Subaru WRX: A closer Look
A Closer Look at the 2022 Subaru WRX. If you’re a fan of rally car racing or just want a high-performance sedan, then there’s nothing better than Subaru’s new WRX. The 2022 WRX has a new turbo engine, motorsport tuned suspension, and an all-new GT trim.
The all-new Subaru WRX will be one of the hottest things coming out of Japan in 2022. It’s the fifth generation of the WRX rally sedan and it just keeps getting better over time. The WRX has the style to match its performance and the latest model comes with updated fenders, chassis, wheels, and more.
Exterior Style of the 2022 WRX
There’s no hiding the rally racing heritage of the Subaru WRX. It has a honeycomb front grille with narrow LED headlights, wide side fenders, hood scoop, and quad chrome-tipped exhaust ports. It’s a beefy little sport sedan with an athletic stance and low riding height. The front fenders are composed of aluminum to reduce weight.
The new 2022 WRX is available in Solar Orange Pearl and Magnetite Gray Metallic paints. Any other colors will have to come aftermarket. The GT model comes with 18-inch matte gray wheels. The black cladding around the wheel wells and rear fender cheapens the look just a bit, but Subaru insists that it’s for improved aerodynamics.
Interior Details of the New Subaru WRX
The interior has a huge vertical touchscreen display in the center console. It’s 11.6 inches and comes with Starlink multimedia. That puts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on the WRX, plus you get entertainment apps, car info, and hands-free calling. Even with the large touchscreen, there are still some manual controls for music and climate settings.
You’ll enjoy the thrill of driving the WRX with its flat-bottomed steering wheel. The GT model comes with Recaro performance front seats. They have black suede fabric and a distinctive Y shape in the center of the back support. When you hit a hard turn in the WRX GT, you’re firmly supported by the thick side bolsters.
The new WRX has a 60/40 split folding rear bench that allows you to access the trunk from the inside of the cabin where there’s 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space. Check out the highlights of the interior on this social media post.
Is the 2022 Subaru WRX All About Performance?
The heart of the 2022 Subaru WRX is a 2.4 Liter, direct injection twin turbo engine. The BOXER powerplant can produce 271 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque. It’s a new engine for the WRX, but it’s the same one found in the Legacy, Ascent and Subaru Outback.
If you love total control driving, then you’ll be happy to hear that the 2022 Subaru WRX comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. That should make for some fun sprints to the supermarket. Driving enthusiasts might balk at the sight of a CVT automatic gearshift in the new WRX, but Subaru is keen to make automatic driving more fun in the GT model.
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The new optional transmission has an 8-speed manual mode and paddle shifters. The transmission has automatic downshift control that allows the WRX to downshift 50% quicker and upshift 30% quicker than previous models.
The 2022 WRX has amazing handling. It carves corners like butter with standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Active Torque Vectoring. The WRX delivers superior traction no matter which surface you choose to drive it on. The WRX has dual pinion electric steering that offers a slightly quicker response time on input.
The suspension system has been completely overhauled. The chassis and dampers are stiffer and the new WRX comes with performance tires that grip the road. If you upgrade to the GT trim, the WRX comes with electronically adjustable dampers and drive mode selector.
You can use a button in the cabin to adjust your handling capabilities on the fly. There are settings for normal, comfort and sport driving. Additionally, you can toggle through 430 different settings that affect the WRX’s performance dynamics.
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Safety Features from Subaru
The WRX is built on the Subaru global platform. It’s their high strength, long-lasting skeleton that delivers higher torsional stiffness, a lower center of gravity, and enhanced safety for everyone inside the cabin. Most of the Subaru vehicles are already on the new global platform build, and now the 2022 WRX joins the rest of the stable.
One of the best safety features on the 2022 WRX is the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. It comes standard on the GT WRX model. It equips the WRX with automatic emergency braking, lane centering, and rear vision camera.
At the Finish Line in a Subaru WRX
Subaru is a reliable automaker. Kelley Blue Book has award Subaru with five Best Performance Brand awards. JD Power has specifically awarded the WRX with the highest retained value in its class for seven years in a row. The new WRX is built to last and starts at under $30,000.
If you plan on pushing the new WRX to the limit, then you might want to throw in some extra money for the external transmission fluid cooler. It can help keep the WRX shifting gears at optimal levels while you test every exit corner. The CVT is standard in the WRX GT and that’s unfortunate. It’s a shame to spend extra for enhanced performance and style, only to be hampered by a tame gearbox.
Critics might call this the Subaru Civic, but that’s hardly a fair comparison. The new WRX is approachable enough for novice drivers and spunky enough for hardcore drivers to modify. If you don’t like the CVT in the WRX GT, then by all means, swap it out. You’ll love bragging about it to your gearhead buddies anyway.
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