Oh Canada, our great neighbor to the north. I never knew much about the country other than they have a totally different policy with regards to herbal substances, house the largest population of Chinese outside of China and have some of the most beautiful women I've ever laid eyes on in my life. I also discovered that Vancouver Island is not a small island at all and at 20 minutes by air from the mainland, is filled with stunning scenery and back roads so wide open (albeit technically narrow) and unmanned, you'd be hard pressed to find a cop waiting for you around the bend to pull your ass over for traveling at unsafe speeds. It is the absolute, most perfect setting to test out Subaru's latest Impreza offerings: the WRX and 2.5GT. Welcome to Vancouver, you're aboot to experience one hell of a ride.
What you may have been used to from the Impreza's past is a base model version, a 2.5RS, WRX and STI. Subaru maintains a four-model lineup for the '09 Impreza but changed the level names, now giving you the Impreza 2.5i (base model), 2.5GT, WRX and WRX STI. On this drive, we focused on the 2.5GT for a short period then switched over to the WRX where we had plenty of seat time. However, the changes don't stop at name-calling. The 2.5GT is the 2.5RS replacement, more or less, and the WRX is a completely altered machine from the previous generation.
Impreza 2.5GT: First Things First
Although aimed at the female buyer, the 2.5GT isn't for sissies and won't make you any less of a man if it's all you can afford to get into. Coming in both 4-and-5-door variants, it's powered by a 224 hp, turbocharged Boxer engine - not neck-breaking fast, but zippy, and is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission, which basically means: point and shoot. The drivetrain on the 2.5GT uses a different Symmetrical AWD system from the WRX, featuring an electronically-controlled variable transfer clutch that distributes power based on acceleration/deceleration and available traction, giving you the best grip at all times.
Looks-wise, it's less sexy than the WRX and STI but you get lots of standard features, including a power moonroof, more leg/storage room (thanks to a longer wheelbase) and 4-wheel ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Those of you who live in extreme cold during the winter season will love the front heated seats, heated side mirrors and a de-icer for the front windshield. A brisk hour long drive up Vancouver Island's eastern side starting from Port Nanaimo through its mountainous midsection to Port Alberni proved that while the 2.5GT is not the most thrilling mode of transportation, the turbo keeps it peppy and the ride comfort is smooth as silk. Everyday commuter? Why, yes, thank you for asking. It's the kind of car you'd want to buy as a daily driver and feel confident that you would not fix it up, otherwise you probably should get the WRX, which I'm ready to get into.
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