2021 Subaru WRX Review

　　

2021 Subaru WRX Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Subaru WRX is one of the more affordable performance cars on the market. It's got a relatively powerful turbocharged engine that sends power to the wheels through a standard all-wheel-drive system. It handles well too, with responsive steering and plenty of grip. Subaru also offers the top-level STI trim with a more powerful engine and a variety of other performance upgrades.

　　The WRX is showing its age, though, especially inside. While it's had some small updates over the years, the basic design dates back to the previous-generation Subaru Impreza that debuted nearly a decade ago. As such, the WRX isn't as refined or fresh as rivals such as the Hyundai Veloster and Honda Civic. It's loud on the street, too, and not in the way we want a sports car to be. Are these deal-breakers? Check out the categories of our Expert Rating below to help you decide.

　　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.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　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, and the voice controls are difficult to use. Another issue: 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). Our test WRX averaged 24.1 mpg on our highway-biased 115-mile evaluation route, 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. A loaded-up WRX can cost as much as a Civic Type R, which is simply a better car.

　　For the class, the WRX's warranty is average: 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's significantly less comfortable on the open road.

　　

Which WRX does zzdcar recommend?

Get the WRX Limited trim. It's not as powerful or capable as the STI, but it offers more features at a lower price and is more comfortable in day-to-day driving.

　　

2021 Subaru WRX models

The 2021 Subaru WRX sedan is available in five trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, STI and STI Limited. The base, Premium and Limited trims use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (268 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque), a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. An automatic is available as an option on certain trims. Stepping up to the WRX STI gets you a turbocharged 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (310 hp, 290 lb-ft of torque) paired exclusively with a six-speed manual.

　　Base

　　A base WRX is somewhat of a performance bargain. It lacks some of the creature comforts you'll find on other trims, but it does offer the same level of performance as other non-STI models. Standard features include:

　　17-inch wheels with performance tires Manually adjustable front seats Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter Two USB ports Automatic climate control 6.5-inch infotainment screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationPremium

　　The WRX Premium includes all of the base trim's features, adding:

　　Optional automatic transmission Sunroof 18-inch wheels with performance tires Foglights Keyless entry with push-button start Automatic headlights 7-inch infotainment display All-Weather package Windshield wiper de-icer Heated front seats Automatic-equipped models also include Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system that includes:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)Limited

　　The Limited trim builds off the WRX Premium with:

　　LED headlights and foglights Power-adjustable driver's seat Leather upholsteryAn option package for the Limited adds:

　　Navigation system Harman Kardon audio system Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Reverse automatic emergency braking (CVT-equipped only; warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)STI

　　The WRX STI is the hottest and most powerful model in Subaru's lineup. It's only available with a six-speed manual transmission with shorter gearing than the WRX's manual, so EyeSight isn't available. Standard features generally mirror those on the WRX Limited. Changes and upgrades include:

　　19-inch wheels with performance tires Adjustable drive modes Adjustable center differential Quicker-ratio steering STI-tuned suspension Brembo brakes STI rear spoiler Manually adjustable front seats Leather and simulated suede upholstery Dual-zone automatic climate control No sunroof No foglights Optional Recaro front sport seatsSTI Limited

　　The top-level WRX model features all of the STI's performance upgrades. Additional features include:

　　Sunroof Front Recaro sport seats Power-adjustable driver's seat Navigation system and Harman Kardon audio system Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert Optional low-profile spoiler

　　

2021 WRX Highlights

Type: STI LimitedSedanSTISedan

　　Trim: BasePremiumLimitedSTISTI LimitedBase

　　

Base MSRP	$27,495
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$204/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles