Like any other car enthusiast, when Subaru decided to reveal their 2008 Subaru WRX, I went crazy over it. But just before we knew some of its pros and cons, Kicking Tires released a blog about what auto experts say about the new car. Kicking Tires is one among the reputable information sources about cars on the net and I believe they are an authority in terms of car reviews and test drives.

Kicking Tires also revealed some of the comments of some figures in the auto industry. To start off, here is what Mike Hanley of Cars.com says, "The WRX's turbo four-cylinder makes loads of low-end power, which in turn makes the WRX a fun little car to drive. It also rides rather comfortably for a performance car. I'm split on the car's styling, though. The new exterior manages to look sporty without getting carried away, but the oddly shaped dashboard makes for a cabin that's less than inviting."

While Hanley says Subaru WRX is a fun drive, Joe Bruzek of Ask.cars.com also comments, "I think Subie's new WRX sedan is more grown-up looking compared to the previous generations; both inside and out. It's less boy-racer, more boy-racer-who-needs-to-go-to-the-office-every-morning. Driving the WRX was a spirited experience through curvy side roads, and I love the engine's sounds from the tailpipes (now dual-exiting exhaust) as well as under the hood. As for the interweb geeks that Dave mentioned… yeah, that's me. I thought it fell short on power, and for my tastes I'd like to see an extra 25 or 30 hp. The hatchback version hasn't grown on me yet, and if the STi is only going to be a hatchback, I'd like to have the option of a WRX sedan with more guts."

The vehicle's features have been to have the finest specifications according to Bruzek. But KickingTires editor David Thomas has a different comment. He said, "I'm definitely on board the new WRX bandwagon. The last generation was such a rattling, hard on the molars, bare bones sport-tuned ride that it never won me over like it should have. Subaru has fixed all that here. The ride is so much smoother - hey, pillared doors! - and the car is bigger overall, with snug seats and cabin quality that's slightly above most Japanese imports. A blast-to-drive engine remains the lone carryover from the old WRX, and I'm glad they kept it. I even liked the five-speed and the looks. Everyone on the interwebs may bemoan that there wasn't a huge boost in power, but this is still one mighty fast sedan."

Just like Mike Hanley, William Jackson, an editor of Buying Guides, also believes that the  2008 Subaru WRX is a fun drive. He mentioned, "Fun to drive, nice interior and could be driven quickly or slowly with ease. A lot of faster cars suck at "driving to the store" speeds, but as long as you didn't let the turbo spool up, you could easily cruise. The steering had a nice weight, but the clutch and gearshift were light and precise. I got comfortable with this car more quickly than any other I drove that day."

However, senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder also said, "The Subaru WRX wins the most-improved award. It's much more refined, and is now quiet and precise on the road. Even the engine is quiet - as much as you'd want it to be. During my time with it, the chronic idle shake that this 2.5-liter turbo exhibited in past WRXs (and other models) was absent. Most important, the low-rev torque is more usable than ever. Switching from a 2.0-liter to the 2.5 in 2006 was step one. Sliding the peak torque below 3,000 rpm on the 2008 has made turbo lag almost inconsequential. Now if they would just replace the standard five-speed with a six…"

Now there you go the review of the latest and freshest model from the Japanese car maker - the 2008 Subaru WRX.