2020 Subaru WRX Review

　　

2020 Subaru WRX Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　The Subaru WRX may have its roots in the speedy world of rally racing, where roads can change from dirt to gravel to asphalt in a single run, but today's WRX is also a fast and legitimate family car with a roomy interior, good visibility and comfortable seats.

　　Vestiges of the 2020 Subaru WRX's rally roots are found in the standard all-wheel-drive system and its small but powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While these tools help rally racers handle different road surfaces and speed away from corners, their real-life application will prove useful for drivers in wet climates or threading city traffic.

　　Drivers will find the standard 268-horsepower WRX comfortable and commuter-friendly — it's even available with a continuously variable automatic transmission and a suite of advanced driver safety aids — while the 310-hp WRX STI is for purists only. You can still drive it on the street every day, but its stiff suspension and lack of an automatic transmission limit its appeal.

　　For 2020, the WRX adds a few small, fresh details. The STI trim gets a subtle, new front-end look and now comes standard with keyless entry and push-button start. The standard WRX, meanwhile, adds welcome lighting to its feature set. It's worth noting that an all-new next-generation WRX is expected for the 2021 model year.

　　While the WRX models aren't as quiet or refined as their competitors, you won't find sport sedans with more power and all-wheel drive for less money. But there are some competitors worth considering. The Honda Civic Si and Type R, as well as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, offer superior fuel economy and quieter, nicer interiors. The recently redesigned Hyundai Veloster is worth a look. Or if you want to go a slightly different direction, the Dodge Charger is a roomy sedan with robust V6 or V8 engine power.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the WRX drive? There was a time when the WRX was a class benchmark in terms of speed and driving. But that time has passed. Acceleration is a surprisingly jerky and unpleasant experience. Full-throttle shifts cause massive lurches forward, and leaving the line quickly requires a launch technique that we feel is mechanically abusive.

　　Once you're up to speed, though, the WRX becomes more entertaining. Around corners, the WRX has decent grip and changes direction quickly. The steering wheel relates information the way you'd want it to. The Brembo brakes are easy to use in routine driving, and we didn't experience any fade in high-performance driving.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the WRX? For a high-performance small car, the WRX is pretty competent in the comfort department. The optional Recaro seats are well bolstered and easy to adjust. Ride quality is less impressive. Small bumps aren't an issue, but large bumps and highway imperfections definitely upset the ride. There's also plenty of wind noise generated around the mirrors while on the highway.

　　The WRX's climate control blows cold air fast even on a hot day. The automatic controls are easy to set and forget. Two-level heated seats up front are quick to warm up too.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? One of the highlights of driving a WRX is the interior's spacious and airy feel. The cabin is roomy enough to fit four adults easily, with large door openings that make it easy to slide into or out of all four major seating positions. Visibility is excellent, with thin roof pillars and large windows as well as a big windshield to see through.

　　The cabin is well laid out, with logically arranged and easy-to-learn controls. Unfortunately, the driving position is a bit funky because of the steering wheel's limited tilt adjustment. Also, the center armrest is located too far back to be useful.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The crisp-looking touchscreen in the WRX Premium is aesthetically pleasing, and it responds to commands quickly. Smartphone connection via USB is quick as well, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

　　Once you start operating Subaru's Starlink system, however, things begin to fall apart. Audio quality is substandard and the options list is missing several features. Navigation isn't available, voice controls are difficult to use, and on manual transmission-equipped cars, you don't have access to Subaru's suite of safety features, which includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Whether you're comparing the WRX to its hatchback or sedan rivals, it falls behind class leaders in terms of cargo space and small-item storage. In both categories, it's got enough space to get by, but it doesn't offer any smart solutions in the interior. It also doesn't offer a particularly spacious trunk at 12 cubic feet.

　　If you're buying a WRX with a child seat in mind, there's plenty of space in the back seat, with easily accessed anchor points and enough room for a large rear-facing seat. Load-in should be easy thanks to the wide-opening doors.

　　

Fuel Economy

5.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The WRX has some of the worst fuel economy in its class by EPA standards. With the manual transmission, the WRX gets an estimated 23 mpg combined, which is lower than even high-performance rivals such as the Civic Type R (25 mpg). On our highway-heavy 115-mile evaluation route, our test WRX averaged 24.1 mpg, which indicates the EPA figures should be pretty accurate.

　　

Value

6.0/10

　　Is the WRX a good value? You have to really want a WRX to buy a WRX. Fuel economy ratings are some of the worst in the class, interior quality is uninspiring, and the price can be hard to justify when you start considering the missing features. Our test vehicle was $35,529, which is nearly what you'll pay to get the vastly superior Civic Type R.

　　For the class, the WRX's warranty is average: offering three years/36,000 miles of basic coverage, five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage and corrosion coverage for five years/unlimited miles. Roadside assistance lasts the life of the basic warranty.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The WRX moves quickly between corners, but it does so with less poise than most of its competition. If you've driven a car that's been modified with go-fast aftermarket parts, it's sort of like that — an assortment of upgrades that don't quite play well together. If you're committed to getting a performance Impreza, we think the STI holds a bit more sway in this category, even if it is significantly less comfortable on the open road.

　　

Which WRX does zzdcar recommend?

The high-performance STI sure looks good on paper. But its high-strung engine, harsh suspension and manual-transmission-only configuration mean it's best left to hardcore enthusiasts. For everyone else, the WRX Premium is a better place to start. It comes with a larger touchscreen infotainment system and can be optioned with additional performance and safety features.

　　

2020 Subaru WRX models

The 2020 Subaru WRX is a five-passenger sedan offered in five standard trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, STI and STI Limited.

　　Base WRX models come reasonably well equipped, starting with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (268 hp, 258 lb-ft of torque), a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. Performance tires and 17-inch wheels bolster handling capability, while inside you'll find cloth upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Tech features include a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, Bluetooth, satellite radio and a rearview camera.

　　The WRX Premium, our recommended trim, adds upgrades such as a sunroof, heated front seats and a 7-inch touchscreen. Moving up to the Limited brings enhancements such as adaptive LED headlights, a power-adjustable driver's seat and leather upholstery.

　　Both the Premium and Limited trims offer options, such as an automatic transmission. With this feature, the WRX also adds Subaru's EyeSight system, which bundles adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and other driving aids together into a single package. EyeSight cannot be paired with the manual transmission.

　　Premium trims with the manual transmission can add the Performance package with Recaro sport seats and upgraded brakes. Limited models can also get a navigation system and premium Harman Kardon audio system.

　　STI models come similarly equipped to the WRX Premium but with a larger engine and more power (310 horsepower, 290 lb-ft of torque), upgraded Brembo brakes and differentials, reworked steering, and more aggressive suspension tuning. STI models are only available with the six-speed manual transmission.

　　Finally, the STI Limited adds a sunroof, Recaro sport seats, leather upholstery, navigation, and the upgraded Harman Kardon audio system. The lone option is a low-profile trunk lip spoiler.

　　

2020 WRX Highlights

Type: STI Series.WhiteSTI LimitedSedanSTISedan

　　Trim: BasePremiumLimitedSeries.WhiteSTISTI LimitedSTI Series.WhiteBase

　　

Base MSRP	$27,495
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$199/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles