PERFORMANCE:
The STi's heart is its 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed turbocharged and intercooled engine. With 14.7 lbs of boost and four-valve twincam heads with variable cam phasing on both intake and exhaust cams, it makes 305 horsepower at 6000 rpm, with torque maxing at 290 lb-ft at 4000. It has a strong midrange and an even stronger top, and shifting is quick and easy thanks to good linkage in the six-speed manual, appropriately the only transmission offered. It's plenty quick and loads of fun, but fun with the right foot shows at the pump to the tune of a 19mpg average -- which I got only after about 100 miles of sedate highway driving on top of the backroad fun. Fuel economy is not likely a major reason for STi purchase, so no demerits. Unlike the regular WRX, the STi has "Subaru Intelligent Drive", or SI-DRIVE. A knob on the console allows the driver a choice of three engine- and throttle-mapping modes: I(ntelligent) for regular operation, S(port) for quicker throttle response, and S# (Sport Sharp) for the quickest throttle response. S# is quite entertaining when merging into hostile traffic, with the expected negative effect on fuel economy.
Exterior Features
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
Turbocharged 265-hp or 305-hp SUBARU BOXER® engines
Wide-body design
Sport-tuned suspension
17 x 8.0-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P235/45 R17 summer performance tires
Quad outlet exhausts
Interior Features
6-speaker audio system with Bluetooth® hands-free phone and streaming audio connectivity
USB port and iPod® control capability
Performance-design front seats
Automatic climate control
Available touch-screen GPS navigation system
Standard six airbags
USB port and iPod® control capability
Performance-design front seats
Automatic climate control
Available touch-screen GPS navigation system
Standard six airbags
APPEARANCE:
Covert operations not spoken here. As ever, the newest WRX STi sedan is about as subtle as a thermonuclear bomb. The wing is small only when compared to a Plymouth Superbird's, and if the fender blisters are less radical than on the first US-spec STi, they still shout "racecar!" The functional, intercooler-feeding hood scoop doesn't impede forward vision, and the higher rear wing doesn't block the most important part of the view to the rear . The styling is perfect for the WRX and especially STi's place in the world, and is actually toned down compared to the original STi. And the wing really is functional, at least at speeds somewhat higher than US-legal, where it reduces drag and rear lift.
COMFORT:
In the first STi, floor mats and an audio system were nowhere to be found. Emphasis was on performance, and weight from extraneous features not necessary for performance only detracts from that performance. That's gone, as there are now floor mats and an AM/FM/CD/aux jack/USB audio system with iPod and satellite radio capability. If today's STi is less "pure" because of that, so be it - creature comforts are Good Things in everyday life, especially if commuting. And the STi should be comfortable and capable everywhere from the daily commute to a track day… It's still a racing office at heart, in the mid-priced high-performance idiom with excellent high-backed and bolstered seats with integrated headrests and Alcantara® centers and leather bolsters, black with red stitching. Instrumentation is complete and easily visible. No nav system in my example, and not missed. The STi is a driver's car, but there is ample space for two or three passengers in the rear. According to Subaru, the sedan's trunk can hold three full-size golf bags. Golfers who are STi enthusiasts will be overjoyed…
SAFETY:
Subaru's "Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame" unibody structure takes care of the basics of passive safety with front and rear crumple zones and a strong safety cage around the passenger compartment. Add a full complement of airbags and three-point safety belts for more. Active safety is more up to the driver, but said STi driver gets the Brembo Performance Brake System, with four-wheel vented discs and four-piston front, dual-piston rear calipers plus ABS, EBD, and Brake Assist and the traction and handling potential of real four-wheel drive and the STi's upgraded suspension.
