2015 Subaru WRX

SPECIFICATIONS

1. A new, smaller, 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine makes 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. 2. Subaru claims a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds with the new 6-speed manual transmission. 3. Also offered with an automatic, Subaru has fitted the 2015 WRX with a CVT. 4. Fuel economy is 21/28 MPG (city/hwy) for the manual and 19/25 for the automatic.

PREVIEW

The WRX is the hot-rod version of Subaru's compact Impreza. Patterned after rally cars -- a form of racing that is wildly popular in Europe but widely unknown in the U.S. -- the WRX first came to the States in 2002. With its turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive, it offered a unique driving experience somewhere between a hot hatchback and a full-on sports car.

The WRX has had its good years and its bad years, but it's always been fast, grippy and relatively inexpensive, traits that have earned it a large and loyal fan base.

We liked the previous-generation WRX, and we're smitten with the new one. Though Subaru has several significant changes, the basic character of the car remains intact: Armed with a broad, flat torque curve and a seemingly limitless supply of grip, the new WRX attacks curvy roads with the tenacity that only a turbocharged engine and four powered wheels can provide. The old WRX may have needed a little help from the aftermarket to bring out its true potential, but the new car feels complete, its surfaces smoothly sanded and its edges finely honed.

So what, exactly, has Subaru changed? Darn near everything. As with the old WRX, the new one is based on the Impreza, though most of the sheetmetal has been altered: Doors, fenders, hood, and front and rear fascias are unique to the WRX.

There's also one detail die-hard Subaru fans might not like: The new WRX is only offered as a sedan. Subaru says that by sticking to a single body style, they were able to spend more money on stiffening the structure. That's all well and good, but those who chose the WRX as a practical sportster will be left hanging, as the sedan's 12 cubic foot trunk is no match for the old hatchback's spacious cargo bay.Though the new car looks a bit tame compared to the old one, the big, functional hood scoop gives it the unmistakable look of a hot-rod Subaru. Unfortunately, the rear view is less captivating: The trunk spoiler has been downsized in the name of aerodynamics, and from the back the new WRX is as anonymous as an ordinary Impreza.

INTERIOR

Aside from the lack of cargo space, the new WRX's interior is greatly improved. Along with a bigger back seat, the WRX gets a much-needed materials upgrade: The cheap plastic trim bits that marred the old WRX are gone, and nearly everything in the new car's cabin has an upscale feel. The one notable exception is the headliner, which appears to be made of the same cardboard used to package eggs.

We liked the front seats, which are supportive, and heavily bolstered. Grippy cloth comes standard and leather is optional. Subaru has finally added a power driver's seat to the WRX's options list, along with another first, a high-end Harmon-Kardon stereo.

UNDER THE HOOD

Not that we ever turned the stereo on, because we were too busy listening to the WRX's soundtrack, an invigorating mix of gear whine, turbo whistle and exhaust blat. Though the 2015 WRX's 2.0-liter engine is 500 ccs smaller than the one in the old WRX, its output of 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque bests the outgoing motor by 3 hp and 14 lb-ft. Subaru claims a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds with a manual transmission, fast enough to quicken the pulse but slow enough to leave room for the hotter STI version that will inevitably follow.

EPA fuel economy estimates are 21 MPG city and 28 MPG highway for the manual (which, finally, gains a sixth speed), and 19/25 for the automatic. Yep, you read that right: For the first time in several years, the WRX is being offered with an automatic transmission -- actually a CVT, or continuously variable transmission.