Subaru offers an all-new Impreza lineup for 2002. The value-driven models disappeared and were replaced by high-performance models. Topping this exciting lineup is the WRX, one of this year’s most exciting new models, especially for rally fans. In an economy car, the WRX is a factory hot rod that combines turbocharging, all-wheel drive, rally styling and attitude.
The all-new Impreza lineup for 2002 includes an updated 2. 5 RS four-door sedan and a 2. 5 TS SUV. A new Outback Sport pickup truck is also included in the Impreza. The WRX is available as a sedan and SUV. .
The WRX is lately one of the most popular tickets on the automotive scene. Part of what makes it so popular is its 227-horsepower turbocharged engine. Rally enthusiasts have coveted this type of car for years. The WRX emerged in Japan in 1993 as a homologation style special, a limited production style created to meet the production needs of the World Rally Championship. Very popular in Europe, the WRC is a series of races that are held on all types of roads, unpaved and in all types of weather conditions. Subaru’s turbocharged all-wheel drive is especially suited for intense nighttime driving on gravel roads. Rally-prepared Subarus have been available in Japan and Europe for several years, but the WRX is the first to meet U. S. emissions requirements. The Subaru Impreza Outback Sport is a subcompact for the snow belt. Its all-wheel drive will get you home when you probably shouldn’t have gone out, while also offering you additional traction and handling in the wet. This is all new for 2002.
Like other Impreza models, this year’s Outback Sport benefits from new chassis and styling, as well as a larger engine. (See nctd. com for a review of the Impreza 2. 5 RS and WRX sport models. )
The Outback Sport’s plucky 2. 5-liter engine and all-wheel drive push this outdoor truck out of the economy category. Subaru recognizes this by equipping it with optional features on base models. The price, which starts at $18,695, also takes it way up. Small family cars like the Kia Rio Cinco or the Ford Focus family. But the Outback Sport offers much more.
The 2002 Impreza model lineup is composed of five models. A WRX sedan and wagon, an RS sedan and a TS wagon. Also available is the Impreza-based Outback Sport wagon (see separate review of the Outback Sport at NewCarTestDrive.com).
Like all Subarus, they come with all-wheel drive.
Except for the WRX, all Imprezas are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 165 horsepower. The engines feature Subaru’s horizontally opposed cylinder layout, which lowers the hood line and the center of gravity.
WRX models are powered by a 2. 0-liter turbocharged intercooled engine that makes 227 horsepower.
There’s a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, the latter featuring Subaru’s complex variable-torque split all-wheel drive.
The 2. 5 RS comes with a long list of popular equipment, adding an 80-watt AM/FM/CD audio system, air conditioning, power locks and mirrors, cruise control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Subaru has localized the Outback Sport to appeal to the practical, the enthusiast, or both.
The $18,695 Outback Sport, like all Subarus, comes standard with full-time all-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, power door locks and windows, tilt steering column, cruise control, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, ambient temperature gauge, tachometer, and fog lights. Like a tiny SUV, it comes with a rubber cargo mat in back.
Subaru has taken care of the main points by updating the Impreza line. The windshield is flanked by specially-shaped trim that directs rainwater to the roof instead of the side windows, which are flush with the sedan’s traditional greenhouse. All Imprezas feature new door handles that are less difficult to open.
Large taillights flank a trunk opening that extends to the rear bumper. The boot lid has been designed for cars and a small edge was added to the trailing edge. The rear bumper cover rolls up to the rear wheel openings and is contoured for a sporty effect. The rear of the car is highlighted by the “SUBARU” inscription on the rear. The WRX has a giant “WRX” badge on the lower left side and a dual-outlet exhaust under the rear bumper.
The overall effect of the body styling is very dramatic, especially in dark blue, compared to the Subaru rally team’s colours, with the fenders catching the light dramatically. We’ve also seen the car in silver, and the car will come in popular colors and two special colors, but blue is our favorite.
The WRX features the striking appearance of a machine too heavy to be packed, with bulging fenders and its engine seeking more cooling air through a prominent air intake in the hood. These features are an expression of the WRX’s rally heritage. The WRX sedan stands out for its widened fenders that allow for a 20 mm wider front track. (The 2. 5 RS is notable for the same fenders as the WRX. )The WRX Sport Wagon has wheel openings with raised lips, as does the 2. 5 TS and Outback Sport. Bridgestone Potenza RE92 all-season tyres in size 205/55R16 are fixed on 16 x 6. 5-inch alloy wheels.
The rally was encouraged by the huge oval headlights and giant circular fog lamps located in the lower cavernous opening of the radiator. The small circular intakes of the fog lights are really functional and channel the cooling air to the front brake discs. The aluminum hood directs air to the turbo intercooler. Turn signals are built into the giant headlights. This is completed via a rear platform with a distinctive contour; The rear fenders almost shape the spoilers. Subaru’s new styling is striking, especially the giant oval headlights with built-in turn signals, combined with the giant fog lights just below. It is derived from the rally racing symbol that Subaru cultivates for the other Impreza models. , but it also pairs well with the Outback Sport symbol. The Outback Sport stands high in a parking lot, following the hunchback profile of previous Impreza cars, as well as the two-tone paint. The new 16-inch alloy wheels are much more sublime than the prettiest full hubcaps.
The rear hatch has a door control that opens with a key. And the top of the rear bumper has a rubber pad that will protect the painted plastic of the bumper from scratches and bumps when loading gear from the back. The popular roof rack will be convenient for other people who need to ship bikes, kayaks, skis, or other toys to their respective playgrounds.
Subaru has gone to significant lengths to make the enthusiast driver feel at home in the WRX. Most obvious are the rally-style front seats, with large side bolsters intended to keep driver and passenger in place during hard cornering, and the Momo sport steering wheel. Momo is also wheelmaker to Ferrari and other exotic carmakers, so the wheel bears the Momo logo in its center, rather than Subaru. The shifter and handbrake handle, lever-style between the seats, are covered in black leather.
The seats are upholstered in a black flat-weave fabric covered with black dots; It’s not an avant-garde fashion statement, but it will get the job done without offending anyone’s best sensibilities. Front-seat side airbags are standard, as are three-point front seat belts with electrically activated pretensioners and force limiters. Almost everyone can sit comfortably in the WRX, which has a tilting idler and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. The pedals are made of a sporty-looking aluminum alloy with rubber grips.
The gauges are positioned under a semicircular pod on the dash, the speedometer centrally located with the tachometer off to the right. We’d prefer their positions to be swapped, as they are in Japan and Europe, as it just looks sportier to us. The audio and HVAC controls are in a silver-colored panel above the console. The audio controls have been moved above the ventilation controls and include a standard 6-disc in-dash CD-player and logic control cassette player. The right side of the dash proves a large glovebox can coexist with a passenger-side airbag.
The rear seat is spacious for a subcompact. The curve of the C-pillar means you need to be careful with your head when you enter, but the footroom under the front seats and moderate headroom for anyone under six feet mean an bearable ride for most adults. Although the rear is supplied with a 3-point seat, belts and headrests for 3 people, they are better suited for taller youngsters than adults, as the Impreza does not have the width to accommodate 3 pairs of shoulders of adult men side by side. The contour of the rear seat, while less competitive than that of the front seats, confirms the suggestion of two passengers.
Power windows, central locking and air conditioning are all standard, as are a rear defroster, power mirrors, overhead maplights and, so you can remember what you’re driving, ‘WRX’-embroidered floormats. In fact, there are no factory options, though ground effects moldings, a rear spoiler, and 17-inch wheels and tires will be available as dealer or port-installed options. The trunk is roomy, and there’s a pass-through behind a rear-seat armrest, but the Impreza still has old-fashioned hinge arms for the trunk lid that take up space when the lid is closed. 2002 brings a new interior to the Impreza Outback Sport. Subaru designers shopped in the better end of the plastics store and it shows in the quality look and feel of the interior. The materials are nicer than what’s found in many compact cars. The new interior is not only roomier, but looks it as well, with a two-tone treatment, darker on upper surfaces to reduce reflections and lighter on lower surfaces for visual expansiveness.
The seating surfaces and door inserts are upholstered in an adorable, warm tweed fabric. The front seats have side bolsters on the backrest for smart enough lateral travel when cornering, but forgo the upper side bolsters at the rear of the seats, allowing for easier travel. Access and exit. It’s a smart compromise. Power seats are not available. However, the driver’s seat moves up and down to accommodate drivers of other heights, much like how Volkswagen seats work; In addition, there are the same usual tilt and forward and reverse settings. The steering wheel also has a generous two-inch top-to-bottom adjustment, nearly double that of the previous-generation Impreza.
The force window and locking transfers are located in the armrests; Driver’s window transfer is activated, a plus, but having door lock transfer also activated will save you from having to search for it in the dark. Both reading lighting fixtures are well-placed for easy reading in the dark. The previous-generation dash cover compartment has been replaced with a virtual clock. A mini visor above the rearview mirror is visible when the sun is not in position.
Footroom in the rear is limited unless the driver and front passenger move their seats forward, even though we know this is a small car. However, it’s not the widest car and three grown men in the back seat fit perfectly. There are at least three complete abdominal belts, the middle one with a holding assistant on the backrest. A shrink shipping cover is popular and removable; With the rear seatbacks tilted forward, you can take a maximum of 61. 6 cubic feet of space with you. How much new camping equipment do two other people need? Well, still that roof rack and underfloor garage are in the shipping domain for those who continually peruse the Mountain Hardwear catalog.
The shipping area also has an electrical outlet, ideal for inflating rubber rafts or air mattresses. The tailgate rises high enough that most people can stand underneath without bending over. The shipping area also has its own lighting and four tie-down hooks. The rear window has a popular defroster; A great touch is the zigzag heating detail under which the rear windshield wiper, also popular, rests. The accumulation of ice here can cause the rear windshield wipers to die like a snowfall.
The overall feel of the interior, from the quality of the plastics used to the fabrics and burnished steel frames on the dashboard and center console, gives the interior a warmth and richness that is missing in a small car. But the Outback Sport is rarely a modest entrant to the market.
The Impreza WRX is certainly fun to drive.
First of all, it has a lot of strength. As mentioned, its 2. 0-liter turbocharged engine with intercooler makes 227 horsepower, giving a lot of motivation to a 3,100-pound car. And there’s nothing like a generous dose of power in a compact chassis to turn the excitement dial to the right.
As we start, we can feel the familiar and friendly Subaru vibes, a hallmark of a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. The controls are smooth and the pedals are well-spaced; his mannerisms don’t recommend that the WRX is still an Impreza.
A glance at the tools shows that the speedometer can be rotated with remarkable ease. Sudden accelerations are almost occasional, with the driver checking that the vehicle reaches the speed limit much earlier than usual. But put the pedal to the metal: the WRX grabs and goes. The engine never makes noise, it never makes noise, but it sounds like that of a very serious Subaru, which has spent a little more time in the gym.
Look under the hood and see the intercooler placed above the engine like a crown. It cools the intake load after it has been compressed and heated through the turbocharger. The turbocharger is concealed behind and on one side of the engine. An uncommon feature is a catalytic converter between the engine and the turbine. There are two other exhaust jacks behind the turbo. The engine features two overhead camshafts with 4 valves per cylinder and strong tappets for reliable rotation at high rpm. This is because the WRX engine reaches its maximum force at 6,000 rpm and its redline at 7,000 rpm.
The gear ratios of the five-speed manual gearbox are well suited to the engine’s torque curve, and the gear currently reaches 60 mph. The gear lever is quick and accurate and the transmission is in position to shift into the next gear.
This car is extremely stable. All-wheel drive eliminates any hint of torque steer under hard acceleration, a mode we constantly found ourselves in. The suspension has been well tuned to reduce understeer, the tendency for the front of the car to push toward the outside of a turn. When driven very hard, the WRX responds appropriately and enthusiastically to an enthusiast driver’s input. Subaru has learned the hard lessons of world-class rallying well.
Around town, the ride quality is firm. The short 99.4-inch wheelbase and sports suspension make a luxurious ride impossible. Textured pavement generates noticeable road noise in the cabin, but the WRX never feels harsh.
Wind noise is almost nonexistent. And the standard audio system sounds greet.
We drove the WRX on rough roads, the ones used for rally stages. With a few racing instructors, we pounded the WRX like it was a living room rug on a clothesline and it never shook or flinched, let alone collapsed like it did. We got out of here. It was impressive, not only by the fact that the Impreza didn’t lose any parts, but also by the fact that it was as strong as a piece of concrete. This bodes well for its long-term durability, just like other Impreza models, which are built on the same forged chassis.
Giant disc brakes temporarily return everything to a quieter point of activity. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, with giant 11. 4-inch front discs and two-piston front calipers. Four-channel/four-sensor anti-lock brakes are also standard.
The WRX is packed with technology, making it a bit heavier than other subcompacts. According to Subaru, the turbo, all-wheel drive, fully independent suspension and chassis were subjected to RPMs gram by gram. The chassis has been made as smooth as possible, for the sake of competition, by employing custom welded blanks (essentially thicker steel only where necessary). Still, the WRX weighs more than 3,000 pounds, Subaru notes that it has a higher power-to-weight ratio. ratio than even the sporty Audi S4.
The Impreza 2. 5 RS can do it. Experienced drivers realize there’s something more under the hood of the Outback Sport. All Subarus recently sold in the US are supplied with horizontally opposed engines. In other words, instead of aligned or V-shaped cylinders, they stick out from one side to the other. This has a number of technical advantages, but the most notable is the smoothness of the engine. The alternating masses cancel out the worst vibrations.
As a result, the big 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the Outback Sport is relatively smooth without power-sapping add-ons such as balance shafts or expensive vibration-damping engine mounts. The Subaru four-cylinder engine isn’t the silkiest engine running, and it has its own distinctive sound, but it’s quiet at idle and cruise.
The Outback Sport’s 165 horsepower is more than expected in a subcompact, and its 166 pound-feet of torque is especially useful on hills and generates quick acceleration around town. The VW Jetta wagon 1. 8T wins with 180 horsepower, but lacks the external environment and all-wheel drive of the Outback Sport, while Mazda’s new subcompact wagon, the Protege5, produces just 130 horsepower.
Our Outback Sport came equipped with the four-speed automatic transmission. The shifter is located on the console and requires lateral movement to shift from one position to another, except between Neutral, Drive and Drive3. This makes it easy to select Drive3 when starting out by mistake, then drive around for awhile before noticing you’re not in high gear. It’s also easy to shift into neutral when shifting out of a lower gear. Familiarization will no doubt reduce these occurrences, and having Drive3 and Drive close together is handy when shifting back and forth in town or in the mountains. Like any automatic transmission, it does sap some power from the four-cylinder engine. A driver of a 1999 Subaru L wagon with a five-speed manual commented that the 165-horsepower 2002 model equipped with the automatic did not feel any peppier than her 142-horsepower wagon. There’s a price to be paid for the convenience of the automatic.
You can’t expect sports car-like handling from an SUV-style crossover like the Outback Sport, however, the Impreza’s chassis was designed to optimize its functionality in the high-functioning WRX models and the sporty 2. 5 RS. Therefore, the base vehicle has the bones for that. The Outback Sport is responsive, agile and more solid in corners than mini-SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape or Subaru Forester, all of which are larger than the Outback Sport.
All-wheel drive gives the Outback Sport a leg up, or perhaps two legs up, on its front-drive competition, on dry pavement but especially on wet roads or gravel, and very especially on snow or ice. Traction control and front-wheel drive are good, but no match for grip from all four wheels. The all-wheel drive is engaged full-time, unlike systems that require activation, and can be used on dry pavement, which some truckish part-time four-wheel drive systems cannot. The editor got a chance to try the Outback Sport in the snow when a winter storm dumped nearly 10 inches on the Eastern Seaboard. All-wheel drive gave the Outback Sport the traction needed to venture out when others were left stranded or struggling. It also helped keep the car pointed in more or less the direction being traveled. It doesn’t make the car invincible, but it’ll stop in a shorter distance than a heavier SUV.
The Outback Sport is supplied with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes that are fully capable of slowing this car down. The four-channel, four-sensor anti-lock braking formula will allow for shorter stops in slippery conditions, as the wheels can use the brake. up to the tensile limit. This is better than cheaper formulas that, for example, come with rear wheels on the same circuit, which can only apply braking force up to the limit of the wheel with less traction.
The Outback Sport has a common weakness.
Enthusiastic drivers line up in three lines to see the Impreza WRX, with waiting lists at dealerships and fan websites established even before the car’s launch. It’s a similar phenomenon, if not in scale, to the original Mustang or 240Z. Full-throttle style, we were photographed through the passenger of an Acura Integra GS-R. Certainly, Subaru dealerships have never experienced anything like this, so buyers would possibly find themselves with profit margins at dealerships.
Subaru says the same old demographic research doesn’t fit with the WRX. Instead, they’re looking for psychographic data, which means that if you need a car like this, you need that car, regardless of your age, gender, or source. Income level: If I had to ask why, I probably wouldn’t understand the answer. We see the WRX as enjoyable for enthusiasts who necessarily want to impress the neighbors, but enjoy driving a high-performance car. In fact, there’s nothing quite like it on the market today. The bureaucratic line on the right, just behind me. The Outback Sport offers something no other car in the U. S. market does: all-wheel drive in a compact pickup truck for less than $20,000. More expensive than most of its competitors in this length category, it offers more mechanics and more features than others.
The external trend is a plus for those who don’t need to drive a regular car, while the family format and popular roof racks offer utility. The Outback Sport will also outperform tall, boxy mini SUVs in terms of fuel economy. For those who can get an extra fare on top of the maximum of small cars, the Outback Sport is a small transport vehicle that will get you to the tracks, or anywhere else, on time.
Rs 2. 5 ($18,995); 2. 5 TS Sport Wagon ($17,495); WRX Sedan ($23,995); WRX Sports Wagon ($23,495); Outdoor sports ($18,695). Outdoor sports ($18,695).
4-speed transmission ($800); keyless access ($175); Mudguards ($150).