The New 2022 Subaru WRX Got Ugly And Its All-New Engine Makes The Same Power? - Two Takes

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The 2022 Subaru WRX does a lot of things right: its the only AWD car in its class, and remains well composed on damp roads. It has a lot of space inside, an upgraded multimedia system and goes fast for the money. But even with an extra 400cc of displacement, it makes the same power and torque as before. We think we know why. How do the brakes, shifter, and suspension feel? Do the things the WRX does well outweigh the ones it doesn't? Matt and Zack find out.

Subaru provided the vehicle, insurance, and a tank of fuel for this review.

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The New 2022 Subaru WRX Got Ugly And Its All-New Engine Makes The Same Power - Two Takes
#subaruwrx
#2022WRX

[TheSmokingTire]

What do you think about the new WRX's engine?

[Slickpete]

*all HVAC controls should have physical buttons, including heated/cooled seats and heated steering wheel* no matter what !!!

[miketeeveedub]

Subaru: "You know what looks cool? Dark boxy fender cladding!"
Pontiac: "Hmmm, that's what we thought..."

[kevinryan]

The wheel cladding I can take or leave, the rear bumper/diffuser is what I can't get past.

[stevemartegani]

All Subaru had to do was bring a sedan version of the Japanese Levorg over... But nooo they had to stick ugly black plastic on the car because "rugged" :/

[adamleininger]

The touchscreen is not an improvement. It sucks in the Outback, and it sucks in this.

[cbidwell]

Thank you for hitting on the fact the best trim level for enthusiasts is CVT only. HUGE miss by Subaru.

[Mrsonicslash]

Not even 4 minutes and Matt wanted out lol

[BCNeil]

I finally got to drive one. Its faster than I thought it would be. I'd say pretty close to my '15sti. They say 12psi, old was 16psi. Getting this new one 16psi of boost and a tune, its faster that the old sti easy. That cladding doesn't look too bad on the black in person.

[cs]

I wonder if Subaru's angle with this car is actually marketing it as more of an outback sedan given the CVT trans and the cladding. Maybe they're trying to grab more buyers who don't know what a WRX is. That's my only guess

[KennyJacobs]

Anyone who complains about the cladding is not the target audience for the WRX. It's a rally car. It's meant to be driven off-road with dirt and rocks. Anyone that has done any off-road driving appreciates having that cladding to protect the paint/body. It's much easier to replace scratched/damaged cladding than body work and paint job.

I love the look of this WRX. Looking forward to putting in an order for one.

[ShaanNotShawn]

I used to be a proud 2017 WRX owner, which was alot of fun, and looked awesome, but I don't think I will be going back to Subaru anytime soon. It feels so cheap/economy for what you pay vs a GTI.

[stevethomas]

There has been a WRX in my driveway since '02. Wanted this new model to be the car I buy in '22, no way. Over the top plastic is just to much for this guy.

[pilotscott]

No one in New England, the northern border states, or Canada will complain about the cladding. In Northern NY, we're already at 42" of an expected 200" of snow this year - the cladding saves the paint from the salt and sand blasting.

[wantapgt]

Does not do 0-60 in the 4’s. It’s low to mid 5’s

[DasWauto]

I had the previous gen and it seems like a lot of the same qualms remain. The suspension is downright rough and unrefined - it does the performance thing well and I get they have to choose a compromise for the cost but I wish they went a different direction. I’d like Subaru to lean more into the rally car vibe with a sort of factory gravel setup, in the same sort way the Raptor pushes the baja truck vibe. That would be awesome.

Anyway, it seems like they have made some decent improvements, to the engine/tuning especially and most obviously. The lack of a hatchback is what will keep me from coming back to the WRX, much as I’d like to otherwise (fingers crossed the Corolla GR is what I think we all hope it to be).

[NZmellowyellow]

None of these older reviews are aging very well. Lots have come round to the looks and the cvt isn’t a bad drive either.

[bryanallendorf]

They have all those fixes you talked about in the aftermarket now. I have the STI shifter in mine. The Dulops suck for daily use. Rough and noisy. Conti. DSW+ 255's excellent ride with new rims. Replacing struts with coilovers with adjustable dampening. The seat goes down more in non power seats. Cat back with dealeats sounds awesome with pop's. Intake sounds great now with blow off noise. Painted back bumper. Tons of aftermarket parts out already from ETS, Berger tune etc.

[Yesidoplaytheguitar]

I'd get the Mazda 3 Turbo as an awd daily driver and deal with the automatic transmission.
Better interior, less ugly, more comfortable.

[motorcyclesandguitars]

Thanks for commenting on the cabin/road noise. I hoped that would be fixed for the new model, but apparently it’s not. It’s a deal breaker for me :-/