Long-Term Road Test
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Say hello to our red rally rocket.
Like any new household addition, Subaru’s rear-drive bundle of joy, the BRZ, began hogging interest ahead of it even arrived. As a notion in 2011, the thought of a lightweight, naturally aspirated, rear-wheel-drive coupe from a firm built on wagons, all-wheel drive, and turbochargers triggered a stir. Then the BRZ arrived in production form with a cost smack-dab on prime of the WRX’s. The 2-door wasn’t just hoarding the limelight. It was stealing the WRX’s lunch, breaking its toys, and taking its bedroom.
But the WRX is handling this new sibling rivalry with an air of maturity. Regardless of getting sandwiched in between the BRZ and the STI, the WRX shows no indicators of middle-kid syndrome. If anything, a small competition from under has forced the WRX to think about what it brings to the table. Whilst the 2015 Subaru WRX features a new, direct-injected, turbocharged flat-4, it is the newfound chassis competence that leaves the greatest impression. To counter the BRZ’s handling prowess, the WRX provides lively steering, confident grip, and a flat ride that rounds off the jolt on sharp impacts just so. After 40,000 miles with a BRZ, we had to know if the WRX could nevertheless assert itself as Subaru’s signature sports automobile, so in the interest of fairness, we’re providing this red rally rocket its own 40,000-mile opportunity to make its case.
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Premium, But Not Upscale
We adopted a Lightning Red WRX in mid-level Premium trim, which adds fog lights, a sunroof, a subtle rear spoiler, and an all-climate package that consists of heated front seats, heated mirrors, and a windshield-wiper deicer embedded in the windshield. Regardless of the trim name, the WRX is still marked by a normally humble Subaru interior with simple style and standard supplies. By passing on the Limited trim, we missed out on a power driver’s seat, leather-trimmed upholstery, LED headlights, proximity entry, and push-button ignition. Our sole upgrade is a $ 2000 package that brings navigation and a Harman/Kardon 9-speaker stereo, raising our final value to $ 31,290. You will have to appear elsewhere for a 40,000-mile evaluation of Subaru’s very first CVT installed in a WRX, simply because we equipped our lengthy-termer with the standard 6-speed manual—the much better to enjoy a 268-hp turbocharged sports sedan.
Prepared for Launch
The far better to launch the WRX, as well. Receiving a 4-wheel-drive car out of the hole rapidly requires a lot of revs, or in the WRX’s case, all of the revs. With the 1000-mile break-in cleared, we spun the engine to the 6700-rpm redline and dropped the left pedal with only a whisper of clutch slip. Then we did it a dozen far more times searching for the quickest acceleration time.
We utilized this technique—combined with brief-shifting into second gear at 5300 rpm—to excellent effect during an earlier WRX road test, recording a 4.8-second zero-to-60 time. But in a lot more than a dozen attempts, our long-termer couldn’t fairly match that feat. Rather it peaked at 5. seconds in the run to 60 mph and 13.7 seconds through the quarter mile with a trap speed of 101 mph. Not too shabby for a $ 30,000 4-door, eh? The chassis numbers were equally impressive with our WRX stopping from 70 mph in 157 feet and rounding the skidpad at .91 g.
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Boost From a Bygone Era
Through the very first 2000 miles, our WRX has been difficulty-cost-free and nicely-received. Drivers have known as out the excellent electric power steering (which was first perfected on the BRZ) and a more polished cockpit. You won’t error the interior for a Volkswagen’s, but our employees has noticed much better fits, enhanced finishes, and a quieter ride than in earlier WRXs. We are, nevertheless, disappointed to see the very same small touch-screen head unit with tiny icons that is utilized in the BRZ.
While the output of the turbocharged 2.-liter flat-4—268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque—is nothing to scoff at, energy delivery is lumpy and peaky. We shift early in very first gear for our testing because the energy falls off above 5300 rpm. Reduce in the rev variety there’s a sudden surge of increase indicative of turbo lag. In an age when turbocharged engines are virtually mainstream and their energy curves have been smoothed out, this Subaru flat-4 nevertheless drives like an R&D experiment from the early 1990s. Of course, that’s proper about when the WRX was born, and Subaru’s rally-inspired road automobile has come a long way in that time. Whether it has the chops to hold up with younger concepts like the BRZ remains to be observed.
Months in Fleet: 1 month
Current Mileage: 2184 miles Typical Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 15.9 gal Fuel Variety: 382 miles
Service: $ Regular Put on: $ Repair: $
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