Overview & Reviews

For years, the Subaru WRX has been the high-performance version of the otherwise practical-minded Subaru Impreza. This latest WRX has lost the "Impreza" name on its badge to indicate its dedication to performance. The WRX name signifies the presence of a higher-horsepower turbocharged engine and a sport-tuned suspension. The WRX STI model, (from Subaru's in-house tuning division, Subaru Tecnica International) offers even more power, along with a more advanced all-wheel-drive system that enhances cornering grip.

Current Subaru Impreza WRX
Debuting for 2015, the Subaru WRX is a four-door sedan powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, horizontally opposed ("boxer") four-cylinder engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission and an all-wheel-drive system are standard. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is optional. The STI uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine rated at 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered.

Standard WRX features include alloy wheels with summer tires, automatic climate control, sport front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and a six-speaker sound system. Upper trim levels add extras like foglights, a sunroof, a trunk lid spoiler, heated front seats, a touchscreen navigation system and leather upholstery. The WRX STI gets the more powerful engine, bigger wheels, Brembo brakes, front and rear limited-slip differentials, driver-selectable modes for the center differential and a more aggressively tuned suspension. Options include an eight-way power driver seat, lighter-weight 18-inch BBS wheels, a performance exhaust and a premium nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The WRX is extremely fun to drive thanks to its strong available engines and responsive handling. The ride quality does suffer a bit, but it's not any worse than you would expect from such a high-performance car. Less forgivable, however, is the large amount of wind and road noise coming into the cabin at freeway speeds. As for the WRX STI, is definitely turns up the performance dial, but it's harsher to drive on a daily basis.

Inside, the WRX is pretty spacious, with simple and straightforward controls. The driver positioning is particularly excellent, as is outward visibility thanks to thin roof pillars and large side mirrors. Previous versions of the Impreza and WRX had lots of hard plastics and unfriendly surfaces. This model is a bit more refined, but most competitors will still feel comparatively upscale. Subaru's touchscreen controls and audio systems aren't very impressive either, and they stand out as a weak point in the cabin.

Used Subaru Impreza WRX Models
The WRX and WRX STI were previously referred to as the Subaru Impreza WRX. Before that, WRX and STI models were simply trim level options on the standard Impreza. Buyers interested in a used model can get additional information on these used Impreza WRXs and WRX STIs in separate reviews.

User Reviews:

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  A perfect car - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Avijeet Tomer - December 11 - 12:18 pm

  This is one perfect car, grateful to Subaru for making it. The only negative is the fuel economy, which is acceptable to me given how good everything else is. Drives fantastically well! Every single drive in this car feels great and a lot of fun even without pushing it. The transmission, the steering, the engines power and torque curves, the sound, the brakes, the control, the road-holding ability, the predictability of the outcome of any decision you make while driving, even if it is a quick or panicky decision, the visibility, add all this driving fun to the fact that it has 4 doors, seats 5 people with ample legroom in rear, good trunk comparable to other equally priced sedans, an amazing full time all-wheel drive for all season driving, scorching sun or freezing blizzard, with manually-adjustable front to rear wheels torque split, driving modes for throttle response that actually change the throttle response, not just a gimmick, like Intelligent for comfortably smooth throttle response in traffic jams, while Sports and Sports Sharp modes for quicker throttle response for more fun driving.

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  Speedy! - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Aaron Comins - November 8 - 12:05 pm

  Awesome car and i mean awesome! Extremely fast and exhilarating to drive. Few cons are non heated steering wheel and nav Screen is small.

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  Great performance vehicle - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Jon J - October 26 - 8:58 pm

  This car is super powerful and inspires a lot of confidence when driving. Thats pretty much where things end. The seats are mediocre, the shifter has never been great, and the technology is years behind even other Japanese manufacturers. If you spend the $30K to buy this it will put a smile on your face every day if you get a little bit of open road in front of you. When traffic exists, you will find yourself wondering why the heck you bought this. If you can take it to a track now and then, this is the ultimate all around vehicle.

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  Wrx>Evo X> Focus/Fiesta ST - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By KC - September 14 - 3:19 am

  Best car for the money!

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  2015 WRX CVT - 2015 Subaru WRX
  By rvolney - August 17 - 7:42 pm

  Traded in my 2008 wrx, manual for the 2015 CVT. Wanted an automatic, was delighted to hear the new WRX was in auto, even if a CVT. Love it. Boring in regular mode, fantastic in sport #. Use it mostly in the middle performance mode for everyday driving. Lots of road noise, very still suspension. Razor sharp steering Ive never come across before. Paddle shifters good, only use it to do a race start. Crappy navi, good stereo with Harman option. Very good cornering, brakes a bit stiff to push but work well.

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  Sports sedan for the family man - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Jorge - August 15 - 12:45 pm

  This is my second WRX and overall I am very satisfied. Acceleration is very strong for a 4 cylinder, 0-60 in the mid 5s, Considering its all wheel drive its lightweight and agile. The turbo kicks in early, but falls on its face at higher RPMS. The aftermarket is very large so making more power is easy if you so desire. I have full bolt ons and can hit 40 mpg on the highway, 35 mixed. Shifting into second gear smoothly can be a bit tricky, but there are aftermarket remedies as well. Subaru did a great job updating the interior over the previous generation, but the factory sound system is still lacking. The car is comfortable enough to daily, and still capable to aggressively drive down back roads. The seats are comfortable and supportive. Interior space is good, I dont ever feel cramped. Plenty of trunk space, at least for my needs. Im not too big on gadges or electronics, but the blue tooth takes a bit long to connect. After owning the car for over a year, no unscheduled maintenance, just regular oil changes and tire rotations and shes good to go! This is the definition of an affordable sports sedan for the family man.

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  Transmission Issues after 12,000 Miles - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Emily Hamblen - June 6 - 3:16 pm

  In July 2016 I bought my first new car, a 2017 Subaru WRX. In March 2017, after 12,000 miles, I noticed a vibration in 4th gear. I brought the car to Patriot Subaru where they pulled the transmission to correct the issue under warranty. A week later the transmission started to whine when accelerating. I brought the car back to the dealership where it was determined that the majority of my transmission needed to be replaced. This occurred on April 25th. Now a month later the car is still sitting at the dealership because parts are backordered. I contacted Subaru and was put in contact with Grant Noble. For two weeks Grant has been unable to address the issue or expedite the parts. I am extremely dissatisfied with this product.

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  Loving my sti - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Big Dee - April 3 - 2:42 pm

  Love it. Boost is great ... handles great.

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  Fun, affordable, and practical! - 2015 Subaru WRX
  By dunebuggy72 - March 15 - 8:42 pm

  Was in the market for a non fwd car, manual trans, and a useable back seat for under 30k. Very few cars to choose from, but thankfully Subaru exists! Great power, just the boost takes some getting used to.Steering is tight with great feel.Very comfortable seats and visabilty front and rear is great.

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  Sports Car for the Outdoor Enthusiast! - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Aron M - March 9 - 11:35 am

  So, I have always wanted to own a Subaru WRX. Ever since I drove one in 2002, I have been in love. The symmetrical all-wheel drive, the look, the feel of the car grip the road, the speed...oh, what speed, indeed! It is amazing, when you slam the stick shift from 1st to 2nd, and the turbo kicks in (albeit with a bit of turbo lag), it makes you feel like you could take on the best Nascar drivers! Now, I have my 2016 Subaru WRX Premium as my everyday driver. I leased mine, and have been driving it everyday for just over a month. The first couple of weeks take some getting used to with the clutch. I have just gone over the 1000-mile "break in" period. Unbeknownst to me, however with a read of the manual and a quick look online, I did not realize that I had to keep it under 4,000 RPMs, and not take off really quickly. Whoops! I am still having trouble adjusting to the clutch, and I have not owned a ton of manual transmission cars, but I learned to drive on a stick shift, and driven plenty more. I do not stall out, but my biggest problem is the shift from 2nd to 3rd (with smooth shifts only happening maybe 1 out of every 3 times), and 3rd to 4th (with smooth shifts happening 2 out of every 3 times). Not bad, but I would like to get both numbers down to 0 by the end of my second month. At least with a quick Google search, I realized that I am in good company. With all this in mind, I love the looks that I get when I am driving it on the road, the turbocharged 268-bhp engine is plenty powerful, and it feels like a sports car. A sports car that can handle the snow and mud! And at only $30,000, you wont mind getting it a bit dirty. I have yet to take it to the snow, as it is April in Fresno, CA and it has all but disappeared. I still have the summer tires that came with the car, but I plan on getting all weather this fall. The WRX can be a bit touchy in city traffic, in 1st or 2nd, but you get used to. My advice is that if you do not want to deal with a clutch like this on a daily basis, then look at other stick shift cars that are easier on the person shifting. What I mean is more forgiving. Or just spend the extra money and get the CVT (continuously variable transmission). After the first couple of weeks, I even started to doubt my penchant for driving stick shift. However, as I stuck (pun intended!) with it, I have been overjoyed that I did! So, if you are a Subaru WRX enthusiast, and want to feel like that kid that just got his first Camaro at the age of 16, then I highly recommend this car. It may not be for everybody, but I definitely is worth that test drive!