The article was originally produced on March 13, 2009, some facts and prices may have changed since then.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI vs Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
It was a sunny autumn day and today's task is to test two of the world's mischievous cars against each other, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The previous generations of these two cars have been raised to the skies by their owners and the motoring press and they have always been great rivals against each other. This is something neither Mitsubishi nor Subaru want to admit. Silly in my opinion because they could certainly gain a lot by pitting the cars against each other in public!
These are cars that people have loved to build on with various trim kits etc and there are many who have given their cars a proper power increase from standard. The reason why these cars have become so popular is because they are so uncompromising and that they can be driven terribly hard and that they still hold together while functioning perfectly as everyday cars at the same time. And the big plus is that they don't cost as much as other cars in the same class from, for example, Germany.
Since I have not yet succeeded in cell sharing and cannot drive two cars at the same time, I have asked my friend Tobias for help in driving one car. Tobias is a good driver who dares to push so that you get a little challenge. Because that's exactly what these cars like. Of course, it is absolutely no problem to drive nicely with them and simmer around town with decent fuel consumption. But if this is the way you intended to manage your Subaru Impreza WRX STI or Mitsubishi Evolution, you probably haven't chosen the right car.
Both models have undergone proper facelifts and it was about time because the previous models had received far too many rounds of the scalpel in them. These new models look quite different from their predecessors, but you can still find the similarities and you can clearly see the parentage. The Impreza has received the biggest change from its predecessors and is now a sportback model. It feels short and tight in its coat and well balanced. However, the Evon is still a sedan model but has received a much larger front that gives a rawer look. Both cars have become wider at the end and this gives a more imposing appearance. Both have nice 18 inch rims where you can see the big brake calipers between the spokes. So far even..
We took the cars and headed out on small curvy roads outside of town. On the way out of town, we drove on a regular county road and then you noticed a rather strange thing. Even though the Subaru has 10 more horses with its 305 horsepower compared to the EVO which has 295. So the Mitsubishi is much faster. Tobbe who drove the Evo was on the back of me the whole time and I didn't have a chance to hang on when he overtook. However, when we entered slightly smaller roads it was a different side of the coin, the Subaru went much faster and tighter into the curves and the Evo felt much bigger and not nearly as stiff as the Impreza.
Both cars have a range of settings for the diff and the four-wheel drive and also how the anti-skid system should work. This makes the cars great fun and actually quite easy to drive. One thing that sets the cars apart is that you can get the Evon with a so-called double-clutch gearbox. Then you handle the gears with paddles behind the steering wheel or simply let the car handle it. The box is very fast and it's quite nice to keep your hands on the steering wheel when you're going fast in the curves. I took the opportunity to borrow a car with this box on another occasion just to feel the difference. However, you have to shell out an extra 20,000 kroner if you want such a box.
The cars are very even and frankly, I have a hard time choosing because they are so good in different ways. The Evon feels a little more practical, so to speak, with a touch of swagger compared to the Impreza, which is much more mischievous. But that was probably what we were looking for in this test, a mischievous car for everyday use. So if we now put the cars next to each other and have to choose one, I choose to empty the savings account of a little more money so I can afford a Lancer Evolution with a dual clutch box!
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
| Basic price | From SEK 449,900 |
| Engine | 4 cylinder boxer with turbo, 300 hp. Torque 407 nm |
| Transmission | 6-manual, four-wheel drive |
| Acceleration | 0-100 in 5.2 seconds |
| Top speed | Top speed 250 km/h |
| Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer | 10.3 l/100 km |
| Guarantees | New car warranty 3 years or 10,000 miles |
| Web | www.subaru.se |
| + | Bus weight machine out in each wheel nut |
| – | Not much to complain about |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
| Basic price | From SEK 420,000 |
| Engine | 4 cylinder with turbo, 295 hp. Torque 366 nm |
| Transmission | Double clutch box, four-wheel drive |
| Acceleration | 0-100 in 6.3 sec |
| Top speed | 250 km/h |
| Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer | 10.5 l/100 km |
| Guarantees | New car warranty 3 years or 10,000 miles |
| Web | www.mitsubishi-motors.se |
| + | Double clutch box, more useful |
| – | A bit mundane in appearance |
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