The newest generation will bring the count to 5 over the last 30 years.
- 1st Generation (1992-2000)
- 2nd Generation (2000-2007)
- 2nd Generation (2004 Facelift)
- 2nd Generation (2006 Facelift)
- 3rd Generation (2007-2014)
- 4th Generation (2014-Present)
- 5th Generation (2022– )
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The Subaru Impreza isn’t the most exciting model when it stands on its own. However, the addition of three letters – WRX – or six – WRX STI – changes the game, transforming the Impreza into a formidable performance machine that takes full advantage of Subaru’s all-wheel-drive expertise. But the car we have today is a far departure from the Impreza that Subaru introduced nearly 20 years ago. A brand new WRX will also debut shortly that as the fifth generation of this storied nameplate.
1st Generation (1992-2000)
The US missed out on the first-generation Impreza WRX and WRX STI, which are some of the most desirable models today. The stripped-down RA version took things to the extreme with no A/C, anti-lock brakes, or horn. In 1994, Subaru introduced the WRX STI, which took the WRX and further upgraded it.
2nd Generation (2000-2007)
The second-generation Impreza introduced the controversial “Bug Eye” design while increasing the model’s dimensions. The “New Age” Impreza design saw the coupe body style disappear, but it was also the generation that saw the WRX arrive in the US for the first time in 2002. The polarizing styling would go through two revisions before the third-generation model’s debut.
2nd Generation (2004 Facelift)
The first facelift attempted to rework the front-end design, eliminating the round “Bug Eye” design only to replace it with what’d be dubbed the “Blob Eye” design, which was an improvement. The WRX model also got a tweaked suspension for improved handling while other small changes were made inside. The 2004 design previewed the next-gen redesign that’d arrive just two years later.
2nd Generation (2006 Facelift)
The second facelift, pulling from the automaker’s aviation heritage, introduced the automaker’s new corporate face. It was a substantial refresh with new headlights, a new grille, and a new bumper. Subaru fans nicknamed it the “Hawkeye” design. The updated model also saw Subaru replace the WRX’s 2.0-liter engine for a larger 2.5-liter one while tweaking the chassis and brakes.
3rd Generation (2007-2014)
The third-generation Impreza further refined the car’s design, growing in size again over the outgoing model – it was wider and longer than before. The third-gen also saw Subaru replace the wagon with a five-door hatchback variant. The new WRX was mostly unchanged, carrying over the previous-gen model’s engine with a few other changes inside and out.
4th Generation (2014-Present)
The fourth-gen WRX marked a shift for the automaker, removing the WRX and WRX STI models from under the Impreza brand in the US. However, it still shares an overall shape with its former stablemate, though it wears a unique front end and rear quarters. Subaru also introduced the turbocharged 2.0-liter FA20F engine with the WRX. The fifth-gen model is expected to arrive in 2021 or 2022.
5th Generation (2022– )
Subaru unveiled the fifth-generation WRX in September 2021 with big changes across the board. Gone is the 2.0-liter engine as it has been replaced by a larger turbocharged 2.4-liter unit with 271 horsepower (202 kilowatts) and 258 pound-feet (349 Newton-meters). Output is channeled to both axles via a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission with an eight-speed manual mode by using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
The sports sedan has switched to the Subaru Global Platform, which contributes to a stiffer chassis and a 28 percent boost in torsional rigidity. In addition, the center of gravity is lower than before while the rear stabilizer bar is now mounted to the body instead of the subframe. An external transmission fluid cooler is offered, along with a new-for-2022 GT trim featuring electronically controlled dampers.
The base model carries a starting price of $30,100 whereas going for the GT – which only comes with the CVT – will set you back nearly $43,000. Sadly, Subaru has already ruled out a hotter WRX STI by arguing it would’ve had a short lifespan due to increasingly stringent emissions regulations. However, the company’s Australian division could take matters into its own hands and build the Subaru Tecnica International variant itself.
Speaking of the Land Down Under, Subaru is offering there a more practical WRX Sportswagon.
Keyword: Subaru Impreza WRX Shows Its AWD Evolution Across All Generations