I have a 2019 STi and in the turns it feels like its on railroad tracks. It's a crazy fun everyday car and makes me smile when I drive it. Just a one of a kind car and that's why I bought it.
i bought a 2018 WRX and its honestly an amazing car. I thought about buying a Hyundai Genesis or a AUDI A4 but the Subaru for its safety rating and its AWD it was a win win for me. Here in Canada with the snow this year man it went through it like it was not even there. The apps suck for the Harmon Kardon sound system but I have spotify its all good.
Yep respect the 0-60 in 5.7 stock and a Camaro SS getting 27mpg highway as well. Being cheaper than an STI and doing 0-60 in 4.0 stock. Any v8 or SC V8 shames Subaru Sti in every way even mpg!!!
Chill out, bro. Not everyone wants a Camaro or a V8. A turbocharged, AWD sedan with good cornering, good brakes and excellent road feel, like the WRX, is a LOT of fun and a much more practical car when you factor in corners and weather. Not to take away from the Camaro, but it's really a different tool for a different job.
WRX Sti 0-60 in 4.7 Camaro SS 0-60 in 4.0 Not to mention the base WRX (0-60 in 5.7) that looses to a V6 Camaro. Buy a V8 and supercharge it and if u want AWD a V8 dodge has that and is way faster too
Current model has the best chassis and suspension of any previous WRX. There is amazing performance locked away in the FA20DIT if you are willing to modify to get it. With a few minor tweaks and a retune, it IS a world class performer at its pricepont. Performance brakepads and slotted rotors A performance alignment A stiffer rear swaybar and endlinks Stage 2 tuning with turboback exahust And a set of michelin pilot sport 4s tires And you have a 300whp car that STILL cost less than 30k That will give car twice its price a fair run for their money In the twisties Name a 30,000 car that can do what a lightly tuned 2015+ WRX can do.
@@coopsnz1 Yes but the WRX S4 in japan comes only in automatic and has a few more options out of the box, not to mention it comes with 295hp and 295 torque...
I didn't know there was so much hate for the WRX. I am leaning towards one because it's a good value for the power and handling you get. Destroys the Civic Si. Not sure how it stacks up against Focus ST, but they won't be making those after this year I believe. The VW is priced out of sight and too expensive to fix if something breaks.
This gen needs a Stage 1 Cobb or MAP tune to really feel like a WRX. I know because I have one (2018). Hated driving it before the tune, absolutely love it now.....
I just got a 2020 WRX Limited with the STI short shifter and I love it! This car needs the short shifter for maximum enjoyment, so I definitely recommend ticking that box. The ride is a bit harsh, but I live in Ohio so it may just be the sh*tty roads here. Overall, the WRX is a sports car bargain, even in the top Limited trim. It's worth every penny I paid for it, which was nicely discounted by the way.
I'm in SWOH, and half of it is the roads. Car needs more than a STS. Even with my AWE Touring CBE, engine and road noise kill any enjoyment. Suspension could be more planted and less jittery. (Emissions) rev hang is a real buzz kill and isn't necessary. Subaru left so many doors open on the (new) WRX, it's basically a project car from day one. Swap out this, change that, add this and this, remove that. A never ending quest it will be...I've started down the path, but have a long way to go...
I got an ‘18 and I think it’s great. Not mentioned is the rear fold-down arm rest new for 2018... I’m not racing but it does the job around town, fun but can use another +/-50hp (I know STI is more but I’m not paying $40,000). Stock seats and steering wheel are amazing, sound system is garbage
It really needs a full overhaul, it's a great car with tons of room but it could use an update in styling and a brand new engine all together with way more power. The one great positive I'll give it is Subarus really hold their value!
Acc0rd79 if you want something that holds the value look at a jeep wrangler you could buy them for 22k new in 2007 and you cannot find that year for under 13k even over 216,000 miles. Comparing that to how fast a Ford focus depreciates you actually save more and depreciation then you could possibly spend in gas
@@kennymony1691 alot of people dont care about the mpgs until its too late. Your talking atleast a 600 a month payment for either car unless you put some down. If you can afford to daily an sti your filling up quite often id bet. Atleast 50 bucks a week. So now your at 800 a month and wonder where your money went lol
I love the wrx. I’m not a fan boy by any means. 6 MT most horsepower and torque compared to the competitors. I couldn’t ask for anything better at the moment. Let’s not forget AWD as well. The competitors don’t have that maybe Audi but look at how much you get for the money with this thing.
What it comes down to is preference and what your willing to spend. I own a 2016 wrx and I love it but if I had a billion dollars a wrx wouldn't be sitting in my driveway.
be aware of all of the "challengers" or people thinking you want "to go bro" when you are just cruising on the highway doing the limit. In my '19 base (not even the premium or even STI) ppl in mustangs, Camaros, and a few others always hang on my side for 10-15 seconds before accelerating quickly to show what they have. I don't want to race; I'm just driving to work. Oh, never buy the base model WRX, go premium or higher...however, I should of bought the base STi despite the EJ engine I don't care for too much...
I have one and it does have issues. Side and rear profiles are a bit too subdued, no iconic boxer rumble, major power drop at about 4,500 to 5,500 rpm. Tons of people say a simple ECU tune be it a DIY Cobb job or a local tuner, fixes the power drop, but at just 6 months and 4k miles I'm not ready to void my warranty yet.
@@Snadzies bought a 2019 WRX in September. I'm at about 10k Kms on it. Already stage 2 with exhaust, downpipe, intake, headers, injectors, fuel pump, recirc valve, throttle inlet, turbo piping. Yea my warranty is on the bad side ATM 😂
For some reason, Subaru still offers a CVT. Hey John, maybe its because they sell! People can say what they want,but i love my WRX limited with eyesight. I work 11 hrs a day and sit ina lot of traffic. In the WRX, even in traffic, its a pleasure to drive and hear its sweet sounds.
Doubt that'll happen. Japanese government gets anal when a car makes much more than 300hp. If they make the WRX any faster then no one will buy the STI.
...just get a base STi. Yes, slightly more expensive, but a better car dollar for dollar. If I could go back 18 months, I would tell myself to buy the base STi (or Series.White) despite the my reservations about EJ25 in the STi and my dislike for white cars...
@@K03sport I would not recommend the STI. I moved from an older 2005 STI to a new 2015 WRX. The '05 was awesome but it had so many issues. It was burning oil, had to have a engine rebuild at 125k - ringland and spun bearings. The EJ25 is an aged motor with a laundry list of problems. I miss the sound, but I do not miss the maintenance. The 15 WRX has been a dream, bought new, have since put 85k miles on it, it was tuned at 35k (warranty ran out 😎). Built motor, now it makes 390whp on 93 octane and 430 on e85. I wouldn't recommend doing what I did and shooting for 400+ in this car, the price difference between 350whp and 430whp was insane, I basically dumped the cost of another WRX into it 😅 350 is plenty doable though. Managed to get that done, mods + the car costed less than the price of a new STI
I have a 2016 WRX and would take it any day over the STi. The FA20 motor is superior to the aging EJ25. It's a perfect balance of power and fuel efficiency. Remember, this is a rally car, not a muscle car. If you want a 13 second car or faster, get a Ford GT, Corvette, or GTR. If you want a fun car to take on a dirt road or snowy road, get a WRX.
Or get an RS they run 13.2 1/4 mile and can still play in the dirty or snow. On my stock motor with just a tune and fuel upgrade it runs mid to high 12s.
Engine aside the STi drivetrain is so much better than the base WRX. I have a 2016 WRX so I'm not hating. But I drove a sti and aside from the motor the limited slip diffs and transmission are sooooo much better. The shifter alone is 👌. And Everytime I get a 1 wheel peel in the front or rear it's a reminder of how much the diffs make a diff. The only way you get tire spin on a sti is if all 4 spin. If I could afford it I'd go STi.
Engine technology hasn't improved top end performance much. It's all about fuel economy and emissions these days. A Norwegian rally legend made rally cars with 0-60mp/h in 2.2s, that was the early 90's I believe. They changed rally regulations because he had to much hp. I believe he had more hp than the current F1 cars. Those days F1 still used V10 or V12 engines.
Hey guys is Subaru even gonna sell a Wrx wagon in the USA again? I been waiting for it for a long time now! I’m at the point of going and getting a Golf 4motion wagon. Let me know what y’all know thanks.
They need someone that knows how to drive a WRX to test them. WRXs are so driver dependent. If you're not skilled at launching one, your times will be slow. A skilled driver would have no trouble getting very low 5 sec 0-60 mph and high 13s in the 1/4 mile.
Yeah, when I first got my WRX, I sucked at launching it and got smoked by cars because I would bog the launch everytime. When you bog the launch, the boost drops and then you get turbo lag and a slow launch. But with practice I learned that with a high rpm launch and a tiny bit of wheel spin to keep the rpms and boost up, my WRX would jump off the line so much faster. It ran low 13s with exhaust and manual boost controller (8.6 at our local 1/8 mile). I was beating cars like LS3 Fbodys, Mustang GTs, etc at our local 1/8 mile with just those simple mods. I later did a Turbo swap and supporting mods, but that's another story.
@@nickkm1844 It can be done in 5 seconds flat. 1. Put car in Trac. Mode (the traction control will be off, but you keep the VDC) 2. Launch at 5k. brutally. 3 shift 1st to 2nd at redline 4. You should hit 60 at the top of second just before hitting the rev limiter. If you grab 3rd before you hit 60, you won't make 5 seconds. With a good stage 1 tune you can do it in 4.7 seconds A good stage 2, 3.8 seconds.
"Overachieving at 268hp." LOL! The Focus ST has 250hp and the RS 350hp. Power isn't everything but when all your competitors are winning the HP battle, Subaru needs to recognize and step up their game. You shouldn't have to mod the car and risk your warranty to get the power it should have from the factory... I feel like the WRX should be at least 300hp, and the STI should be closer to 350-400. I love my 2015 STI, but mine it puts 470 to the ground and with a few other mods, it's a pretty formidable track car.
Subaru putting a CVT in the WRX was the worst decision they could’ve made, well maybe retaining the ancient 2.5T was equally as bad. It’s just not a very modern engine with lots of lag, and a very peaky powerband.
I HAVE A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA 3.3 V6 SPORT WITH 249 HP I CONSISTANTLY RUN 14.8 QUARTER MILE TIMES AT 98 MPH MY QUICKEST 0 TO 60 MPH HAS BEEN AS LOW AS 6.2 SECONDS!😇 I'VE BEATEN LOTS OF SPORTY CARS AND V8 TRUCKS WITH MY STOCK HYUNDAI SONATA SLEEPER
Wayne S. They changed the tunes on all 2015+ wrx with a tsb in 2016 to keep the engine from over heating too fast and made the ecu cut power after 4500 rpms
i have a 2015 wrx with 100k on i am selling it and getting something else the stock seats did not last at all i just replaced the foam and seat covers cause they were tearing and i had metal stabbing me also it definitely heat soaked in summer it was a fun car but my Volvo S60 R was a way better car also i liked my cousins bug eye wrx more then my 2015 wrx it felt more comfortable and defiantly was faster and had more of a soul
New subaru is know to cheap out on their interiors and when it falls apart after a few years they refuse to fix it under warranty or help fix their defects they caused
yeah i am moving on to jeep i want something i can go offloading in also after doing the seat my self you see how cheap everything is also i got them to give me the materials for free to replace it by going to there headquarters in norwood mass i basically bitched them out saying a car seat should not fall apart after 100k and three years also i have not had a good history with there mechanics and service mangers, i lost all power to my brakes cause a dumb ass forgot to tighten a bleeder valve and then basically did not give a shit about it i had to call my own tow truck and he said if i did not make it back by five he would head home and he tried to give me two free oil changes for my trouble and a small thermos i got all my money back instead for that day and then some from that. sorry for the rant i could go further into how that went over but ill stop i am just fed up with them
Manny787 not even close to being a good value. The sti has been on the market forever at damn near the same power level. For 40k you should be getting Audi rs3 performance. Instead the sti does 13s in the quarter? Blah blah save the but it's a track car argument. Unacceptable.
True.. but it doesn't take much money to take this WRX to STI territory . If they wanted to boost the power on the WRX then whats the point on having the STI? how much power do you want out of the WRX? 🤔😅
Manny787 you're absolutely right. But I just watched the motorweek video on the 2002 wrx. It had damn near the same performance numbers as the 2018 wrx, that's a 16 year difference with 0 change in performance. The sti has always been at 300 hp right? I used to really like these cars, but how can I like them now with this lack of innovation and evolution? Of course many will disagree with me and that's ok
charlie S Dodge Chargers are way bigger safer and nicer plus there much faster than a base Corvette and as fast is the fastest Corvette ever made! No Subaru can do that modded or not. Audi Mustang Camaro and a few other 2.0Ts are faster than a WRXs actually. Look into it more Camaro 2.0T is cheaper and does 0-60 in 5.4 and Camaro SS 0-60 in 4.0 costs the same if u wait and buy the last years model close outs at 20% off. Plus SS gets 27mpg same as the WRX and better than a 0-60 in 4.7 at best Sti. Please guys go to a few dealerships and actually look at cars prices times and then rent one on the track or drive a friends. I knew someone with a 575hp Sti that couldn't beat my friends 6.4L 485hp challenger. And the five days you take a car on the track Subaru is barely better there but the 355 days u use it to drive around u have way more pull from a V8 which is the point of owning a sports car. Don't on the slower sports car brand ever a Kia stinger beats in STI in every way. Track. Mpg. Man that's just sad when u can get a 455hp v8
Stock tune sucks thats why. Surprised Motor week didnt mention the power falls flat on its face at 4500 rpms to 5800 rpms then picks up again before redline.
k20a2toofast4u unless the the weather gets up to 90 degrees or above, you can replicate the same time on a stock car at the same track. Which is the case in this video. There are definitely a lot of variations. One way to tell would be to dyno both cars on the same day at the same place.
I love the Subaru but why did the dude talking say that a normal wrx can rival a focus RS and the civic type R? I say this because he clearly say those two cars are competitors of the wrx when clearly those two cars are competitors to the STI. Im pretty sure the civic type R and the focus RS can easily destroy a wrx, none STI on pretty much everything. Now if he said civic si, or ford fiesta then I'd probably wouldn't be laughing so hard because then all cars mentioned are in or closer to the same class. I mean, how weird would it be if I said the civic si or a fiesta is a competitor against a sti when clearly a wrx is closer to those twos cars class.
Jax Cha the type r and rs barely beats the sti, theyre back and forth. But they both will obviously beat the wrx, the plain wrx rivals the focus st and vw gti and also the civic si, whereas the sti rivals the rs and type r and golf r which it beats
I think it’s time to put a 5 cylinder boxer turbocharged engine. These 5 cylinders need to be Uncommon in the USA. Without it. The car will be dated a bit against the new Sports cars. The Ford Focus RS for example. It’s 5 cylinder engine is developed by Volvo. The thing that confuses me that they replaced the 5 cylinder engine to a 4 Cylinder ecoboost engine.. they did it again with the Ford Ranger Awkwardly. I love rally cars. But then the focus RS can do things better in track. Than in Off-road. Then the WRX (STi) did Really good off the Mud, Even through straight trails, and Winter. Focus RS can’t do that anymore!
1mlb704 - A stock Pontiac Grand Prix sure as hell won't offer the same handling under inclement weather or even perform nearly as well on a mountain road. Sure, there's many other vehicles that are better choices for straight-line acceleration, but the WRX has never highlighted it's 0 to 60 time as its sole performance point. The rally-inspired handling is the market it has a monopoly on.
Yeah true it's more of a handler than anything, and the AWD certainly helps it on twisty roads and whatnot. I will say though I live in Massachusetts and I've been driving my GP in inclement weather with proper snow tires for the past 7 years of owning it and it's been a champ. Never gotten stuck or slid off a road, I even drove it 30 miles home from work during a legitimate blizzard back in January. I work at a Ford dealership and I've driven several AWD/4WD trucks and crossovers with all season tires in the snow and they didn't handle the roads as well as my car. Tires make all the difference when it comes to snow/rain/ice
Seriously , these motors are super high strung. Especially compared to the sleepy 3800 Gtp/gxp. Mass really western or eastern , it dosnt matter just follow me down the Mohawk trail hairpin and see if 0-6 matter.
The power on this car is just too low by modern standards. Though that aside even with its low 260hp it still pulls timing like crazy. I wanted to get one...but the engine performance is a let down compared to other cars in its price range.
What other new car at a base model price of a WRX, comes with 4 cylinder, 268 hp, AWD, turbo, 6 speed, alloy-aluminum wheels (no wheel covers), 4 doors, with rear seats that fold down?
Blame the various government safety and emission standards. 2018 has more power but weighs a few hundred pounds more. We're never going to get the fast, lightweight, affordable cars of the 90s and 2000s again.
.. Miata/mx-5 is in the same boat. One has to really look at the details. Safety wise, the '18+ is leaps better than the' 04. Fuel efficiency is up to despite more power/torque. Technology is better as well. Transmission is 50/50. If you really want old school, buy a lotus.
Thumbs down for the snobby hit at CVT at 2:03. Do you guys at motorweek realize there are people who can’t drive a stick shift who also like driving sporty cars? 👎
alfamonk mm ur half right. cuz awd are about 0 to 60 as much as thry are about handling, if we want to be even more specific aed are more.of snow etc..
Im going to really enjoy this review in 20 years when it's a retro review
Adam Lemus in 20 years we’ll have electric cars that hover to give the smoothest ride possible, and it’ll all be autonomous
Like I enjoyed the review of the 94 Toyota Celica.
@@justincash1181 that sounds Awful 😞
I have a 2019 STi and in the turns it feels like its on railroad tracks. It's a crazy fun everyday car and makes me smile when I drive it. Just a one of a kind car and that's why I bought it.
im glad you like it...but im not sure if it feeling like being on railroad tracks is a good thing lol
@@The_Animal_Man I think he means tight cornering with low body roll
2015 WRX CVT Owner since 2016. Rock solid reliability no issues so far. Just reached 100,000 kms this week. Will keep my car stock forever.
I thought about the CVT. For me, the manual alternates between fun and a pain in the ass. Not super easy to drive smoothly IMO.
i bought a 2018 WRX and its honestly an amazing car. I thought about buying a Hyundai Genesis or a AUDI A4 but the Subaru for its safety rating and its AWD it was a win win for me. Here in Canada with the snow this year man it went through it like it was not even there. The apps suck for the Harmon Kardon sound system but I have spotify its all good.
I have a 2017 and I love it.
franco monno welcome to the fa20 18 family.... what color did you get? any mods yet?
Dallas Williams i have a 2018 wrx base wrb 3k miles - stage 2+ pro tuned at 324hp/365trq
Just got my 2018 WRX limited with 60k for 20k I feel like it was a good deal. This car is amazing even stock. Can’t wait for a tune 💯
I just got a 2019 with 17000 miles for 25
I love my 18 wrx. Really fun to drive, decent gas mileage and enough power to have fun with it. Looking forward to mods soon.
I'd love to drive one
The Subaru WRX is a well respected car On or off road. The all-wheel-drive is truly amazing.🏁🇯🇵
Yep respect the 0-60 in 5.7 stock and a Camaro SS getting 27mpg highway as well. Being cheaper than an STI and doing 0-60 in 4.0 stock. Any v8 or SC V8 shames Subaru Sti in every way even mpg!!!
Camaro 2.0T 0-60 in 5.4
corners and off road tho
ps i drive a 2012 sti hatchback as my daily and a 2016 ss on the weekends so i would know haha
Chill out, bro. Not everyone wants a Camaro or a V8. A turbocharged, AWD sedan with good cornering, good brakes and excellent road feel, like the WRX, is a LOT of fun and a much more practical car when you factor in corners and weather. Not to take away from the Camaro, but it's really a different tool for a different job.
Cobb STG1 sorts out the power delivery gripe. Made my 16 much smoother
the amount of people complaining is stunning... just thank that subaru exists !
Anyone that has this car would complain, but would at some point purchase upgrades to alleviate the complaint.
They've never driven one. I love mine and it's my first Subie. Sure other sedans have more power but no manual option.
Should've ended it when the Evos did
i own one of these and i have no complains =)
WRX Sti 0-60 in 4.7
Camaro SS 0-60 in 4.0
Not to mention the base WRX (0-60 in 5.7) that looses to a V6 Camaro. Buy a V8 and supercharge it and if u want AWD a V8 dodge has that and is way faster too
Have this exact car, but the 2019 model. Drive it to work every day, very comfortable and practical, and it's faaaast.
thinking of getting the limited edition trim myself in about 6 months.
@@sabredragostea534 I test drove a limited 2018, and it was nice inside. Higher quality interior
@James Key, I've read that the stage 1 makes the car much more fun to drive. Not just power wise, but it shifts smoother and broadens the power band
how is your gas mileage?
@@thewhitewolffl slightly better than advertised, but I don't drive it hard very often. Averaging 28 city/31 hwy
I always get 28+ Mpg and see 34 Hwy AWD is great in bad weather
I second this, I own the same car.
I only drive in the city, I’m averaging 21 mpg
Remember the days when the WRX was an impressive, world class performer? Pepperidge Farm Remembers..
business costs have got higher , why wrx hasn't changed . Any way wrx has been under 28000usd since it came out
Current model has the best chassis and suspension of any previous WRX.
There is amazing performance locked away in the FA20DIT if you are willing to modify to get it.
With a few minor tweaks and a retune, it IS a world class performer at its pricepont.
Performance brakepads and slotted rotors
A performance alignment
A stiffer rear swaybar and endlinks
Stage 2 tuning with turboback exahust
And a set of michelin pilot sport 4s tires
And you have a 300whp car that STILL cost less than 30k
That will give car twice its price a fair run for their money In the twisties
Name a 30,000 car that can do what a lightly tuned 2015+ WRX can do.
haha! exhaust system , tune , Brembo brakes under 30k new wrong
Ben Chesterman he didn't say brembos
@@stinkyfungus the GLI will smoke almost anything with a tune and you can get one for $24,000
If you want a new car with all wheel drive, manual, 4 doors, 30 mpg highway for under $30k-- this is your option.
wrx in Japan is 3,334,000 yen
@@coopsnz1 Yes but the WRX S4 in japan comes only in automatic and has a few more options out of the box, not to mention it comes with 295hp and 295 torque...
Love my wrx I just bought, the smiles per gallon is no joke
I didn't know there was so much hate for the WRX. I am leaning towards one because it's a good value for the power and handling you get. Destroys the Civic Si. Not sure how it stacks up against Focus ST, but they won't be making those after this year I believe. The VW is priced out of sight and too expensive to fix if something breaks.
This gen needs a Stage 1 Cobb or MAP tune to really feel like a WRX. I know because I have one (2018). Hated driving it before the tune, absolutely love it now.....
@@devn3813 internet search. Look for places with a dyno. Ask around. Don't be afraid to drive a ways and stay overnight.
In the end, despite its deficiencies and limitations in reliability and design .....the WRX is still legendary.
I just got a 2020 WRX Limited with the STI short shifter and I love it! This car needs the short shifter for maximum enjoyment, so I definitely recommend ticking that box. The ride is a bit harsh, but I live in Ohio so it may just be the sh*tty roads here. Overall, the WRX is a sports car bargain, even in the top Limited trim. It's worth every penny I paid for it, which was nicely discounted by the way.
I'm in SWOH, and half of it is the roads. Car needs more than a STS. Even with my AWE Touring CBE, engine and road noise kill any enjoyment. Suspension could be more planted and less jittery. (Emissions) rev hang is a real buzz kill and isn't necessary. Subaru left so many doors open on the (new) WRX, it's basically a project car from day one. Swap out this, change that, add this and this, remove that. A never ending quest it will be...I've started down the path, but have a long way to go...
Watch any drive video and see the smile on drivers face when the turbo picks up
My 2017 Wrx is amazing, Add some strut bars and ceramic race pads and go have some fun!!!
Strut bars are useless on these cars, what you want is a 22mm rear sway bar.
I got an ‘18 and I think it’s great. Not mentioned is the rear fold-down arm rest new for 2018... I’m not racing but it does the job around town, fun but can use another +/-50hp (I know STI is more but I’m not paying $40,000). Stock seats and steering wheel are amazing, sound system is garbage
It really needs a full overhaul, it's a great car with tons of room but it could use an update in styling and a brand new engine all together with way more power. The one great positive I'll give it is Subarus really hold their value!
Acc0rd79 the FA20DIT engine IS brand new dude. You're thinking EJ series motor
in Japan its ,3 , 334,000 yen , do you want to pay 32k for a wrx
No just no nooo, its not broken
Acc0rd79 if you want something that holds the value look at a jeep wrangler you could buy them for 22k new in 2007 and you cannot find that year for under 13k even over 216,000 miles. Comparing that to how fast a Ford focus depreciates you actually save more and depreciation then you could possibly spend in gas
The better the engine the more it cost, the entire point of this car is that its affordable for you get. Some people are impossible to pleasem
If you want more power then might as well get the STI.. or tune the WRX with cobb tune
Manny787 and void your warrantee. Other manufactures are way out matching this car and it’s factory backed, not full bolt on tuner
what other cars get to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds , under 30k new none
Manny787 you got the cash for sti gas? if not just go cobb stg1 wrx base
@@dnawrapsatl good point
@@kennymony1691 alot of people dont care about the mpgs until its too late. Your talking atleast a 600 a month payment for either car unless you put some down. If you can afford to daily an sti your filling up quite often id bet. Atleast 50 bucks a week. So now your at 800 a month and wonder where your money went lol
I love the wrx. I’m not a fan boy by any means. 6 MT most horsepower and torque compared to the competitors. I couldn’t ask for anything better at the moment. Let’s not forget AWD as well. The competitors don’t have that maybe Audi but look at how much you get for the money with this thing.
What it comes down to is preference and what your willing to spend. I own a 2016 wrx and I love it but if I had a billion dollars a wrx wouldn't be sitting in my driveway.
I think I'd still have a WRX for winter weather (I live in Colorado). I hate trucks and the WRX is really the only reliable AWD sports car
be aware of all of the "challengers" or people thinking you want "to go bro" when you are just cruising on the highway doing the limit. In my '19 base (not even the premium or even STI) ppl in mustangs, Camaros, and a few others always hang on my side for 10-15 seconds before accelerating quickly to show what they have. I don't want to race; I'm just driving to work. Oh, never buy the base model WRX, go premium or higher...however, I should of bought the base STi despite the EJ engine I don't care for too much...
People who trash on this car cant afford it in the first place lmfao
I have one and it does have issues.
Side and rear profiles are a bit too subdued, no iconic boxer rumble, major power drop at about 4,500 to 5,500 rpm.
Tons of people say a simple ECU tune be it a DIY Cobb job or a local tuner, fixes the power drop, but at just 6 months and 4k miles I'm not ready to void my warranty yet.
@@Snadzies no rumble due to equal length headers.
@@Snadzies It shouldn't completely void your warranty... they would have to connect the tune to the problem somehow I believe
@@Snadzies bought a 2019 WRX in September. I'm at about 10k Kms on it. Already stage 2 with exhaust, downpipe, intake, headers, injectors, fuel pump, recirc valve, throttle inlet, turbo piping. Yea my warranty is on the bad side ATM 😂
Nicholas Harrikissoon ur warranty isn’t on the bad side ur warranty is extinct lol
"...now that they have the BRZ in the fold." The BRZ was available in 2013. MotorWeek...are you feeling OK?
For some reason, Subaru still offers a CVT. Hey John, maybe its because they sell! People can say what they want,but i love my WRX limited with eyesight. I work 11 hrs a day and sit ina lot of traffic. In the WRX, even in traffic, its a pleasure to drive and hear its sweet sounds.
Definitely needs a refresh with more power. The next WRX hopefully is a screamer !!
Doubt that'll happen.
Japanese government gets anal when a car makes much more than 300hp.
If they make the WRX any faster then no one will buy the STI.
Communist party , more horsepower will mean less sales , because a wrx will cost $32000 with 300hp without tax
Snadzies fr ? Crazy
I love this WRX model. It still has that classic Impreza WRX look but modern too. Needs a big ass rear wing to complete it's look
...just get a base STi. Yes, slightly more expensive, but a better car dollar for dollar. If I could go back 18 months, I would tell myself to buy the base STi (or Series.White) despite the my reservations about EJ25 in the STi and my dislike for white cars...
@@K03sport I would not recommend the STI. I moved from an older 2005 STI to a new 2015 WRX. The '05 was awesome but it had so many issues. It was burning oil, had to have a engine rebuild at 125k - ringland and spun bearings. The EJ25 is an aged motor with a laundry list of problems.
I miss the sound, but I do not miss the maintenance. The 15 WRX has been a dream, bought new, have since put 85k miles on it, it was tuned at 35k (warranty ran out 😎). Built motor, now it makes 390whp on 93 octane and 430 on e85.
I wouldn't recommend doing what I did and shooting for 400+ in this car, the price difference between 350whp and 430whp was insane, I basically dumped the cost of another WRX into it 😅
350 is plenty doable though. Managed to get that done, mods + the car costed less than the price of a new STI
It would be crazy if they brought back the Subaru rsti/ gc8 coupe version updated for the next generation... 🤔
The little soo-bar-oooo. WOW
this review feels so nostalgic
Hopefully the 2020 has a hatch and more HP
Hopefully more hp and no hatch. Hatches look like eggs lol
Keep in mind, 0 to 60 times change with turbocharged vehicles depending on the weather conditions.
I have a 2016 WRX and would take it any day over the STi. The FA20 motor is superior to the aging EJ25. It's a perfect balance of power and fuel efficiency. Remember, this is a rally car, not a muscle car. If you want a 13 second car or faster, get a Ford GT, Corvette, or GTR. If you want a fun car to take on a dirt road or snowy road, get a WRX.
Abe Ndiaye the Ford GT is $400,000, lol I think you meant mustang GT
Or get an RS they run 13.2 1/4 mile and can still play in the dirty or snow. On my stock motor with just a tune and fuel upgrade it runs mid to high 12s.
Engine aside the STi drivetrain is so much better than the base WRX. I have a 2016 WRX so I'm not hating. But I drove a sti and aside from the motor the limited slip diffs and transmission are sooooo much better. The shifter alone is 👌. And Everytime I get a 1 wheel peel in the front or rear it's a reminder of how much the diffs make a diff. The only way you get tire spin on a sti is if all 4 spin. If I could afford it I'd go STi.
Andrew Evans The RS price is in a different bracket. Its almost 60k here in Canada while this WRX can be had around 37k.
O ok. I bought both my RSs form 43k. Thats a huge difference
Like how your test driver has a super bee 🐝 on his helmet, he knows what’s up
2002 WRX: 0-60 5.6s, 1/4 14.3s 2018 WRX: 0-60 5.6s, 1/4 14.1s
Engine technology hasn't improved top end performance much. It's all about fuel economy and emissions these days. A Norwegian rally legend made rally cars with 0-60mp/h in 2.2s, that was the early 90's I believe. They changed rally regulations because he had to much hp. I believe he had more hp than the current F1 cars. Those days F1 still used V10 or V12 engines.
Looks awesome
Two lot attendant guys I work with one bought one each. One white one black. We are all under 22.
Hey guys is Subaru even gonna sell a Wrx wagon in the USA again? I been waiting for it for a long time now! I’m at the point of going and getting a Golf 4motion wagon. Let me know what y’all know thanks.
They need someone that knows how to drive a WRX to test them. WRXs are so driver dependent. If you're not skilled at launching one, your times will be slow. A skilled driver would have no trouble getting very low 5 sec 0-60 mph and high 13s in the 1/4 mile.
BLACK05GO1 really
I have a stock 17 wrx, launched it at 0-60 at 5.1 sec. That guy can't drive lol.
Yeah, when I first got my WRX, I sucked at launching it and got smoked by cars because I would bog the launch everytime. When you bog the launch, the boost drops and then you get turbo lag and a slow launch. But with practice I learned that with a high rpm launch and a tiny bit of wheel spin to keep the rpms and boost up, my WRX would jump off the line so much faster. It ran low 13s with exhaust and manual boost controller (8.6 at our local 1/8 mile). I was beating cars like LS3 Fbodys, Mustang GTs, etc at our local 1/8 mile with just those simple mods. I later did a Turbo swap and supporting mods, but that's another story.
@@nickkm1844
It can be done in 5 seconds flat.
1. Put car in Trac. Mode (the traction control will be off, but you keep the VDC)
2. Launch at 5k. brutally.
3 shift 1st to 2nd at redline
4. You should hit 60 at the top of second just before hitting the rev limiter.
If you grab 3rd before you hit 60, you won't make 5 seconds.
With a good stage 1 tune you can do it in 4.7 seconds
A good stage 2, 3.8 seconds.
stinkyfungus 5. launch at 5k? Kiss your diffs goodbye
Not that it needs more power needs more torque
Why does the wrx get slower? What am I missing?
This sounds like the narrator is reading from a Subaru press release
My 2003 wrx does 0-60 in 5 seconds flat! Why is this slower from 0-60?
Wow! you can read the brochure
Lmao at the people in the comment section bitching about how this thing doesn't have over 500hp with V8, when the car itself is only around 20k 🤣
Good review, love Subaru, but NO MOON ROOF on the PREMIUM anymore? WTF???
R.B. Ratieta not with the performance pkg
How old is this generation wrx now?
I bought a 2017 brand new with roof vane and a diffuser, I paid just under $25k
Shawn Moses what state you buy in brother?
Jose Andra bought it at Russell Subaru volkswagon in Catonsville, Maryland. I bought it black Friday week, $1000 off
Shawn Moses in that case might have to hold off till Black Friday that’s a freakin steal. Thanks for the feedback
Jose Andra cool, what state are you in?
Shawn Moses I’m in New York was looking into buying one and found one for a great price 23k for a 17 wrx low miles but was a lemon law car
Why are these cars set up to cut power at 4800RPMS?
Emissions. You can tune it out easily.
@@ohplezz
This 100%
Cobb STG 1 tune solves this problem.
love the eurobeat the beginning...very appropriate
"Overachieving at 268hp." LOL! The Focus ST has 250hp and the RS 350hp. Power isn't everything but when all your competitors are winning the HP battle, Subaru needs to recognize and step up their game. You shouldn't have to mod the car and risk your warranty to get the power it should have from the factory... I feel like the WRX should be at least 300hp, and the STI should be closer to 350-400. I love my 2015 STI, but mine it puts 470 to the ground and with a few other mods, it's a pretty formidable track car.
You're on drugs , Bmw m2 doesn't have 400hp
2 years later and now the Subaru is still in production, RS is not.. Guess power isnt everything eh?
Smoked 3 of these in my 08 si, there slow stock
I like that intro music and wanna know the name of it hahahaha
No official numbers with the CVT? C’mon MW! You could be more complete with it.
Subaru putting a CVT in the WRX was the worst decision they could’ve made, well maybe retaining the ancient 2.5T was equally as bad. It’s just not a very modern engine with lots of lag, and a very peaky powerband.
Come on. 5.6 0-60 is fast. Getting to 98 on the quarter mile is fast. If you want to shave off a second feel free to spend another 40k.
I HAVE A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA 3.3 V6 SPORT WITH 249 HP I CONSISTANTLY RUN 14.8 QUARTER MILE TIMES AT 98 MPH MY QUICKEST 0 TO 60 MPH HAS BEEN AS LOW AS 6.2 SECONDS!😇 I'VE BEATEN LOTS OF SPORTY CARS AND V8 TRUCKS WITH MY STOCK HYUNDAI SONATA SLEEPER
Great car but if you've ever driven one you know subarus stock tuning sucks and heat soaks so fast and cuts power
SavagexRaccoon that's strange. Mine has never once done that and I've had it since 2015 when it was new.
Wayne S. They changed the tunes on all 2015+ wrx with a tsb in 2016 to keep the engine from over heating too fast and made the ecu cut power after 4500 rpms
i have a 2015 wrx with 100k on i am selling it and getting something else the stock seats did not last at all i just replaced the foam and seat covers cause they were tearing and i had metal stabbing me also it definitely heat soaked in summer it was a fun car but my Volvo S60 R was a way better car also i liked my cousins bug eye wrx more then my 2015 wrx it felt more comfortable and defiantly was faster and had more of a soul
New subaru is know to cheap out on their interiors and when it falls apart after a few years they refuse to fix it under warranty or help fix their defects they caused
yeah i am moving on to jeep i want something i can go offloading in also after doing the seat my self you see how cheap everything is also i got them to give me the materials for free to replace it by going to there headquarters in norwood mass i basically bitched them out saying a car seat should not fall apart after 100k and three years also i have not had a good history with there mechanics and service mangers, i lost all power to my brakes cause a dumb ass forgot to tighten a bleeder valve and then basically did not give a shit about it i had to call my own tow truck and he said if i did not make it back by five he would head home and he tried to give me two free oil changes for my trouble and a small thermos i got all my money back instead for that day and then some from that. sorry for the rant i could go further into how that went over but ill stop i am just fed up with them
Subaru needs to add more horsepower 260 in TV 6 regular sedan will smoke it in a zero to 60
it will cost 32k and less will buy it
21 city 27 mpg hwy on premium gas,kinda low subie
I guess for the price we shouldn't really complain about power but man is this car in serious need of more power
akachuy STI is a good choice.. 👍🏼 for power..
Manny787 not even close to being a good value. The sti has been on the market forever at damn near the same power level. For 40k you should be getting Audi rs3 performance. Instead the sti does 13s in the quarter? Blah blah save the but it's a track car argument. Unacceptable.
True.. but it doesn't take much money to take this WRX to STI territory . If they wanted to boost the power on the WRX then whats the point on having the STI? how much power do you want out of the WRX? 🤔😅
Manny787 you're absolutely right. But I just watched the motorweek video on the 2002 wrx. It had damn near the same performance numbers as the 2018 wrx, that's a 16 year difference with 0 change in performance. The sti has always been at 300 hp right? I used to really like these cars, but how can I like them now with this lack of innovation and evolution? Of course many will disagree with me and that's ok
technology in wrx sti adds 4k to the price ' brembo 6 pistons 2k , body kit and Wing 1k ' the Ej257 block I'm guessing 2k extra
What is that front bumper I want for my 2016 wrx
charlie S Dodge Chargers are way bigger safer and nicer plus there much faster than a base Corvette and as fast is the fastest Corvette ever made! No Subaru can do that modded or not.
Audi Mustang Camaro and a few other 2.0Ts are faster than a WRXs actually. Look into it more Camaro 2.0T is cheaper and does 0-60 in 5.4 and Camaro SS 0-60 in 4.0 costs the same if u wait and buy the last years model close outs at 20% off. Plus SS gets 27mpg same as the WRX and better than a 0-60 in 4.7 at best Sti. Please guys go to a few dealerships and actually look at cars prices times and then rent one on the track or drive a friends. I knew someone with a 575hp Sti that couldn't beat my friends 6.4L 485hp challenger. And the five days you take a car on the track Subaru is barely better there but the 355 days u use it to drive around u have way more pull from a V8 which is the point of owning a sports car.
Don't on the slower sports car brand ever a Kia stinger beats in STI in every way. Track. Mpg. Man that's just sad when u can get a 455hp v8
Where's the sti review?
PLEASE DO THE STI !
looks like any other car parked next to the grocery cart return bin
I like this car but why is it so slow???
Stock tune sucks thats why. Surprised Motor week didnt mention the power falls flat on its face at 4500 rpms to 5800 rpms then picks up again before redline.
28000usd , you can t expect anything fast for that money
Yes you can. For under $30K, you can get a 310hp Mustang ecoboost with performance package and MagneRide.
Joe Blow it's not slow. The car will make you pay attention sometimes. Also, 5 seconds in the wrong hands can kill many people
Cake Batter lmfao, hahaha. I paid $24k for my 17 wrx and destroy mustang. It take a coyote 1st gen to beat me and not by much
I can't tell if the narrator was clowing the car or praising it...
Cool
Excelente
This engine should be in Outback Forester
It is. My wife has a XT Forester and it has the FA motor which puts out close to the same power.
In 2015 mw tested a wrx at 13.9@100mph. Seems to be getting slower with every new year.
tommieboi707 you cannot duplicate the same track test ever bc of weather and track conditions
k20a2toofast4u unless the the weather gets up to 90 degrees or above, you can replicate the same time on a stock car at the same track. Which is the case in this video. There are definitely a lot of variations. One way to tell would be to dyno both cars on the same day at the same place.
I love the Subaru but why did the dude talking say that a normal wrx can rival a focus RS and the civic type R? I say this because he clearly say those two cars are competitors of the wrx when clearly those two cars are competitors to the STI. Im pretty sure the civic type R and the focus RS can easily destroy a wrx, none STI on pretty much everything. Now if he said civic si, or ford fiesta then I'd probably wouldn't be laughing so hard because then all cars mentioned are in or closer to the same class. I mean, how weird would it be if I said the civic si or a fiesta is a competitor against a sti when clearly a wrx is closer to those twos cars class.
Jax Cha the type r and rs barely beats the sti, theyre back and forth. But they both will obviously beat the wrx, the plain wrx rivals the focus st and vw gti and also the civic si, whereas the sti rivals the rs and type r and golf r which it beats
In 5 years the Subaru will be running and still worth something, unlike the Ford.
I think it’s time to put a 5 cylinder boxer turbocharged engine. These 5 cylinders need to be Uncommon in the USA. Without it. The car will be dated a bit against the new Sports cars. The Ford Focus RS for example. It’s 5 cylinder engine is developed by Volvo. The thing that confuses me that they replaced the 5 cylinder engine to a 4 Cylinder ecoboost engine..
they did it again with the Ford Ranger Awkwardly.
I love rally cars. But then the focus RS can do things better in track. Than in Off-road.
Then the WRX (STi) did Really good off the Mud, Even through straight trails, and Winter. Focus RS can’t do that anymore!
and it costs 42000usd , wrx sti with 350 hp will cost $
45000
still slower than the 17, i made the right choice
same horsepower for like 13 years
torment12345 omg wrong lol. You are thinking of the STI. The wrx FA20DIT has been around since 2015..
Since 2009 the wrx has 265 hp so yeah 9 years with roughly the same hp and gaining weight in the process..
STi 2004 too 2019 with same hp..
13 yrs talking out of your ass lefty , wrx has been 260hp since 2009
torment12345 same power different result
Base wrx in Japan with 300hp , is 3,334,000 yen / 31000usd . Do Yanks want to pay 32000usd for a base wrx
Ninja 400 will walk circles around this
For the version MT (manual) you know if have System Rev match?
No, you blip the throttle to rev match.
The way god intended MTs to be.
Why does the MPG suck so much?
Name of song??
Wrx 265hp / 1450kg under 5 seconds I call bullshit
You shouls launch these at 5k rpm. You can get low 13s if you do.
My 19 year old Grand Prix is just as fast to 60 (granted it's modded) and gets similar MPG's. I think Subaru can do better than this WRX
1mlb704 - A stock Pontiac Grand Prix sure as hell won't offer the same handling under inclement weather or even perform nearly as well on a mountain road. Sure, there's many other vehicles that are better choices for straight-line acceleration, but the WRX has never highlighted it's 0 to 60 time as its sole performance point. The rally-inspired handling is the market it has a monopoly on.
Yeah true it's more of a handler than anything, and the AWD certainly helps it on twisty roads and whatnot. I will say though I live in Massachusetts and I've been driving my GP in inclement weather with proper snow tires for the past 7 years of owning it and it's been a champ. Never gotten stuck or slid off a road, I even drove it 30 miles home from work during a legitimate blizzard back in January. I work at a Ford dealership and I've driven several AWD/4WD trucks and crossovers with all season tires in the snow and they didn't handle the roads as well as my car. Tires make all the difference when it comes to snow/rain/ice
the mpg is pretty understated you'll get 30 cruising at 75 without an issue
Seriously , these motors are super high strung. Especially compared to the sleepy 3800 Gtp/gxp. Mass really western or eastern , it dosnt matter just follow me down the Mohawk trail hairpin and see if 0-6 matter.
My 05 blob eye was just as fast and unlike this model actually had the real boxer rumble
mrpicky510 the newer chassis is faster around the track than the olders.
And the same thing can be said about the new ones, put in a little doe and it'll go way faster.
jesus if your talking about a wrx i wouldn't be wearing a d*** suite
One should not look at, touch, or speak of this car while wearing a suit.
2016 430 hp car for 27k , yeah lefty get off the drugs
This car is absolutely POS ask Me why ?
2015 honda accord v6 can smoke the shit out of this car ,LMFAO
Why CVT, why why?
Nice car but cost too much. I can get the same performance in the Nsx that cost 200 thousand
Whut!
Mac Dee wrong car I thought I was commenting on the 2018 Ford GT
Peat Gayle lol. I was like wtf? 😂👍🐵🤘
Random Someone I actually like this car lol
Peat Gayle agreed. 😎🤘
i think the 18 has more horse than the older sti. btw i love my 18 wrx to death. with tcs off anyway....
wrong !! the wrx has 268hp , wrx sti 305 hp
@@coopsnz1 yes the newer sti, the older sti does not have 305 bro
The power on this car is just too low by modern standards. Though that aside even with its low 260hp it still pulls timing like crazy. I wanted to get one...but the engine performance is a let down compared to other cars in its price range.
27k , 265hp you cant complain
Ben Chesterman you can find a 2015-17 for that price range with 430 hp😩😩
i said brand new 2018 car , not a 3 yr old second hand dodge R/t
scat pack that are 30k usd .
A used POS in that price range. :).
What other new car at a base model price of a WRX, comes with 4 cylinder, 268 hp, AWD, turbo, 6 speed, alloy-aluminum wheels (no wheel covers), 4 doors, with rear seats that fold down?
I want the chassis but I want to keep my 2.5 and 5-speed.
Zcypot are you serious? The 2011-2014 are the sexiest
then get the sti.
Dream car is the WRX not the STI. I just want the increases stiffness. Plus the longer gears on the 5 speed are perfect for the street.
Zcypot you realize other 2.0Ts are way faster and that's slower than even a 1970s V-8... The V-6 Camero even smokes that 0-60 in 5.1 stock
Jacob Fox the 08-14s were doing 4.2-.5 stock. Gearing was just more favorable.
lmfao if you really want to be disappointed watch the retro 2002 wrx video on the top right. same 1/4 mile same 0-60 lmfao
Blame the various government safety and emission standards.
2018 has more power but weighs a few hundred pounds more.
We're never going to get the fast, lightweight, affordable cars of the 90s and 2000s again.
Communist in Japan
.. Miata/mx-5 is in the same boat. One has to really look at the details. Safety wise, the '18+ is leaps better than the' 04. Fuel efficiency is up to despite more power/torque. Technology is better as well. Transmission is 50/50. If you really want old school, buy a lotus.
When the hell they gonna redesign this.. gettin bored
They did in 2015, dumb ass.
Thumbs down for the snobby hit at CVT at 2:03. Do you guys at motorweek realize there are people who can’t drive a stick shift who also like driving sporty cars? 👎
Jesus does this thing need a new chassis and engine w more power. Camrys can beat these in a straight line ffs😕
The newest high V-6 Camry does the 0-60 sprint in 5.8 seconds. What were you saying about the Camry beating the wRX in a straight line?
yeah that's totally missing the point of the WRX - it's about the handling and AWD, not 0-60 times.
alfamonk mm ur half right. cuz awd are about 0 to 60 as much as thry are about handling, if we want to be even more specific aed are more.of snow etc..
Eric Shea try it from a roll
I just want a decent tune from the factory. I have no intention of flashing my 2017.