The Subaru WRX has been my dream car for quite some time now. I love the idea of a small, high performance AWD car with the utility of a wagon. Unfortunately, when I actually test drove a WRX, I realized it wasn't really for me. It was loud on the inside, and obnoxious looking on the outside.

The Saab 9-2X Aero is nearly identical to the WRX mechnically, but adds a few signifcant refinements. First of all, the exterior is much smoother and cleaner looking. It looks far better than the WRX in my opinion. Secondly, the Saab comes with a moonroof option that isn't even available on the WRX wagon. Finally, they added just enough sound deadening so that it is very livable for day-to-day driving. The optional 17" wheels are quite loud though, and purely summer tires, so you may want to stick with the stock wheels.

Drivability
The turbo is quite laggy on this engine. From a stop, the car is extremely slow, especially since I have an automatic. I am almost afraid to cross an intersection when cars are coming. When the turbo kicks in at 3000rpm though, the car really flies,. For a relatively cheap and easy power upgrade, I highly recommend the Cobb Accessport, http://cobbtuning.com/wrx/accessport.html. It reprograms the engine computer and makes a very noticeable increase in performance. There is also a nice upgrade path to even more power with the Cobb if you are willing to replace the exhaust system. The beauty of the Saab 9-2X is that you can use just about anything designed for a WRX.

The handling on this car is simply awesome. It probably helps that I have the optional 17" wheels. It remains absolutely flat going around corners and sticks like glue. In heavy rain on the highway, I felt absolutely secure at 70-75mph. The ride is a bit stiff, but reasonable for a high-performance car. It's only slightly worse than my wife's Subaru Forrester.

Interior
This is a small car, so dont expect lots of seating room. I am average height, but large framed and the front seat is too small for me. The door is right next to my elbow, and if I rest my left leg in a vertical position, it bumps right into the left armrest. The seat is stiff, and not that comfortable. It would interesting to see if the leather seats would be better. That was certainly true with my last car.

The radio with the 6 cd changer is reasonable for a factory unit. FM reception is quite poor though, probably because the antenna is just a sticker on the rear window. The automatic climate control is pretty nice. I haven't used it much yet, but if it's anything like the one in the Forrester, it should be very user friendly. That means that it's smart enough to wait until the car is warmed up before turning on the fans. It also means that it knows which vents need air, and which ones don't. I have always been impressed with how well the automatic climate controls works in Subaru's.

The cargo area is reasonable for a car so small. Keep in mind that the large cubic foot measurement includes a lot of vertical space that most people can't use though. A normal trunk with less cubic feet will hold more grocery bags unless you are willing to stack your groceries on top of each other.

Practicality
Of course, anyone who buys a Saab 9-2X is probably looking for practicality. First, I love how small this car is on the outside. I can easily park in spaces that my previous 2-door coupe would not fit comfortably. The four-doors means that your friends and family can actually get in your car without having to perform gymnastics. There are latch connectors for both back seats for an infant seat. You have the option of installing a hitch to tow 1000-2000lbs, and/or a roof rack to carry bikes or skis.

Quality
Subaru's are known to be very reliable cars, mechanically, and that gives me confidence that the car will last for a while. One thing that I don't like about Subaru's, and this Saab is no exception, is that there are some minor rattles here and there in the trim. The doors feel a bit flimsy and make me wonder what would happen in a side-impact crash. The Jetta that I drove as a loaner for a while felt like a bank vault in comparison.

Summary
Don't read too much into some of my negative comments. It's been a long time since I cared about a car this much. This car looks terrific, is eminently practical, and an absolute blast to drive.

Amount Paid (US$): 24000
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: Aero, automatic, moonroof, 17" wheels, heated seats