Well people, it’s here. The 2022 Subaru WRX, and all I have to say is…WTF…
We’re going to start in a place where we don’t typically…cuz we have to.
I don’t normally start with styling, but when it looks as hot wheels as this we have to.
Seriously, this is like if Alibaba designed the WRX.
Up front, sleeker grille – fine.
Sharper headlights – fine.
Unnecessarily large hood scoop – WHY???
BOOM PLASTIC BUMPER – not fine.
And it gets even less fine when you come around to the side and see that Subaru covered the wheel arches in Chevy interior plastic.
I understand you’re Subaru.
I understand you’re proud of your rally heritage.
I even understand that plastic wheel arches are something to be used to suggest offroady.
Here’s the problem:
This is the Subaru WRX…I mean the car is literally named after the World Rally Championship.
But 100% of the time you’re more likely to find one of these car in a PAPA JOHNS parking lot than offroad.
I swear to god if they don’t get rid of this plastic bullshiz on the STI….
Good luck to us ever getting a Subaru press loan again…
And then arousn back IT GETS EVEN WORSE SOMEHOW!
Like Subaru is forcing you to get the car in Black or dark gray simply to hide the terrible decision they’ve made.
Or…you can get it in Orange, which is the press color, but then everyone will think you got a crosstrek sportback.
I could go on about the styling, but let’s move it on so hopefully we don’t get blacklisted by Subaru.
But let’s be real, if we get blacklisted Paolo and I can always go to a Dominos parking lot and borrow a car to review.
Let’s talk about the powertrain…under the hood scoop with elephantitus is a 2.4T boxer 4 cylinder.
It makes 271 hp and 258 lbft – which is like 11 more hp and 0 more lbft.
But Subaru knows you’re going to flash tune this thing anyway so who cares.
Standard is a 6 speed manual gearbox – finally some good news.
But you can also get a CVT that they gave a fancy name to distract you from the fact that you bought the wrong trans.
They reprogrammed the CVT so it “shifts” 50% faster…..
The manual is the right transmission to get even though it means forfeiting eyesite.
And then from there the power goes through the symmetrical AWD system and this is honestly the best part of the car.
Nothing else in this class comes with AWD. Not the GTI, Si, Hyundai N cars, nothing.
I should mention this is an all new chassis from the ground up so I’m being hard on this now, but when and IF we get to drive it we’ll be more serious.
First ever adaptive suspension available.
Supposedly in the top GT trim with the fancy new transmission gets a variation of the symmetrical AWD that’s 45/55 split and uses a planetary gear set and active torque vectoring.
Look I’m sure it’s great on a rally stage….but again….
And then on the interior, again it’s totally brand new.
When you look at it from a distance, especially in the GT trim it looks nice.
Comfy looking recaros, new dash, etc.
But then when you start to break it down a little more you’re like oh…
Predominantly analog cluster.
The infotainment is portrait style again, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s still got Sony boombox graphics.
And if you get the optioned down infotainment its 2 screens and looks like it’s out of a early 2000s Kia.
And then there’s cloth seats unless you get the GT…like I get this is a more affordable option than some other things, but come on.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it’s supposedly going to be 30 or 31k so…unless you’re going snow racing or ACTUAL rallying and you NEED awd….I don’t know why you would buy this car.
And I hate saying this because I know the rally heritage is real and its impressive and the community around these cars is massive and passionate, but I really don’t get it.
Again, I haven’t driven this Subaru WRX and I’ve been very mean and maybe the behind the wheel experience will change my mind, but I can’t see myself buying this over an Elantra N.