2015 Subaru WRX / STI

The Subaru WRX returns, but this time with a more upmarket feel

Verdict

The Subaru WRX moves the game on from the old car – it’s more luxurious, better looking and more practical than before. It’s still a niche choice, but the WRX faithful will love the firm, grippy chassis and unique engine. The bonus is that it’s more sophisticated to drive, which should help broaden its appeal and justify its place in UK showrooms.

Click to expand...

More pleasant and more polished, the new WRX is definitely less raw -- but not at the expense of fun. Devotees of the hatchback might be disappointed, but otherwise Subaru's high-profile, low-volume sport sedan expands its appeal with this redesign. We expect all of this will come at some cost; how much the price will rise from the current $26,790 we'll find out closer to the car's on-sale date this spring. Look for a new WRX STI to follow shortly after.

Click to expand...

The WRX rally has entered another stage.

On the whole, buyers should be pleased with the return for that money. The 2015 Subaru WRX delivers a slightly more refined and mature experience in terms of cabin ambience, and, with its firmer chassis and tenacious grip, it also comes across as a slightly harder-edged version of the previous car. Put another way, this new Rex reminds us of the old STI, which makes us wonder where Subaru will take the upcoming next-gen STI. Based on this experience, we look forward to finding out.

Click to expand...

Focusing on Evolution

Given how stellar of a curve-carver this new WRX is, the future looks especially bright for the subsequent 300-plus-hp STI, the Evo’s more natural competitor. But since the WRX already matches the Evo’s handling prowess, both objectively and subjectively, and nearly equals its acceleration stats, it seems the STI will need to hunt for CLA45s and Golf Rs. As for the WRX, probably best for it to target its natural competitor, and our favorite turbo pocket-rocket, the Focus ST. Stay tuned.

Click to expand...

The Street-Legal Rally Car Gets Sharper

The new WRX is one hell-of-a-fun car. Just about everything good about its predecessor has only been sharpened here, and everything bad about the old model is, well, still not perfect. And while you could easily compare the 'Rex to newcomers like the Ford Focus ST or the perennial-favorite Volkswagen GTI – cars that surely offer better interior refinement and more typical hot hatch dynamics – the WRX's all-weather capability makes it a no-brainer for folks desiring four-season fun. As far as street-legal rally cars go, there's still nothing better than a WRX.

Click to expand...

Subie wicks the flop out of its cultiest car

Do I want it?

Grown-ups in search of teenage kicks might find the Focus ST more encouraging of abject delinquency. The smaller Fiesta ST offers precision dynamics that'll shame cars four times the price at the cost of a bit of practicality. The upcoming Mk VII GTI is a fully adult hatch with no bad habits, plenty of good ones and the loveliest interior of the bunch. The WRX, though, makes no apologies for what it is: an all-weather speed weapon that barely calls attention to itself. The previous car's goodness is amplified. If its shortcomings haven't been eliminated, they've been at least ironed out. If you think you probably want one, you definitely do.

Click to expand...

More Variations Than Ever
Three trim levels bring new levels of creature comforts to the once-basic rally special. You'll be able to have leather seats with heat and power adjustments in the range-topping Limited trim, along with LED headlights.

The CVT gearbox, navigation and 440-watt Harman Kardon boom-boom audio system will be optional on the upper two trim levels. No word yet on pricing, though it's likely the Limited will stretch the model's MSRP to new heights.

Despite the added features, the new 2015 Subaru WRX has decidedly not gone soft. In fact, its driving experience and capability is arguably closer to that of a (gasp!) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution than previous WRXs. How this twist of irony plays out among die-hards of either brand is something we're looking forward to watching.

Click to expand...

Sharper, More Polished and Better Than Ever

The Verdict
If our guesstimates are correct, the 2015 Subaru WRX will undercut all-wheel-drive rivals like the Volkswagen Golf R and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution by a significant margin, and open itself up to cross-shopping against front-drivers like the VW GTI and Ford Focus ST. Not that it's an open-and-shut case for the WRX: The GTI may not be as quick, but its twin-clutch automatic transmission works way better than the WRX's CVT, and while the Focus ST's rear wheels may not be powered, the ability to coax it into oversteer makes it a more interesting challenge for experienced drivers.

That said, Subaru has done a terrific job with the new WRX, encompassing everything that has made this car a fan favorite while making a host of useful improvements. The lack of a hatchback version is a significant loss, but we think the 2015 Subaru WRX will please fans and attract new buyers to the franchise, just as Subaru intended.

Click to expand...

Subaru of America, Inc. announced today it will introduce the all-new 2015 WRX STI, Subaru's iconic performance flagship model, at the North American International Auto Show on January 14th. Stay tuned to Subaru's media website at www.media.subaru.com for more information.

Click to expand...

Ahead of a planned debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week, photos of the wild new 2015 Subaru WRX STI have leaked out.

No details slipped out along with the photos, but the car is expected to retain its turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylidner engine making around 300 hp.

Click to expand...