There is no questioning the fact that when it comes to street-legal rally cars, Subaru’s WRX STI is about the finest vehicle available, but with a price starting at just under $35,000, the high-power compact hatchback might be a little too pricey for some consumers. For that reason, Subaru also offers a tamer version of its turbocharged Boxer engine under the hood of either the Impreza sedan or five-door hatchback and calls it the Impreza 2.5GT. After driving the hatchback only WRX STI last year, Subaru gave us a chance to test out the sedan version of its entry-level model decked out in 2.5GT trim which gives the Impreza sedan a much more aggressive style than its main rivals including the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cobalt.
Although starting price for a base Impreza is less than $18,000, upgrading to the halfway-to-STI Impreza GT also bumps the starting MSRP to $26,995 (those wanting a hatchback must fork over an additional $500). Adding only XM satellite radio as the only option, the 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT we reviewed had an as-tested price of $28,143 including a $695 destination charge. Despite this price range for a compact sedan, the level of performance and handling that Subaru incorporates into the 2.5GT trim level makes it a relative bargain compared to the WRX and the range-topping WRX STI. We know Subaru’s Boxer engine is a high-revving powerhouse, but we spent a week behind the wheel of Subaru’s 2.5GT sport sedan
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to see how the car performs as an everyday driver.
2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT Exterior
For the most part, the 2.5GT is the sleeper of the Impreza lineup losing the wild body kits, wheels and spoilers of the WRX and WRX STI, but that gaping and functional hood scoop on the front hood should give an indication that this car is not your typical economy-minded sedan. The hood scoop is necessary to feed air to the turbocharger’s massive intercooler, and is about the only element that helps the 2.5GT model stand out from the lesser 2.5i from a visual standpoint. Introduced for the 2008 model year, the Impreza looks less boxy and boy-racer than its predecessor, while also keeping a more traditional sedan look with a tall roofline, a large greenhouse and a boxy decklid (sans any gaudy spoiler). Up front, the Impreza gets a slim version of Suabru’s trademark grille flanked by scalloped projector-beam headlamps. The rear view of the car is less exciting, however, with taillights that seem inspired by the beak of Sam the Eagle from The Muppets and dual exhaust outlets that are easily hidden by the blacked-out lower portion of the rear fascia. Our car was finished off with a set of painted 17-inch, ten-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in thick-walled, all-season tires.
2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT Interior
As we expected, stepping down from the race-inspired cabin of the STI offered a much more livable cabin in the Impreza 2.5GT sedan by providing more comfortable front bucket seats. While we wouldn’t go as far as to call the Impreza’s cabin luxurious, it did offer sufficient comfort in the seats during driving and as a driver it was easy to get adjusted to. Being a base model of the 2.5GT, creature comforts and cabin tech were at a minimum, 
including manually adjusting seats, but it was easy to get comfortable inside the Impreza’s cabin thanks to the tilting and telescoping steering column and height-adjustable driver’s seat. Sitting at the top of the non-WRX Impreza lineup, the 2.5GT comes standard with convenient amenities such as heated front seats, cruise control, power sunroof and remote keyless entry.
Passengers delegated to the rear seats are not forced to suffer. The sedan offers considerable accommodations for five passengers with almost the same space as the hatchback model, although three adult-sized occupants in the back seat of either car may make things slightly more confined. The only difference between the interiors of the hatchback and sedan is obviously the maximum cargo capacity. While the five-door provides a much more versatile cargo capacity, the Impreza sedan is limited to just 11.3 cubic feet of trunk space and a 60/40 split rear bench seat for longer (and flexible) items.
Considering how stylish Subaru vehicles are outside, we are always surprised about bland cabins that Subaru generally delivers, and the Impreza is no exception. From the shiny plastic swoop on the instrument panel to the hard, plastic door panels, Subaru still has some homework to do on interior finish. The layout, on the other hand, was impressive as all of the controls are easily accessible to the driver and easy to figure out as well. Like any true sports car, the tachometer is featured prominently in the instrument cluster (although it’s quite useless on an automatic transmission) and all Impreza models offer the same red electroluminescent gauges as the STI, although with a speedometer that reads up to 150 miles per hour instead of the STI and its 160-mph speedo.
2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT Performance & Handling
Like the pricing and the styling, the Impreza 2.5GT sits in between the base Impreza 2.5i and WRX STI when it comes to the output of the horizontally opposed Boxer engine that produces 224 horsepower and 226 lb-ft of torque – above the base 2.5i’s 170 hp and well under the STI’s 305 hp. Like all Subaru models, power is fed to 
the wheels via Subaru’s Symmetrical All-wheel Drive System through a four-speed automatic. Those looking for the availability of a manual transmission should either step down to the Impreza 2.5i or up to the WRX as no manual is available on the 2.5GT model. The powertrain combination might add up to a safe, enthusiastic driving dynamic, but fuel economy is rather low for a compact sedan with EPA fuel economy estimates of 19 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
While we were far from impressed with the Impreza’s fuel economy, one thing we grew to love with our short time behind the wheel of the Impreza sedan was the car’s obedience whether taking fast corners or driving a 300-mile flat stretch of interstate. Subaru calls the 2.5GT’s four-wheel independent suspension a sport-tuned suspension, but we think more of this Impreza’s handling and nimble cornering are a result of the all-wheel drive system and the low-slung Boxer engine. Normally, we would expect the words “sport-tuned suspension” to equate to a tight, bouncy ride in normal driving conditions, but the opposite was true for the 2009 Impreza as the car felt smooth in stop-and-go driving and on the interstate.
2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT Safety
In terms of safety, the standard all-wheel drive is just the beginning as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all 2009 Impreza models a perfect five stars for frontal-impact protection, while the side-impact protection was rated at five stars for the front passenger and just four stars for the rear passenger. We were surprised to learn that the Impreza only got four stars for a rollover rating despite the all-wheel drive system and its relatively low stance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found things a little better on the Impreza and gave it Good ratings across the board and even named models equipped with optional electronic stability control to its list of 2009 IIHS Top Safety Picks. Other standard safety features include vehicle dynamics control, traction control, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system.
Summary
For those looking for a sport compact sedan that offers impressive performance but is also manageable as an everyday driver, the 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5GT is the way to go. After a week of testing out Subaru’s sport sedan, we were impressed with the overall comfort that both the cabin and suspension provide. We also appreciated the car’s sleeper image that aimed to keep aggressive body styling to a minimum for the more reserved Subie fan who wants turbocharged, all-wheel drive performance without getting noticed at every stop light.
