2021 Subaru WRX Review: A Premium Car

For many people my age, the Subaru WRX holds a special place in our hearts.

This is because those of us who were born in the late 80s and early 90s belong to the so-called "PlayStation generation". Growing up at a time when video games bridged the gap between 2D and 3D left a lot of impactful memories, a lot of digital innovations that amazed and inspired, and intense nostalgia as hardware advancements left once-thriving gaming franchises. in the dust. 

The Subaru WRX is a performance hero.

It was also time for the well-established Group A rally category of the World Rally Championship, which forced manufacturers to make cars much closer to their production counterparts. Often dominated by none other than the Subaru WRX.

Combine these two worlds and you've got plenty of kids who will feel like they can do anything in Subaru's newfound performance hero from the comfort of their bedrooms, many of whom will buy a used car to put P plates on as soon as could.

It was the perfect storm that made the WRX the right car at the right time to really and well put the previously small brand on the performance map.

Question with this quiz: Should these kids, now in their 20s or 30s, still consider Subaru's halo car? Or, now that it's the oldest product in Subaru's catalogue, should they wait for the new one to be introduced soon? Read on to find out.

Subaru WRX 2021: Premium (all-wheel drive)
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	8.6l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$41,600

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

The WRX Premium car tested for this review is a mid-spec variant of sorts. With an MSRP of $50,590, it is above the standard WRX ($43,990) but below the more hardcore WRX STi ($52,940 - manual transmission only).

When you're looking for rivals, it's a stark reminder of the sheer lack of performance sedans in today's market. You can compare Subaru's hero to the front-wheel drive Golf GTi (car - $47,190), Skoda Octavia RS (sedan, car - $51,490), and Hyundai i30 N Performance (manual transmission only - $42,910). A more direct competitor is coming soon in the form of the i30 N Performance sedan, which will also be available with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, so look into that in the near future.

While it is currently the oldest Subaru on sale by a wide margin, the WRX has recently been upgraded to offer more modern features.

With 18" alloy wheels.

Ugly 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in thin Dunlop Sport rubber, all-LED lighting, a typical Subaru number of screens, including a small 7.0-inch multimedia touchscreen (thankfully with updated software since I last drove this car), 3.5" multifunction display in instrument cluster and 5.9" display in dash, digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, CD player (weird), leather interior , adjustable in eight directions. a power seat for the driver, heated seats for front passengers, dual-zone climate control and tinted rear windows.

The continuously variable automatic transmission makes up the bulk of the WRX's sales, I'm told, which is particularly disappointing to hear. Especially considering it's $3200 more than the manual and ruins the driving experience. More on this in the Driving section.

The WRX also comes with a safety kit, which is impressive for a car of its vintage, which we'll cover in the Safety section. Maybe it will, but the WRX is amazing for how well it holds up on the value front.

There is even a CD player.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

I think Subaru was aiming for subtlety with the non-STi WRX. For a sports car, the design is a bit staid, the WRX looks perhaps a bit conservative to really differentiate itself from its native Impreza sedan despite being deviated from a few years ago.

There's no doubting the full-size STi's rally profile with its huge fender and even bigger wheels, but here in the premium WRX, it's all toned down a bit. However, fans will love the absurd hood scoop, aggressive looking alloy wheels and quad exhaust. It stands out a bit due to its flared bodywork, but a tiny rear spoiler robs it of its street reputation. Perhaps this is to push you towards the significantly more expensive STi...

However, despite its relative age, the WRX still fits Subaru's lineup nicely. He has all the signs; a small grille, slanted LED headlights and signature high profile. Massiveness is there too, both on the outside, with its flared body and exaggerated scoop, and on the inside, with thick leather-trimmed seats and a massive steering wheel.

Despite its relative age, the WRX still fits well into Subaru's lineup.

The abundance of red lighting on the dashboard is reminiscent of the heyday of Japanese sports cars of yesteryear, and while it's not as posh on the inside as Subaru's newer products, it also doesn't disappoint, thanks to the pleasing use of soft finishes.

Lots of screens feel unnecessary, and the 7.0-inch media unit now feels very small compared to most later cars. At least the software has been updated since 2018 to use the newer system in the Impreza, Forester and Outback. It is simple and convenient to use.

However, compared to those Subaru's, the interior of the WRX feels a bit tired. It's a bit small, and things like the CD drive and the nastier plastic trim scattered around are reminiscent of days gone by for Subaru. Good thing the new WRX is coming soon.

Fans will love the absurd hood scoop, aggressive looking alloy wheels and dual exhaust.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

Compared to the more forward-thinking design of Subaru's Global Platfrom cars, the inside of the WRX feels a little claustrophobic. However, you could do much worse in a high performance car.

Front passengers get nicely finished bucket seats with good lateral support. As with many Subaru's, the seating position isn't exactly sporty. You sit quite high, and for my height of 182 cm, it seems that you are looking down a little over the hood. In addition, the power seat is height adjustable and there is a small bottle holder in the door as well as two cupholders in the center, a small center console drawer and a small tray under the climate control unit.

The WRX is indeed a small sedan.

Overall, the dark interior of the WRX creates a cramped feel. This continues for the rear passengers. The WRX is actually a small sedan and there isn't much room behind me since I'm driving with my knees touching the front seat. I have to duck a little to get under the sedan's roof, and while the decent trim is retained, the seat feels a bit high and flat.

Rear passengers get pockets on the backs of the front seats, a fold-down armrest with two cup holders, and a decent bottle holder in the doors. However, there are no adjustable rear vents or outlets.

The boot capacity of the WRX is 450 liters (VDA).

Being a sedan, the WRX has a fairly deep trunk, with a volume of 450 liters (VDA). It rivals some midsize SUVs, but it's worth noting that the space isn't as useful, with a small loading opening, and it's a bit cramped when it comes to available headroom. However, it consumed our largest 124 liter Cars Guide a suitcase with enough free space.

The trunk took our largest 124-litre CarsGuide suitcase and had plenty of room.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The WRX engine is a tuned version of Subaru's signature flat-four boxer four-cylinder engine. In this case, it's the 2.0-litre turbo (FA20) with 197kW/350Nm, which is plenty for such a small sedan.

The engine is a 2.0-litre turbo unit (FA20) with 197 kW/350 Nm.

To my disappointment, our special WRX premium was automatic, which is not a good thing. While most performance cars are equipped with a lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission, or at least have the decency to offer a classic torque converter with well-defined gear ratios, Subaru resorts to its rubbery CVT as derided by the rest of the its core lineup. enthusiasts.

We'll take a closer look at this in the Driving section of this review. It's not as bad as you think, but it's still not a place in a car like this.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Fuel consumption will probably be at the bottom of your list of concerns when it comes to a performance sedan, but on the official/combined test cycle, this vehicle will consume a claimed 8.6L/100km of 95 RON unleaded petrol.

In a week spent mostly in the city, our car showed an unsurprising 11.2 l/100 km, which is actually lower than the official city value of 11.8 l/100 km. Not bad for a sports car, really.

The WRX has a relatively large fuel tank for its size at 60 liters.

This vehicle will consume a claimed 8.6L/100km of 95 RON unleaded petrol.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

The good news for the WRX is that Subaru's signature EyeSight package is mostly present here, albeit a slightly older version than what appears on its new products. Despite this, key active elements include automatic emergency braking (works up to 85 km/h with brake light recognition), lane departure warning with lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise -control and automatic high beam. .

Subaru's signature EyeSight package is mostly present here.

It lacks the automatic reverse braking found in the more modern Subaru, but does have active torque vectoring that adds to the standard suite of electronic aids such as traction, braking and stability control.

The WRX has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, although it dates back to 2014, long before active safety elements were even considered.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Subaru offers a competitive five year unlimited mileage warranty.

Annoyingly, the WRX requires a six-month or 12,500-mile service interval, a holdover from Subarus' past. It's not cheap either, with each six-month visit costing between $319.54 and $819.43 for the first 10 visits spanning five years of ownership. It averages $916.81 per year for the first five years. These are numbers that rival some of the premium European options.

Subaru offers a competitive five year warranty.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

It really hurts me that this car is automatic. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with an automatic car. Iterations of dual-clutch cars like the Golf R are great, but the WRX automatic is a CVT.

This drivetrain doesn't do well in the brand's regular range, let alone performance, where snappy response and predictable, linear out-of-rev range riding are really needed for maximum enjoyment.

The abundance of red lighting on the dashboard is reminiscent of the heyday of Japanese sports cars.

I was surprised to find that the CVT wasn't as bad as I thought. Perhaps due to sheer torque, the WRX hits its peak torque range of 2400rpm pretty quickly, for an immediate impressive 0-100km/h sprint of about six seconds, but after that point you start to get dull, rubbery and sometimes indecisive response from accelerator. Not particularly attractive attributes when you cut a few corners.

In terms of handling, the WRX excels with a solid all-wheel-drive system and solid suspension. It's a real pleasure to corner, and the equally firm and helpful steering gives you really organic and controlled control of what's happening behind the wheel.

Subaru's boxer engine gives the WRX that signature raspy sound under acceleration with a little turbo noise to boot, but with this particular transmission you won't get the satisfying bursts of turbo that can be extracted with a quick clutch pedal stomp in the manual.

The WRX has a characteristic raspy sound when accelerating.

Riding it around town every day is a little hard, with a fragile and stressful ride, while the heavy steering will get on your nerves when you're just trying to park. 

The firm ride, big wheels and thin tires make the cabin noisy at all speeds and sometimes send shockwaves through the front of the car if you're unfortunate enough to hit a pothole. It's hardly the nicest companion on the motorway.

To be honest, if you want an automatic transmission car, there are better options in terms of both responsiveness and everyday comfort, though none of them can match the WRX. I implore you to choose a guide if you can, it's a better, more fun experience in every way.

Verdict

Although it is now the oldest car in Subaru's catalog, there is nothing quite like the WRX on the market. This is a car that is true to its roots, a rugged and enduring manufacturer that combines both fun and compromise in equal measure. 

Thanks to Subaru's updates over the years, things are better than some when it comes to technology and safety, but I still implore you to choose a guide to truly experience this car the way nature intended.