Subaru WRX STI
What is it?
Bonkers, that’s what it is, utter bonkers.
The WRX is a strange car, but in a good way. Yes, it’s a family sized 4-door saloon, yet it’s a 300ps 160mph monster, with handling characteristics to match. First and foremost though, it’s a performance car that doesn’t compromise.
On road
My very first thoughts were, “Wow, the ride is hard” and “How heavy, yet precise, is the steering?” Then of course, “Jeeeeeeez, this is brutally quick, I may have left my internal organs back at the traffic lights!”
As I mentioned above, the WRX may look like a normal family saloon, if you remove the alloys, rear spoiler and bulging arches, but, make no mistake, it’s a thoroughbred. Driving fast is what the WRX was born to do, that’s when it comes alive. The steering, suspension and the brilliant Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system means that the WRX grips the road like a limpet, especially in wet conditions.
Subarus have always held the road well, and that’s because the Boxer engine (named because of the way its pistons punch-counterpunch sideways instead of up and down like normal) sits low in the engine bay. Add that to the symmetrical drivetrain and you have a low centre of gravity. This means that the weight of the engine and gearbox are spread across the front axle, resulting in perfect weight distribution across the chassis, as well as a straight route for traction to travel to all four wheels.
I could’ve messed with the ‘Driver’s Control Centre Differential’ (or DCCD) and played with the torque distribution between the front and rear axles, but I didn’t feel the need to. I also could’ve engaged the ‘Sport Sharp’ setting, which I’m told remaps the engine to give you an even more ‘jeeez’ moment.
Driving like a middle-aged hooligan (tick) , but what about the usual commute? Yeah, remember what I said about compromise earlier? You definitely know when you’ve driven over a pothole, a manhole cover or even a 3 week old squashed rabbit - it’s hard. Even Muddy Madam moaned, and that isn’t like her - at all.
To be honest, can I really moan about its road manners? Just look at it, it’s called a WXR STI for crying out loud, it’s like putting a 6” suspension lift and 35” mud terrain tyres on a Land Rover and bemoaning the fact that it doesn’t handle as well as it did. It is what it is, and for most of the time, it’s bloody good fun.
Off road
Of course I didn’t take the WRX off-road, but during our loan, as you can by the photos, we did have quite a flurry of snow, and as you would expect from a Subaru, it handled the few inches with total ease, even sheet ice wasn’t a problem.
Interior
The drivers seat - the comfortable, yet bum hugging, 6-way manually-adjustable, leather & Alcantara sports seat. The Dash - I felt bombarded with information from all 3 screens, and buttons too, there’s lots of them, especially on the steering wheel. There’s also a lot of plastic, but that’s ok, as you’re distracted by the red stitching and red dials.
For rear passengers there’s plenty of room and the seats are comfy too, but the biggest surprise was the massive boot - I’ve seen flats in London smaller than this!
Engines ’n’ transmission
Well, this is going to be simple, it comes with one engine, and one gearbox.
Its 2.5ltr petrol Boxer engine, that’s mated to the 6-speed manual ‘box, produces 296bhp. It will get you from 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 159mph (and sounds maniacal whilst doing it). For a gallon of dinosaur juice Subaru reckon that you’ll reach 27 miles, and if it interests you, it pumps 242 CO2 (g/km) into the air.
Conclusion
I loved my time with the WRX, though as I’ve said all along, there isn’t much compromise to it. It’s a bonkers car, a great one, but I don’t know how long I could cope with its harsh ride. On the practical side, it’s a large 4-door family saloon with great seats, plenty of room and a massive boot.
I love the way the flat four burbles along, it always brought a smile to my face.
To give a sense of what this car is, I’m going to end on a quote from the ‘Standard Equipment’ list under Entertainment - 'Just below the ‘Bluetooth Technology’ and ‘steering wheel mounted audio controls is Four-cylinder Boxer Burble'.
That says it all!
Click to enlarge
