Is the new design of the Subaru WRX going to make you want to take it out for a drive and experience what it brings to the market?
It’s possible you won’t admire what this car brings, from a styling aspect, but you certainly will fall in love with the improved performance. The new look of the WRX might be too plain and boring for you, it might appear that it has too many rugged bits and not enough sporty style, or you could think that this car should offer more design elements in the cabin. The purpose of the WRX is simple enough to admire, but will you still enjoy the style?
Let’s Get the Style Part Out of the Way
If we’re going to bash one of the most dynamic and impressive small sedans in the market, we might as well do it right now. The WRX is still recognizable from the front with its hood scoop that brings more air into the engine area, but from the side and rear, it looks like any other sedan. That’s not really what you want from a car that has been a dominant force on the rally circuit for a long time.
In addition to the ho-hum styling you see, this car shows up with a ton of body cladding to ensure you’ve got the rough stuff needed if you take this car out on the trails. Yes, the WRX can handle light trails, and the lower cladding gives it the protection you need, but these items make this car appear to be a subcompact SUV that forgot to add any ground clearance. Of course, you could just as easily fall in love with the styling offered in a car that is a bit of an enigma in the automotive market.
Why is the Subaru WRX an Enigma?
The class that the WRX plays in is mired with compact sedans that are more interested in fuel savings than performance. Most of the models in this class are typical sedans that don’t offer an AWD option but have been trusted for the daily commute by many drivers.
The WRX does things differently. This is a dynamic sports sedan that not only has full-time symmetrical AWD as part of the standard package, it’s also a car that has a boxer engine, which puts the engine lower in the bay and uses a horizontal piston set up to give you the right feeling when you drive. This car has the perfect center of gravity, and it has everything you’re looking for when you want to hit the light trails.
A New Platform for the New Subaru
The WRX is the first car in the brand to ride on the new Subaru Global Platform. This platform is expected to be used for everything from the Ascent to the Impreza, giving us a lineup of amazing sedans and SUVs. For the WRX, this means a stiffer rear structure and four times as much adhesive to bind the body together. This gives you a car with better front lateral rigidity and overall torsional rigidity. This stiffer build is the key factor in making this car handle extremely well.
The ride you find in the Subaru WRX is better than before. This more rigid structure allows this car to use a softer subframe and more forgiving suspension to ensure you can have a smoother ride when you’re in normal day-to-day traffic. Once you hit that Sport setting and get ready for some fun, the car stiffens up and gives you the dynamic performance you’re looking for from this amazing sports sedan.
The Interior is Right for this Car
If you were looking for a tow-tone theme or some wood trimmings in the WRX, think again. The cabin area is monotone, which does add to the negativity about the style, but it also makes it simple for you to keep your attention on the road or trail. This means you won’t be distracted by light shining off of metal trim; instead, you can stay focused on the road and experience a drive that takes you where you want to go. As expected, you’ll find the electronics and safety features that we now associate with modern vehicles.
A New Engine to Go With a New Platform
The engine you’ll find in the 2022 Subaru WRX is a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat four-cylinder model that is also used by the Legacy, Outback, and Ascent. This engine is good for 271 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. You’ll find a six-speed manual transmission as the standard gear selector or you can choose to have a CVT making the shifting choices for you. If you’re looking for fun in this car, you should choose the manual and decide which gear you want to use when you’re behind the wheel.
A Bit About the Electronics
The infotainment you’ll find in the WRX is a vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen system that is easy to use. Add the sounds of the optional 11-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, and you’ll have a cabin that can be filled with your favorite music. Safety is an important part of what you find in this Subaru.
The Eyesight safety package is present to give you the alerts and warnings you need to stay out of trouble when you drive this car every day. You’ll be pleased with the performance of the adaptive cruise control when you’re out for a road trip, but you’ll be glad to select your own gears and settings when you take this car to the dirt roads.
Is the New WRX Right for You?
If you were to put the Impreza and WRX together, you would see that the WRX does have a more expressive and dramatic look to it, which we can admire. Of course, you expect the Impreza to be more traditional, it’s not the Rally Car that the WRX is supposed to be. Whether you like the style or not, the 2022 Subaru WRX can certainly be the car that delivers the performance and fun you’re looking for, especially if you find a dirt track to enjoy.
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