When Subaru redid the WRX STI in 2008
as a wagon, it was a colossal disappointment that
threatened to kill off one of the greatest rivalries
among sports cars. I can't even imagine how many WRX
fans were as disappointed as I was. Don't get me wrong,
wagons are the smart choice when choosing a practical
vehicle for hauling people and stuff around. But for a
performance car, it makes no sense especially when you
consider that wagons never really caught on in America.
Subaru seemed to be trying to appeal to a non-existent
crowd while neglecting its loyal fan base. But now that
the WRX STI sedan has returned for 2011, the Mitsubishi
Lancer Evolution rivalry is back in full-swing.
The WRX STI sedan returns with all the exterior goodies
that rally car fans love. The giant wing is back along
with accentuated fender flares and lots of vents all
around. Subaru may actually be overcompensating a bit
for past wrongs and may be going overboard with the
styling. The front end has been reworked with a larger
grille and more air intakes. Along with the sculpted
fender flares, the STI has more visual connection with
the rally car it is or can be. The ride height has been
lowered slightly and new lightweight 18-inch wheels
replace the old ones. Even lighter 18-inch BBS wheels
are an available option.
Mitsubishi has gone in the exact opposite direction as
Subaru. The Evolution has become more sophisticated over
the years and so has its styling. When Mitsubishi's
corporate face first premiered on the Evo, it was bold
and brash but now that the look has had time to sink in,
it looks restrained but still aggressive. When you look
at the rest of the car, the Evo looks almost pedestrian
compared to the new WRX STI. The huge hood scoop
disappeared back in 2008 and there's less definition in
the fenders. There's not much going on out back either
and if you opt for the MR version as shown in the photo
gallery, you don't even get a wing (you get a lip
spoiler instead).
When you look at both interiors, it's another advantage
for Subaru. The WRX STI's interior is far from perfect,
but Mitsubishi just hasn't put the same level of quality
and detailing in the Evo. The dashboard design is
unimaginative and everything just looks dark and drab.
The WRX STI on the other hand, uses a nice combination
of colors and materials. Both get Bluetooth, iPod and
USB connectivity while there's satellite radio in the
Subaru and a new voice command multimedia system in the
Evo known as FUSE (similar to Ford's SYNC).
When it comes to performance though, the Evo will still
outrun the WRX STI any day, anytime. Across the board,
the Evo wins in every performance category despite the
fact that both are equally powered and the Evo weighs
more. The STI hasn't changed much underneath despite the
new body style. The STI sedan brings back those rally
car looks but not the rally car performance it used to
have. It's not a complete blowout though. In fact,
they're still close competitors but not as close as they
once were. The Evo can do 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds
while the STI takes just over 5 seconds. The time
difference increases when you get closer to 100 mph. Even the regular WRX can still outrun the STI
which really makes you think hard as to why you really
need the STI in the first place.
The STI gets fitted with a six-speed transmission
compared to the Evo's five-speed but it works against
the STI's favor increasing acceleration times. It seems
to have no advantageous effect on fuel economy either as
both get the same miles per gallon in the city or on the
highway. Around the track, the Evo also handles better
putting up 0.96 g's on the skidpad while the STI manages
0.91 g.
The Lancer Evolution is Mitsubishi's masterpiece. It's
their one vehicle in their lineup that attracts admirers
and can shame sports cars twice its price. For the past
three years, the Evo has dominated its rivalry with the
WRX STI on the track and nothing changes despite the
return of the WRX STI sedan. While we're happy the STI
sedan is back, we wish Subaru would go back and give it
the raw performance it once had.
Actually, we wish both Mitsubishi and Subaru would go
back and bring the same levels of performance that the
Evo and STI once had when they first debuted in America.
Both have grown up into more mature sports cars adding
luxuries and weight. But that's not what they were
suppose to be about. They were supposed to help us
fantasize about being rally car drivers no matter who we
are or where we are. Now, they're both better but
actually worse. |
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