2022 Subaru WRX

　　

2022 Subaru WRX Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　, rating written byKurt NiebuhrReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Subaru's redesigned 2022 WRX follows the successful original recipe of a sport compact sedan fitted with a punchy, turbocharged flat-four engine that powers all four wheels. The outgoing generation lasted longer than usual — from 2014 to 2021 — and was sorely in need of an update. This new WRX is wonderful news for its existing, and potentially new, fanbase. It faces off against primarily front-wheel-drive competition, including Hyundai's new Veloster N and the redesigned 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, but could be compared to the all-wheel-drive Golf R and turbocharged Mazda 3 as well.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Subaru WRX 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$213/mo  for WRX Base

　　WRX Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $29,605 MSRP4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $31,455 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) (Most Popular) - $32,105 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $34,155 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $36,495 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $38,745 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $42,395 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　It's based on an entirely new chassis for the WRX, and power comes from a 2.4-liter (up from a 2.0-liter) turbocharged flat-four engine. The new WRX cranks out 274 horsepower and can be had with either a six-speed manual or Subaru's upgraded continuously variable automatic Subaru calls the Performance Automatic. Following both brand and model tradition, the WRX is all-wheel drive. Breaking some new ground for the WRX is an available adaptive suspension.

　　Subaru's redesigned 2022 WRX is a welcome and much-needed improvement over the previous generation. But it also has some drawbacks that you'll want to be aware of. Check out our test team's Expert Rating to get our full report.

　　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.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the WRX drive? The WRX isn't as quick as some of its rivals, but it's still fun to drive. We tested a manual-equipped WRX, and at zzdcar' test track it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. That's appropriately quick, though achieving that time requires an abusive launch technique. Our test driver noted: "I'll be honest and say I thought I broke this car trying to launch it. The driveline shock when you drop the clutch is so harsh and severe that I thought there might be a pile of metal on the ground. Even with the new engine, there's a significant amount of turbo lag below about 3,000 rpm. That means getting the best launch basically means dropping the clutch from about 5,000 rpm." We have yet to test the automatic-equipped WRX.

　　The WRX is at its best when leaping from turn to turn on a curvy road. Its strong midrange power, all-wheel-drive traction, composed suspension and responsive steering make for an excellent, enthusiastic driving experience.

　　Unfortunately, the brakes in the WRX don't deliver the response or stopping confidence we'd expect. Its pedal feels too soft for something this sporty. At our test track, however, the WRX was able to stop from 60 mph in just 110 feet — a respectable distance for the segment.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the WRX? The ride quality and the seating comfort in the WRX are both right at the top of their class. It's worth noting that several hours of driving in the WRX gave us no significant fatigue or pain. The seats hold you in place well during corners and provide proper support all the time.

　　The climate controls that are located inside the big center touchscreen are a bit difficult to learn and can be distracting at first, but most owners will get the hang of using them relatively quickly. On the downside, the WRX is pretty noisy, with a little rumble from the engine at highway speeds and some pronounced wind noise over the doors and mirrors at speed.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below