With off-road wheels and tires, the STI trundles along part of the rally course. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

During our one-day exposure to the WRX and STI, we were also treated to a rough off-road course that demonstrated the Subarus’ rally credentials. In a standard STI with off-road tires and wheels, we experienced the car’s remarkable ability to traverse rutted, muddy, loose and off-camber trails with ease.

Again, a professional rally driver put it into better perspective, demonstrating not only the tricks of the trade but how well the Subaru responds to them. And the Subarus put up with the abuse without complaint.

The suspension, body and interior improvements for both WRX and STI are enough to consider these new generations of the Subaru hot rods, and further differentiate them from the standard Impreza model. Engine and transmissions remain the same: a 2.5 liter turbocharged horizontal four with 265 horsepower in the WRX and 305 in the STI. WRX gets a five-speed manual gearbox while STI gets six speeds.

According to Subaru, zero-60 acceleration runs 5.4 seconds for WRX and 4.9 seconds for SRI, with tops speeds of 142 mph for WRX and 158 for the new STI sedan.

Complaints about the new WRX and WRX STI were few, but there was one subjective gripe about the engines. Neither the WRX or the STI have any sort of high-performance sound, just the usual grumbling exhaust note of the boxer engines. Aural appeal should not be discounted for the performance-oriented drivers targeted by these cars.

The interior of the WRX Limited is loaded with creature comforts. (Photo: Subaru)

Pricing for the Subaru WRX is in bargain-basement territory, truly a lot of performance car for relatively small changes. For both the four- and five-door models, prices range from $25,495 to $28,995 plus $725 shipping.

Naturally, STI commands a bigger price tag but remains downright reasonable: the four-door models go from $33,995 to $37,345, while the five-door starts at $35,995, which includes BBS wheels, formerly a $2,000 option. Shipping adds $725 to each.

Subaru has had a remarkable run during the past couple of years, gaining sales and market share while the rest of the auto industry foundered under the financial crisis and resulting recession. The redesigned Frontier compact SUV hit the spot for many consumers, and I suspect that the renewed WRX and WRX STI will do the same.

Details

WRX

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan or hatchback, all-wheel drive.
Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged horizontally opposed four, 265 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 244 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed manual.
Wheelbase: 303.3 inches.
Overall length: 180.3 inches (sedan), 173.8 inches (hatchback).
Curb weight: 3,208 pounds (sedan). 3,100 pounds (hatchback).
EPA mileage rating: 19 city, 25 highway.

WRX STI

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan or hatchback, all-wheel drive.
Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged horizontally opposed four, 305 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 290 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed manual.
Wheelbase: 303.3 inches.
Overall length: 180.3 inches (sedan), 173.8 inches (hatchback).
Curb weight: 3,384 pounds (sedan), 3,373 pounds (hatchback).
EPA mileage rating: 17 city, 23 highway.

Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, who has driven and evaluated essentially every new vehicle sold in the United States. A lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle, he annually attends and writes about Arizona's famous January collector-car auctions, focusing on Scottsdale’s monumental Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event and other Barrett-Jackson auctions. SPEED.com fans email Automotive Editor Bob Golfen at

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel