Subaru Impreza WRX

Subaru Impreza WRX: generations (what actually changed for a buyer)

Treat restylings as chapters of the same generation, not extra generations.

Treat restylings as chapters of the same generation, not extra generations.

1 generation (November 1992–September 2000), Estate 5-door. The file lists 12 versions (the generation field counts 19; only the 12 rows below are specified). This is the only Estate 5-door WRX here, and the only place you get 280 hp, 260 hp, or a 50 l tank. Kerb weights that are measured run 1170–1320 kg — the lightest WRXs in the whole model. Ground clearance is 150 mm or 155 mm. If you want the lightest AWD turbo estate in this catalogue, you stop here; if you want a sedan, you skip the generation.

2 generation (April 2000–October 2002), Sedan, 10 versions. Body switches to Sedan. Engines stay 1994 cm³. Power steps are 218 / 225 / 250 hp. This is the last generation where 2.0 AT 250 hp exists. Fuel in every row is 95. Highway and mixed consumption are not measured on eight of ten rows.

2 generation, restyling 1 (November 2002–May 2005), Sedan, 6 versions. Still 1994 cm³, still Sedan. Power is 225 or 250 hp. The 2.0 MT 250 hp here is the last 2.0-litre WRX with a measured mixed figure of 9.2 l/100 km. Fuel splits: 98 on the 250 hp pair and on one 2.0 MT 225 hp; 95 on the other 225 hp pair. Clearance is 140 mm on 2.0 AT 250 hp, 150 mm or 155 mm elsewhere.

2 generation, restyling 2 (June 2005–September 2007), Sedan, 2 versions. Displacement jumps to 2457 cm³. Both rows are 2.5 MT 230 hp / 320 Nm / 5-speed Manual. Specific output falls to 93.6 hp/l from 125.4 hp/l on the outgoing 2.0 MT 250 hp. You buy 463 cm³ more capacity and 20 hp less than that 250 hp 2.0. Top speed is 230 km/h vs 232 km/h on several 2.0 MT 250/225 rows. Mixed consumption 10.3 l/100 km vs 9.2 on the last 2.0 MT.

3 generation (September 2007–April 2011), Sedan, 4 versions. Two power levels, both 2.5 MT: 230 hp / 320 Nm and 265 hp / 343 Nm. The 35 hp step is 15.2%. 0–100 is 6.5 s vs 6.0 s (−0.5 s). Top speed is 209 km/h on all four rows — 21 km/h slower than restyling 2’s 230 km/h. Kerb weight is 1400 kg or 1395 kg. Fuel 95. CO2 and eco class: not measured.

3 generation, restyling (May 2011–February 2014), Sedan, 6 versions. This is the only generation with a later Automatic, and the only one with Euro 4 and a measured CO2 figure. Power is 224 / 230 / 265 hp. Two 2.5 MT 265 hp rows exist: one runs to February 2014, one stops May 2013; both share 265 hp, 343 Nm, 6.0 s, 209 km/h, 1480 kg, 247 g/km CO2. The 2.5 AT 224 hp stops in May 2013. If you need a late automatic WRX, this is the only door.

Engines and specs

Displacement is either 1994 cm³ (bore × stroke 92 × 75) or 2457 cm³ (99.5 × 79). Compression is 8, 8.1, 8.4, or 8.5 where measured; several 224 hp restyle rows have compression not measured. Fuel is 95 or 98. Drive is AWD on every row. Gearboxes: Manual 5 or Automatic 4.

Same name, different cars: several 2.5 MT and 2.0 MT / 2.0 AT rows share a label. Separate them by hp, Nm, 0–100, kerb weight, fuel (95 vs 98), and production stop date.

Specific output (hp per litre of the stated displacement): 2.0 AT 280 hp → 140.4 hp/l; 2.0 MT 260 hp → 130.4; 2.0 MT 250 hp → 125.4; 2.5 MT 265 hp → 107.9; 2.5 MT 230 hp → 93.6; 2.5 MT 224 hp → 91.2. Moving from 2.0 250 hp to 2.5 224 hp cuts 34.2 hp/l. The 2.5 265 hp row recovers to 107.9 hp/l, still 17.5 hp/l below the 2.0 250 hp manuals.

Performance and economy (mpg, 0–100, top speed)

Fastest 0–100 in the file: 3 generation, restyling 2.5 MT 224 hp, 5.2 s, top speed 250 km/h, mixed 10.3 l/100 km. Same power, same 306 Nm, same 5-speed Manual, but 1505 kg kerb (kerb not measured as a ratio in isolation: 6.72 kg/hp). A second 2.5 MT 224 hp in the same restyle is 5.8 s and 209 km/h at 1395 kg — 0.6 s slower despite 110 kg less mass, and 41 km/h less top speed. That is the clearest intra-generation contradiction in the numbers: the lighter 224 hp car is not the quicker one.

2.5 AT 224 hp: 6.0 s, 245 km/h, city 14.8, highway 8.1, mixed 10.6. Versus the 5.2 s 2.5 MT 224 hp: +0.8 s, −5 km/h, +0.3 l/100 km mixed, +20 kg (1525 vs 1505). The automatic is 4 speeds; the manual is 5. Euro 4 on both 224 hp cars that carry an eco label; CO2 not measured on 224 hp.

2.5 MT 265 hp (restyle): 6.0 s, 209 km/h, mixed 10.4, city 14.4, highway 8.1, CO2 247 g/km, eco class not measured. Versus 224 hp 5.2 s MT: +41 hp, +37 Nm, +0.8 s, −41 km/h, +0.1 mixed. Extra power does not buy the best sprint or the highest speed in this restyle.

2.5 MT 230 hp (3 generation and restyle): 6.5 s, 209 km/h, mixed 10.4. Versus 265 hp: −35 hp, −23 Nm, +0.5 s, same 209 km/h, same mixed 10.4.

2 generation, restyling 2 2.5 MT 230 hp: 5.9 s (1405 kg) or 6.1 s (1425 kg), 230 km/h, mixed 10.3. Versus later 3 generation 230 hp: −0.6 s (5.9 vs 6.5) and +21 km/h. The pre-facelift 3 generation 230 hp is slower and lower-speed than the last 2 generation 230 hp.

Best measured economy: 2 generation, restyling 1 2.0 MT 250 hp and 2.0 MT 225 hp: city 12.7, highway 7.1, mixed 9.2. That mixed figure is 1.1–1.4 l/100 km below later 2.5 mixed numbers (10.3–10.6). 2 generation 2.0 MT 218 hp: city 14.2, highway 7.9, mixed 10.2. Most 2 generation and all 1 generation consumption figures are not measured. 1 generation 0–100 that is measured is 6.5 s (211/218 hp) or 6.7 s (240/250/260 hp); top speed 228, 220, or not measured. 2.0 AT 280 hp: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.

2 generation Automatics: 2.0 AT 218 hp — 0–100 not measured; one row has top speed not measured, another 225 km/h. 2.0 AT 225 hp: 6.1 s, 230 km/h. 2.0 AT 250 hp: 6.1 s, 230 km/h. Restyling 1 2.0 AT 225 and 2.0 AT 250: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel size is not measured on every version. Tank is 60 l except three 1 generation rows with 50 l: 2.0 MT 240 hp 1170 kg, 2.0 MT 260 hp, 2.0 AT 280 hp. Ground clearance is 140 mm (one restyling 1 2.0 AT 250 hp), 150 mm, or 155 mm. Front suspension Independent, spring; rear Independent, spring. Front brakes Ventilated disc; rear Disc or Disc ventilated.

Kerb weight range (where measured): 1170 kg (1 generation 2.0 MT 240 hp, 50 l tank) to 1525 kg (3 generation, restyling 2.5 AT 224 hp). Gross weight: 1680–1980 kg where measured; not measured on several 224 hp restyle rows and on 2.0 AT 280 hp.

kg per hp (kerb / hp, measured kerb only):

• Lightest per hp: 1 generation 2.0 MT 260 hp, 1200 kg → 4.62 kg/hp; 2.0 MT 240 hp 1170 kg → 4.88; 2.0 MT 250 hp 1290 kg → 5.16.
• 2 generation 2.0 MT 250 hp 1350 kg → 5.40; restyling 1 2.0 MT 250 hp 1390 kg → 5.56.
• 3 generation 2.5 MT 265 hp 1395 kg → 5.26; 1400 kg → 5.28. Restyle 2.5 MT 265 hp 1480 kg → 5.58 (+85 kg vs the lighter 3 generation 265 hp).
• Heaviest per hp among measured 2.5 cars: 2.5 AT 224 hp 1525 kg → 6.81 kg/hp.

The 3 generation restyle adds mass on the 265 hp car: 1480 vs 1395/1400 kg for the same 265 hp / 343 Nm / 6.0 s / 209 km/h package. Gross weight on that restyle 265 hp is 1980 kg vs 1920 kg pre-restyle (+60 kg).

Which version to choose

If the goal is the lowest 0–100 time: 3 generation, restyling 2.5 MT 224 hp, 5.2 s, 250 km/h, 1505 kg, Euro 4, mixed 10.3. That is 0.7 s quicker than restyling 1 2.0 MT 250 hp (5.9 s, 232 km/h, mixed 9.2) and 0.8 s quicker than restyle 2.5 MT 265 hp. You give up 41 hp versus 265 hp and 1.1 l/100 km versus the 9.2 mixed 2.0 MT.

If the goal is peak power: 1 generation 2.0 AT 280 hp / 338 Nm / 140.4 hp/l. 0–100, top speed, kerb, and CO2 are not measured. Next: 2.0 MT 260 hp, 1200 kg, 6.7 s, 220 km/h, 4.62 kg/hp. Among sedans, peak is 2.5 MT 265 hp (3 generation and restyle).

If the goal is power with a usable sprint and a measured tank of 60 l on a sedan: 2 generation 2.0 MT 250 hp, 333 Nm, 1350 kg, 6.2 s, 230 km/h — 5.40 kg/hp. Restyling 1 2.0 MT 250 hp is 1390 kg, 5.9 s, 232 km/h, mixed 9.2, fuel 98. The 333 Nm restyling 1 2.0 is 24 Nm above 2 generation’s 309 Nm 2.0 MT 250 hp / 2.0 AT 250 hp pair.

If you need Automatic: after June 2005 there is only 3 generation, restyling 2.5 AT 224 hp (to May 2013): 6.0 s, 245 km/h, 1525 kg, mixed 10.6, Euro 4. Before that, 2 generation and restyling 1 still offer 2.0 AT at 218 / 225 / 250 hp. 1 generation 2.0 AT 280 hp is the most powerful automatic; performance not measured. Restyling 1 2.0 AT 250 hp: performance not measured, clearance 140 mm (lowest in the file).

If you want the 2.5-litre sedan that is quicker than later 230 hp cars: 2 generation, restyling 2 2.5 MT 230 hp, 5.9 s / 1405 kg (fuel 98) or 6.1 s / 1425 kg (fuel 95), both 230 km/h, mixed 10.3. Versus 3 generation 2.5 MT 230 hp at 6.5 s / 209 km/h: you keep 230 hp / 320 Nm and gain 0.6 s and 21 km/h. The restyle 2 pair is the last 230 hp with 230 km/h.

If you want 265 hp: 3 generation 2.5 MT 265 hp at 1395 or 1400 kg is 85–80 kg lighter than restyle 2.5 MT 265 hp at 1480 kg, with the same 6.0 s and 209 km/h. The restyle 265 hp is the only WRX with measured CO2 247 g/km; eco class still not measured. Two restyle 265 hp 2.5 MT rows differ only in end date (2014-02 vs 2013-05).

If you want lowest mixed fuel use that is actually measured: restyling 1 2.0 MT 250 hp or 2.0 MT 225 hp, 9.2 l/100 km. Later 2.5 cars sit at 10.3–10.6. 1 generation mpg: not measured.

If you want the lightest car: 1 generation 2.0 MT 240 hp, 1170 kg, 50 l tank, 6.7 s, 220 km/h, Estate 5-door. 2.0 MT 260 hp is 1200 kg, same 6.7 s / 220 km/h. No sedan in the file is under 1350 kg.

If you want Estate 5-door: only 1 generation. All later WRXs in this file are Sedan.

If you want Euro 4 on the label: only 3 generation, restyling 2.5 MT 224 hp (both 5.8 s and 5.2 s) and 2.5 AT 224 hp. 230 hp and 265 hp restyle rows: eco class not measured.

Problems and reliability are not measured in this dataset. Choose on the numbers that exist: power, mass, 0–100, top speed, consumption, tank, clearance, gearbox, and whether the body is Estate 5-door or Sedan.

Short map: 5.2 s / 250 km/h → restyle 2.5 MT 224 hp. 265 hp sedan, less mass → 3 generation 2.5 MT 265 hp (1395–1400 kg). Automatic after 2005 → restyle 2.5 AT 224 hp. Highest hp/l and lightest kerb → 1 generation 2.0 AT 280 hp and 2.0 MT 260/240 hp. Best measured mpg → restyling 1 2.0 MT 225/250 hp at 9.2. 2.5 with 230 km/h → restyling 2 2.5 MT 230 hp, not the later 209 km/h 230/265 hp cars.