2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
THE BASICS
Base price/as tested: $28,450 / $29,637
Fuel economy: 23.8 miles per gallon in Globe testing
Annual fuel cost: $1,665.97 (at $3.05 per gallon, regular, 13,000 miles per year)
THE EARLY LINE
Subaru hopes to take its iconoclastic WRX mainstream.
THE SPECIFICS
Drivetrain: all-wheel drive, with a turbocharged/intercooled 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder boxer engine and 5-speed manual transmission.
Seats: 5 | Horsepower: 224
Torque: 226 lb.-ft.
Overall length: 180.3 inches
Wheelbase: 103.1 inches
Height: 58.1 inches
Width: 68.5 inches
Curb weight: 3,142 pounds
THE SKINNY
Nice touch: recomputed engine dynamics that allow the turbo power to kick in at lower rpm's
Annoyance: At night, the navigation system's white background is extremely bright compared to the car's white-on-black and red-on-black gauges.
Watch for: some resistance to change from owners of earlier WRX models.
SHOP IT AGAINST
Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed Mazda3, 