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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  Value buy! What do you compare the WRX against? - 2018 Subaru WRX
  By Dominic - July 26 - 11:08 am

  All the comparisons are against 2 wheel drive cars, and many are front wheel drive. If you want all wheel drive, great handling, and good engine performance..look around. You are now comparing against Audi, BMW, and a couple of domestic models, and they will be much more money to get the same feature set. Better quality interior materials? yes. But for a great driving experience this is a great car, and an even better one for the price!

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  The perfect daily driver - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Xavier Rodriguez - July 9 - 3:54 pm

  Ive owned this car for a few weeks now and Now onto the pros. The first thing would be the engine, its amazing! You have plenty of power down low in the rev band so getting the car up to speed is very easy. Also, there is plenty of torque so if you want to pass someone on the highway in 6th gear you can easily once boost kicks in. 0-60 times very close to the STi because you can get the 60 mph in 2nd gear. If youre into modifying your car, the FA20DIT engine takes mods on very well. If you look online you can see people with Stage 2 WRXs making very similar power to Stage 2 STis. ETS has over a 400 whp WRX with a stock block, fuel pump, and injectors (try that with the EJ257). The next pro is the AWD system which is amazing for all four seasons. You get the excellent traction you would expect out of a Subaru during the winter months but also get the excellent traction on the dry pavement as well. Once you know how to launch an AWD car properly, this thing takes off like a rocket ship with barely any wheel spin like a FWD/RWD car would have. The MPG is very good if you stay out of the turbo, you can easily get 30mpg+ just cruising on the highway. Subaru also definitely stepped up their game in terms of interior material quality. The interior has much more soft touch points than in previous iterations of the WRX. The Premium model comes with nice features such as fog lights, cold weather package (heated seats, side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer), and sunroof. Now onto the cons. I am not a huge fan of the stock 6-speed transmission. I didnt get the STi short throw shifter so I cant speak on that but the stock shifter has pretty long throws and its very notchy. Ive also sometimes had difficulty going from 2nd to 3rd gear when driving the car quickly. Ive grinded the gear before as well as sometimes accidentally go into 5th gear. Subaru has never been known for having great transmissions, but I wished they made this one a bit better. Another con is the stock sound system which is absolute garbage! I didnt get the H/K upgrade or the Kicker upgrade so I cant speak on those, but the stock speakers are just horrible. Very quiet with no bass. Definitely something I plan on upgrading as soon as possible. Another thing I dont like is that stock center armrest, I wish it was a bit higher. There is an extension you can get as well as a JDM center armest option you can buy online, but I wish they made it a bit taller from the factory. If you can deal with these cons which arent a huge deal, then this is the perfect daily driver for someone who likes to have a bit of fun on their commute to work and back. The car is quick, practical, safe and reliable which will be tough to beat. If you want to leave it stock, youll have fun. If you want to modify it, youll have even more fun! I look forward going to work each day because I know I get to drive this car.

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  Three months into this near-perfect sports sedan: - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By JayJayJay - May 20 - 6:08 am

  Sure, there are a few minor ways this car could be improved. But first the good stuff (and theres a lot of good stuff). Here is what I love about my 2016 WRX Limited (manual). CORNERING: You havent lived till youve taken this perfectly balanced, sport-suspension-having all-wheel-drive monster on a windy mountain road. The WRX grips the road astonishingly well in sharp turns, and handles gracefully ... and it really rockets out of the curves if you hit the accelerator in those moments ..... You will have immediate confidence in this car on twisty asphalt, and it will always put a grin on your face.... This is a 268-horsepower smile machine. ACCELERATION: While first gear has plenty of turbo-charged thrust and really catapults you off the line (especially if you drop the clutch in at high revs), doing that regularly feels a bit excessive .... and first gear kind of "ends" a tad shorter than I want it to, if you know what I mean. The sweetest gears on this six-speed are second and third. Wow! You will NEVER tire of the smooth acceleration you get in second from about 3K to 6K rpm. It will make you want to weave through traffic. RIDE: Personally, I LIKE the sometimes "rough" ride the WRXs stiff chassis and tight shocks give you on a less-than-smooth road. Driving a Rex,you are really in touch with the topography, so to speak. The car communicates road info to you. However, I will say that driving four adults in this car on rough pavement is NOT fun. You will feel emotional pain for your WRX if you hit a pothole when its loaded down in this manner (but it will probably come through it okay)..... The stiff suspension means cracks or holes in the pavement are to be avoided at all costs. LOOKS: From many angles, I find the car to be great looking, with sharp, smart-looking "eyes" (especially if you get the LED headlights that are currently only available in the top trim). But occasionally, from some angles, the WRX kind of looks to me like an odd-looking Impreza; a sedan with hopped-up Impreza body. I think theres a room for improvement on the sheet metal on this WRX. (The 2015 concept was spectacular from every angle—hopefully Subaru can give us something similarly special in the next iteration.) C-LIGHTS: These lights look great in shape—aesthetically very pleasing to the eye—but they are significantly "dimmer" than those on Audi or or Dodge sedans, or mustangs, or even even some economy cars. Why are they dimmer than all other cars that have similar lights??! And they dont really run by themselves in the daytime, as they do on competing cars. Why not?! The WRX daytime C-lights should have the same magical brightness as all those other modes. I feel the WRX lags behind the competition in the "C-Lights department." COMMUNITY: This is a true perk of owning this car—if you have this car, you are in an exclusive club; you understand the WRXs rally-care heritage, and you, like all other Rex owners, are in love with its on-road superpowers, which means you will have an immediate bond with any other WRX driver you meet. Other WRX drivers will usually give you a nice nod or thumbs-up when they see you on the road.... Theyll probably be happy to "talk WRX" with you at a stoplight, etc. AWD: The all-wheel-drive on this car is not subtle; you will love how it grips the road, and you will, in some situations, really "feel" each wheel gripping. One thing though: Sometimes, when Im pulling into a rather steep curb cut (i.e. driveway) from an angle very slowly (so as to avoid scraping the low-hanging air foil in front), a weird phenomenon happens with the WRXs all wheel drive, where theres this unpleasant sound and sensation of one of the wheels grinding or skipping. I imagine its something to do with the inside wheel not being able to go slow enough as I turn sharply into the angled driveway. TECHNOLOGY: The Harmon/Kardon stereo upgrade sounds great (ten times better than the stock stereo)..... Backup camera is great; cross-traffic warning beep helpful—even reacts to pedestrians, skateboarders, dogs. COOL. Voice command may be functional, but, honestly, its very slow and feels like it has very small vocabulary of words and phrase it understands, so I havent been using it at all. Blind spot detection is excellent, but I still have a hard time putting all my faith in these little reactor lights in the side mirrors. Im probably too old-school. I still "look over my shoulder" when changing lanes. POWER SEATS: Love the Drivers power seat...... Wish one was available for the passenger, too. I am 61, and lowering it half an inch or so is great. Tall/normal sized adult passengers riding shotgun cant really do that, though, and when I fly over a little dip in the road at a quick speed, my passengers sometimes will hit their heads a tiny bit on the ceiling..... No biggie, but I wish Passengers could could lower their seats on the limited, too....

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  I couldnt love my car more - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Cherijoli - February 21 - 12:53 pm

  I am a service manager at a car dealer and have been exposed to many makes and models. This is by far the most fun car to drive!!!!

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  3 weeks and 3000 miles - 2015 Subaru WRX
  By guzziman - February 16 - 8:16 pm

  The Limited in stunning World Rally Blue is a work of art. A true drivers car. I am 62 275 lbs and plenty of room for me front and back. Excellent seats and position of controls. Superb build quality and extensive use of lightweight body panels. Engine sound and performance is designed for those who are truly drivers. Clutch feel is progressive and light enough for all day city driving. Turn in and braking is spot on. Dunlop performance rubber is a good choice. No needs for any after market upgrades. Many comments about Clarion radio..Simple reset of some settings solve this.Check on line for tweaks. Road noise is evident on anything less than smooth asphalt. Could be the tires.

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  If you love to drive - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Brad in OH - February 14 - 7:58 pm

  I have had my 2017 WRX (CVT) for almost a year and I can honestly say that I still make excuses to drive it. I have never driven another car that is so much fun. There is just something about the combination of the synchronous awd, the low center of gravity, the power and suspension. I actively look for curving roads just for the thrill of cornering. I have owned many cars over the years, from Hondas to Volvos. My first Subaru was a 2011 Legacy GT. While I loved the drive, I hated the transmission. It was tricky and a complete pain in city traffic. After trading it in for a more mundane sedan I realized how much I missed the drive. When I learned that the WRX was available with a CVT, I was immediately sold. I dont mind the very stiff ride, as that road feel is a part of the appeal. There are times that I wish it were a bit quieter, but not so much that I would consider giving it up.

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  2017 WRX - WoRX for me! - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Brock - December 16 - 10:05 am

  2017 WRX Limited - 6M, Navi, Harmon Kardon, Blind Spot Monitoring, Homelink, & much more... How have I survived this long without considering a WRX?? Ive had a Lexus IS 300, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and this WRX simply outperforms these other two by a country mile! The grip is incredible. Power is fantastic. I love the way the front end pulls you out of a corner while the rear is pushing at the same time. The shifter feels great. Visibility is incredible. The Harmon Kardon system thumps. ...all with safety, reliability, and resale value to boot! The ONLY thing sorely lacking is Apple CarPlay & Android Auto! Subaru, add these ASAP!!

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  Sold after 9months - 2015 Subaru WRX
  By carolinaken69 - August 11 - 10:25 am

  Traded in a Mustang GT for a WRX with CVT. What a mistake. The cars electronics (radio/Bluetooth/seat heaters) are out of the early 90s. The radio has poor reception and sound quality was awful. The Bluetooth would randomly disconnect, whether using my iPhone or Android phone. The car developed a bunch of rattles. The ride was harsh and the road noise was unbearable. The front paint was flaking off. Most of the issues were well documented in service bulletins but no fixes identified. The AWD was not that good in snow. The back end would over drive and cause the back end to slide out. Traded in on another Mustang. What a mistake.

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  Awesome - 2017 Subaru WRX
  By Roland - July 29 - 3:24 am

  I drove the 2017 WRX and the STI,and I have to tell you,the only reason I bougt the STI is because it sound better,if feels better,and performs better.that simple,my STI limited it has everything I want on a car.

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  Nice ride - 2016 Subaru WRX
  By Someone Somewhere - July 20 - 4:05 am

  This car is fast and fun, but its also nice to drive smoothly. It can also get great mileage (29+MPG) around town if you are mindful.