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New car reviews » 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

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Better than: 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
But not as good as: Impreza WRC
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 97.82  

In addition to sampling the revised 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX, we got to see the 2011 Impreza WRX STI. The higher-output STI also gets some fairly big changes for the 2011 model year:

The Four-Door Sedan Returns

The original U.S.-spec STI only came in one body style, a four-door sedan. That configuration seemed to work fairly well.

When the Impreza received its redo for 2008, the STI package migrated to the five-door wagon. The STI sedan had become a thing of the past. Subaru said that the wagon made a better rally platform, but the enthusiasts did what they did best: complain.

Well, now there’s a freedom of choice as the STI comes in two flavors: wagon or sedan. According to Subaru, there’s little weight penalty between the two: 3384 pounds for the sedan and 3373 pounds for the wagon. (For those of you without a calculator, the wagon weighs 11 pounds less.)

There’s a Retuned Chassis, Too

The changes aren’t limited to the body, as the chassis received some work, too. First, ride height has been dropped by 5mm.

The anti-roll bar rates are also up, as both the front and rear bars have grown one millimeter thicker: 20 to 21mm up front and 18 to 19mm out back.

The spring rates are also up: 16 percent on the front end and 53 percent on the rear end. (Looking for real figures? The fronts have gone from 39.8 N/mm to 46 N/mm, while the rears have moved from 34 N/mm to 52 N/mm.)

One more big suspension change: Where the front control arms were secured with rubber bushings, starting in 2011 rod ends are used.

New Wheels

Finally, the STI gets new wheels. The base sedan receives a new 18-inch Enkei wheel. At 23.1 pounds, it’s 4 pounds lighter than the base wheels previously used. The wagon and Limited sedan come with forged 18-inch BBS wheels. Each one weighs 20.1 pounds.

We should also mention the prices. The four-door STI starts at $33,995, while the Limited will cost you $37,345. The five-door only comes in one flavor, and it retails for $35,995. (And as Subaru notes, while the five-door price has gone up by a grand, it includes the BBS wheels, a $2000 option in the past.)

Other staff views:

David S. Wallens Editorial Director:

The STI, as usual, does everything the WRX does—just half a notch better. As expected there’s more torque and more grip.

We also got to some back-to-back track testing between the 2010 and 2011 cars. Yeah, the new car does feel a bit sharper. Glad to see the new hardware showing up in the butt dyno. We didn’t get a ton of laps, but the new car does have crisper handling.

Bought an earlier car? Start thinking about those stiffer springs and bars. The new control arms bolt on, too.

Any negatives? Yeah, one. The regular WRX felt wonderful during every moment of our street drive. The STI’s steering, however, seemed to have a dead spot. I didn’t notice it while on track, but during our street drive the STI’s steering just felt a bit numb. The steering felt fine going into the turn, but once there it went a bit limp.

Supposedly the only differences between the steering setups involve the power steering pump. Or maybe our car had low tires or some other abnormality. Either way, I wouldn’t confuse the STI’s steering with that of a 911. Let’s hope that our test car was just acting funny.

Other than that, the new STI is a winner. It does everything an STI should, and I’m glad that the sedan is back.

As a bonus, we also ran a few rally laps in the new STI. Nice to see that the car can still take a beating.

Reader comments:

1. jrg77: — Jul 19, 2010 10:59 a.m.
   

   Now if you would put the picture of that subframe on the forum we can all dream of building a Locost out of that like we did the Miata!

2. David S. Wallens: — Jul 19, 2010 11:23 a.m.
   

   Subframe photos are coming.

3. thatsnowinnebago: — Jul 19, 2010 3:50 p.m.
   

   I know its somewhat functional but that wing is SO UGLY. i didn’t mind it so much on the earlier models but the new ones already have a rather busy back end which the wing does nothing to downplay. Kudos for the rod ends in the front suspension and having rally as part of the press introduction.

4. irish44j: — Jul 19, 2010 8:25 p.m.
   

   they did everything right on this except for that Pep Boys wing (looks like a APC-knockoff of an Evo X wing, doesn’t it?)

5. 4eyes: — Jul 20, 2010 3:56 p.m.
   

   I’m glad they kept the 5 door STI,I think it’s the best looking STI that they have made. I have been shopping around for over a year. My next purchase will be the first new car, that I have bought for myself in a decade. (not Wife Daughter etc.) I have been researching Mustang, 370Z, Audi, BMW, but I keep coming back to the Subaru WRX STI. It has the best combination of performance and practicality that I have found. I am glad that they added leather interior.

6. miwifri: — Jul 21, 2010 6:09 p.m.
   

   I like it. Is there any hope that they will sell a “Special Edition” with less weight and fewer expensive standard features like they did for 2010.

7. miwifri: — Jul 21, 2010 6:11 p.m.
   

   ??

8. mistanfo: — Jul 28, 2010 10:56 a.m.
   

   So, the Sedan weighs less than the wagon, with equal wheels and tires? Seems like they should put the lighter ones on all of them. Unless they are now saying “See, we told you the wagon was better for Rally, it’s lighter!”

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