21 mpg in mixed driving conditions. As entertaining as the new WRX is, under our less-than-conservative right foot it managed only 18.4 mpg, identical to our results with the Mitsubishi.
The suspension changes for 2009 are the most noticeable improvement, creating a chassis that feels far sharper than last year's marshmallow-soft setup. Under heavy cornering the WRX still exhibits a healthy dose of body roll, though from the driver seat, the full extent of the sailboatlike lean isn't nearly as obvious as from the roadside. The new, stiffer suspension creates a far more tossable WRX, but it remains undisturbed over rougher surfaces, displaying an impressive reserve of compliant travel. After a few hours on tight canyon roads, it was hard to fault the new setup, since the WRX sedan willingly tackled every turn without losing its composure.
The 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan's steering, while precise, could stand to gain a bit more resistance and feedback, especially when you're sawing away at the wheel while bounding from turn to turn. The lighter steering feel makes close-quarter city driving and parking a breeze, however. The brakes remain unchanged from last year, which is to say they're on the soft side, but they perform exceptionally when called upon. In testing, we stopped our WRX from 60 mph in an impressive 107 feet with little or no evidence of fade.
Comfort Despite the added handling prowess of the 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan, ride quality and comfort do not suffer. At highway speeds, it feels well-planted, with little road noise making its way into the cabin. Front seating is pleasantly comfortable, even during long stints behind the wheel. Additional side bolstering would be a welcome addition for those with sporting intentions, but the grippy surface materials do an admirable job of keeping passengers in place. Though lacking a multitude of adjustments, most drivers will be able to find an optimal seating position. The rear seats provide ample headroom, but lack the contour and sporty nature of the racy front seats. As with the front buckets, the grippy upholstery stations passengers with Velcro-like tenacity.
Function From behind the wheel, outward visibility in our 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan Premium test car is excellent. Legible gauges remained so in practically any lighting situation, with a simple layout centering the larger tachometer prominently behind the steering wheel. An additional readout mounted atop the center stack displays time, temperature and fuel economy. Simple and intuitive climate control knobs are likewise well-placed, but the same cannot be said for the radio. Miniscule, closely spaced buttons lack tactile references and are barely legible, making glance-free operation difficult at best. Fortunately, the steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control buttons are operated with far more ease.
In terms of cargo space, the WRX comes up short — not just because of the fairly small trunk (10 cubic feet), but due to an uneven and sloped floor. The split-level trunk limits cargo height and makes it difficult to load multiple items such as luggage and golf bags, as larger parcels tend to follow gravity backwards to the lip. The 60/40-split fold-down rear seats allow for more cargo, but at the expense of passenger capacity. Child seats are easily installed on the flat rear bench with a minimum of jostling or reduction in front-seat legroom.
Design/Fit and Finish The 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan's dowdy styling tends to downplay its acceleration and handling capabilities, though the graceful sloping nose and aggressive hood scoop hint at its performance potential. From the rear doors back, the styling screams econobox, with homely taillights and wheels that look proportionally small compared to the slablike rear quarter panels.
The interior appears handsomely designed, with tasteful matte metallic trim framing the center console. Upon closer inspection, the plastic surfaces (which have the appearance of softer-touch materials) are actually textured hard plastic that seems to amplify the relatively low amount of road noise. Furthermore, the space between the instrument pod and dashboard presents a rather sizable gap, with sharp plastic edges. Though a minor flaw, it blemishes an otherwise successful execution.
Who should consider this vehicle The 2009 Subaru WRX Sedan Premium is an excellent choice for drivers seeking four-door fun without breaking the bank. The sedan's sedate styling is a plus for those averse to the boy-racer image of the high-performance STI, while the all-wheel drive should appeal to those who live with inclement weather.
Others To Consider
Honda Civic Si, Mazda Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Used 2009 Subaru Impreza listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2009 Subaru Imprezas for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 331 used and CPO 2009 Imprezas listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 3,988 and mileage as low as 43,061. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2009 Subaru Impreza. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 300 on a used or CPO 2009 Impreza available from one of 2,630 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2009 Subaru Impreza ?
Save up to $300 on one of 17 used 2009 Subaru Imprezas for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $3988 as of Apr 26, 2018, based on data from 16 dealers and 72 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 1 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2009 Subaru Impreza trim styles:
The used 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i is priced around $6938 with average odometer reading of 97914 miles.
The used 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX is priced around $13525 with average odometer reading of 82071 miles.
The used 2009 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport is priced around $8997 with average odometer reading of 73762 miles.
The used 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT is priced around $9500 with average odometer reading of 127066 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, Virginia. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
What options are available on the 2009 Subaru Impreza?
Available Subaru Impreza 2009 Submodel Types: Wagon, WRX STI, Sedan, Hatchback, WRX STi, WRX STI Limited
Available Subaru Impreza 2009 Trims: 2.0i Premium, 2.0i, 2.0i Limited, 2.0i Sport, 2.0i PZEV, 2.0i Premium PZEV, 2.0i Sport Premium PZEV, 2.0i Limited PZEV, 2.0i Sport Limited PZEV, WRX STI, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i, WRX, 2.5 i, WRX STi, WRX Limited, 2.5 RS, Outback Sport, WRX STI Limited, 2.5, L, WRX Premium, 2.0i Sport Limited, 2.0i Sport Premium, 2.5 i Special Edition, 2.5GT, TS, WRX TR
Exterior Colors: Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Island Blue Pearl, Lapis Blue Pearl, Crimson Red Pearl, Lithium Red Pearl, Quartz Blue Pearl, Venetian Red Pearl, Platinum Silver Metallic, Carbide Gray Metallic, Jasmine Green Metallic, Spark Silver Metallic, Lightning Red, Obsidian Black Pearl, Sky Blue Metallic, WR Blue Pearl, Camellia Red Pearl, Deep Cherry Pearl, Blue Ridge Pearl, Crystal Gray Metallic, Dark Gray Metallic, Java Black Pearl, Marine Blue Pearl, Obsidian Black Pearl/Dark Gray Metallic, Plasma Blue Pearl, Regal Blue Pearl, San Remo Red, Steel Silver Metallic/Spark Silver Metallic, Urban Gray Metallic, Dark Blue Metallic, Deep Sea Blue Pearl, Evergreen Metallic/Steel Gray Metallic, Glacier White, Midnight Black Pearl, Newport Blue Pearl, Newport Blue Pearl/Steel Silver Metallic, Obsidian Black Pearl/Urban Gray Metallic, Paprika Red Pearl, Sage Green Metallic/Steel Silver Metallic, Satin White Pearl, Steel Gray Metallic, Sunlight Gold Opal, WR Blue Mica
Interior Colors: Black cloth, Black leather, Ivory, Ivory leather, Carbon Black cloth, Black, Off Black, Off Black cloth, Blue Ecsaine/Black, Carbon Black leather, Ivory cloth, Graphite Gray/Carbon Black leather/sueded microfiber, Gray, Anthracite Black cloth, Black Alcantara/Carbon Black leather/sueded microfiber, Black leather/sueded microfiber, Desert Beige cloth, Gray Knit, Off Black/Blue Ecsaine
Popular Features: USB Inputs, Bluetooth, Back-up camera, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, Post-collision safety system, Keyless Entry/Start, Leather Seats, Upgraded Headlights, Power Driver Seat, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Upgraded Stereo, Pre-collision safety system, AWD/4WD, Alarm, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Warning, Trip Computer, Aux Audio Inputs, Heated seats, Auto Climate Control, Sunroof/Moonroof, Remote Start, Navigation
Engine/Mechanics: 4 cylinders
Transmission: MANUAL, AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: regular unleaded, premium unleaded (required)
Drivetrains: all wheel drive
Used 2009 Subaru Impreza Overview
The used 2009 Subaru Impreza is offered in the following submodels: WRX STI, Hatchback, Sedan. Available styles include 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A), 2.5i 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.5L 4cyl 4A), and 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M). Pre-owned Impreza models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2009 Impreza comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 4-speed shiftable automatic, 5-speed manual.
