{"id":25188,"date":"2022-06-22T12:04:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T16:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=25188"},"modified":"2022-06-22T12:04:09","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T16:04:09","slug":"1136260_test-drive-2022-subaru-wrx-embraces-rally-car-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=25188","title":{"rendered":"Test drive: 2022 Subaru WRX embraces rally-car roots"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turns out cheap, or at least reasonably priced, fun truly still exists. Who knew?<\/p>\n

The 2022 Subaru WRX<\/a> is new, right down to the platform. With turbocharged power, a manual transmission, simple controls, and functional design, the rally-bred sport sedan lives up to its heritage and at a good price. But it has some functional flaws, a divisive design, and steering that could be better.<\/p>\n

After spending a week hustling the 2022 Subaru WRX<\/a> around town, here\u2019s where it hits and misses.<\/p>\n

\"Subaru<\/p>\n

Subaru hasn’t forgotten what makes a WRX a WRX, and a 6-speed manual transmission is still standard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Hit: Let\u2019s rally!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It appears Subaru has embraced the WRX\u2019s original mission as a rally car for the street. It has all the right equipment for the job: standard all-wheel drive, a turbocharged engine, a manual transmission, and sport-tuned handling. The new-to-the WRX 2.4-liter turbo-4 packs 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Boost comes on earlier than in the last-generation car. The 6-speed manual transmission is somewhat notchy, but it\u2019s satisfying in an era of automatic and dual-clutch gearboxes. The most overlooked part is a manual handbrake that\u2019s just aching to be yanked for some sideways action. You won\u2019t find that in a current<\/a>, or likely forthcoming, Honda Civic Type R<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"2022<\/p>\n

The WRX’s steering is a bit too over boosted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Miss: Light to the touch<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WRX\u2019s steering is a bit light. In a crosswind on the highway, with ice and snow covered roads, it required an annoying number of corrections to keep things straight and steady. It\u2019s less bothersome at parking lot speeds. This wasn\u2019t an issue with the last WRX, and I\u2019d prefer slightly heavier, more stable steering.<\/p>\n

\"2022<\/p>\n

The dimpled fender flares are about function over form.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Hit: Dimpled, but not for effect<\/strong><\/p>\n

Excessive cladding with an unfinished look is a point of contention for many. The WRX\u2019s fender flare cladding may not look good, but it is functional. The plastic features a dimpled finish almost like a golf ball. Road & Track<\/em> reported<\/a> that this helps improve airflow. Engineers said the unpainted, textured flares performed significantly better at keeping air flowing smoothly around the car than smooth, painted flares. Beyond that, the front flares have functional venting for further aerodynamic improvements. Function is always sexy on a sports car, even if the look isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\"2022<\/p>\n

The rear end of the latest WRX is more Honda Civic than Subaru WRX.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Miss: Civic vibes<\/strong><\/p>\n

The front end of the latest WRX takes an evolutionary design approach. It\u2019s sleeker than before and looks good. The rear end looks like a ninth-generation (2011-2014) Honda Civic. It\u2019s a shame the rear end didn\u2019t take an evolutionary approach like the front. If you are going to copy someone\u2019s homework, at least copy someone that aced the exam.<\/p>\n

\"2022<\/p>\n

One-touch automatic window controls are a delight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Hit: One touch is a premium touch<\/strong><\/p>\n

The WRX is a bargain sports car, not a premium luxury sedan. Yet, my $33,100 Premium trim model featured one-touch window controls for every window and every switch. That was a nice surprise. The flat-bottom steering wheel is just the right size, though it\u2019s a shame it cannot be heated. This is a Subaru after all.<\/p>\n

\"2022<\/p>\n

It takes how many taps to turn on the heated seats in a Subaru?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Miss: Functionality issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

Subarus are typically simple-to-use machines, and in many regards the WRX is, too. Examples include the manual handbrake and the easy-to-read analog gauges. But the new 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, first seen in the Outback, it\u2019s prone to glare due to its mounting angle. Regardless of which screen is being displayed, two taps of the screen are required to turn on the seat heaters. That\u2019s silly in any car, especially a Subaru. The Forester retains small rocker switches on the center console that provide a satisfying click when used. The WRX doesn\u2019t. The seat heaters also don\u2019t come back on after a key cycle like many new cars. At 5-foot-10, I found the center console places the center armrest too far back to use comfortably while cruising down the highway.<\/p>\n

Casting functional quibbles aside, the 2022 Subaru WRX simply can\u2019t be beaten in terms of performance per dollar.<\/p>\n

\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013<\/strong>
2022 Subaru WRX Premium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Base price:<\/strong> $30,100 including $995 destination
Price as tested:<\/strong> $33,100
Powertrain:<\/strong> 271-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4, 6-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive
EPA fuel economy:<\/strong> 19\/26\/22 mpg
The hits:<\/strong> Strong turbocharged power, a value, premium touches, functional design and aerodynamics
The misses:<\/strong> Functional issues, controversial cladding, rear end looks like a Civic, over-boosted steering<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Turns out cheap, or at least reasonably priced, fun truly still exists. Who knew? The 2022 Subaru WRX is new, right down to the platform. With turbocharged power, a manual transmission, simple controls, and functional design, the rally-bred sport sedan lives up to its heritage and at a good price. But it has some functional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25189,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-cars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25188\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}