The 2022 Subaru WRX Is A Rowdy & More Powerful All-Weather Sport Sedan

About 20 years ago, #Subaru finally brought the high-performance #SubaruWRX to American shores. It was an instant hit with enthusiasts for its turbocharged boxer engine, standard 6-speed manual, and unique AWD system. For 2022, the #WRX has been fully redesigned with the company stuffing a larger, more powerful 2.4L turbo boxer engine under the hood and upgrading the technology on the inside with the largest 11.6" touch-screen to ever grace the interior of a WRX. It goes on sale in March/April and Subaru will announce pricing as we get closer to the on-sale date.
We're also on:
Instagram: / redline_reviews
Facebook: / liketheredline
Twitter: / tweettheredline

[@theredline]

Yes, the cladding is horrible on the new WRX, but the drive is still fantastic and if Subaru can keep the price around $28k for the base model to about $37k for the fully loaded GT version, this will be a bargain player in a segment full of FWD competitors. Let us know if you agree below!

[@applesauce2856]

Bruh, you say everything drives fantastic. Can’t think of a single car brand you talk bad about.

[@KevinQ1989]

@@applesauce2856 Except for the older generation Corollas, he never liked the way they drove. He likes the new generation though.

[@curiosityredpill7030]

@@applesauce2856 pretty much everything has improve over the year’s

[@njalsten6766]

@@applesauce2856 that's his job

[@khailils446]

@@applesauce2856 fiat, jeep, and some of the caddilacs I’ve heard him say drive bad.

[@pendaranroberts4350]

I think the car actually looks great! At first I didn't like it but in this red color it's fantastic.

[@Blckreaperx]

That’s great for you! Car is absolutely hideous 💀

[@FellowOfHammer]

I actually like how it looks too lol

[@inactivemogul403]

The cladding actually WORKS and is completely necessary, when driving off road or in inclement weather! I had a white 21 STI that could have benefitted from the cladding. If your limited to street diving then it LOOKS different.

[@legendaryturbo2537]

As a guy who’s actually owned 3 WRXs I like it. Seems like a perfect daily. Even the plastic cladding is perfectly fine. Fenders wont rust and the bumper won’t scratch as easy. I view it as more of a rally car than a street car.

[@cococly]

You know the plastic cladding is glued/bolted on top of metal panels, right?

[@legendaryturbo2537]

@@cococly Yes of course. Living in the rust belt I’ll take it. That’s atleast an additional 5 years before the rust is visible. And more rock chip protection anyway you look at it. Plus I like the off-road styling(unpopular opinion)

[@mrnrfan182]

As a detailer I can tell you that that plastic cladding does not age well. If you’re not protecting it with the proper product it’ll fade and progressively look worse as time goes on. Also, getting light to medium scratches out of your paint is quite a bit easier than that plastic. There’s not much you can do once that plastic is scratched. I’ve buffed rear bumpers back to life on many grocery getters…I’d take a painted rear bumper any day.

[@steve8803]

@Legendary Turbo You view is as more of a rally car than a street car... but at the same time you call it the perfect daily. Make up your mind! Having said that, I like it.

[@legendaryturbo2537]

@@steve8803 So I guess that’s why it just works for me as a daily. I like the balance between street and rallyish(Not a full blown rally car). I do some mild off-road and deep snow occasionally plus I like a spirited drive occasionally. Shouldn’t have any issues in this. I mean it’s a wrx. It’s all about how you mod it or don’t, but I mean compared to a civic Si or even a fancy golf R, this will be better in severe weather. And who doesn’t love the Boxer Rumble

[@SilverSerenity520]

I have owned '05 and '11 WRX wagons. I currently have a '21 Ascent, and the new WRX has brought on more tuning for the platform and gives me desire to refine/improve the overall dynamics and make it more "road-ready". It's a lot quicker than any of the reviews lead me to believe.

[@jonathancoates9467]

Not gonna lie, I love the way it looks in red with the cladding. It's definitely growing on me.

[@gorgonismztruth1551]

you ready for the wide body cladding kit???

[@Dark_Templar28]

Yeah it looks good, I never didn’t like it.

[@arellano408]

Same here

[@ryanjones7202]

You aint kidding. Even in red with the cladding it looks pretty nice!

[@raymondhachmishvili2483]

Car looks great, minus that rear bumper, the cladding doesn't bother me at all, love the taillights, rear bumper is overdone.

[@xavierp0nce]

No matter how great this will drive, the look is what will ruin it and steer me away from purchasing one. I want to love looking at whichever car I own, and all that flat black cladding cheapens the look up incredibly.

[@ddg2256]

Painting the cladding the same color as the body should help a bit. It helps a lot on Explorer's, I imagine it would be the same for this.

[@jimbo6612]

Kind of like how your look is ruining my life and steering me away from the internet 🤢🤮

[@stevethomas760]

@@ddg2256 That's a lot of paint, $$

[@fifteen8850]

That’s a shallow assessment ngl

[@jjsrt8]

@@ddg2256 so you should pay a ton of money than have to paint them great more $

[@ChadRazorback]

Your passenger mouthing "What the F..." during your first 0-60 launch had me cracking up

[@slimv3.162]

I know right. That was brutal to watch. Lol. Seems a little disappointing especially for a complete refresh and a bigger motor. Was expecting more from this car.

[@tommygeary1931]

"Their focus group likes the cladding" Why does the focus group always get it wrong? I can't imagine any WRX owners were surveyed and said they prefer the cheap looking wheel arches...

[@libsstry8551]

Their focus group are crosstrek owners.

[@RLTtizME]

This is a Subaru...they are always quirky. You don't know a thing about Subarus. Stick with your Elantra.

[@HCG]

@@RLTtizME haha imagine defending such ugly cars

[@RLTtizME]

@@HCG Imagine away sweetie.

[@ecocav0222]

If color coded to match the paint color then fine. But this is not something to be on a compact street car.

[@chm2]

Overall shape reminds me of a Corolla. The rear lights remind me of an older gen Civic. The plastic cladding reminds me of newer Mazdas. Only thing that makes me think WRX is the hood scoop.

[@drepar3359]

Well said 100% right

[@ajjax89]

Yea the interior screen looks like a Volvo

[@wheats0276]

Everything looks “sort of” like something else. This is so easy to do with everything.

[@ropersix]

Maybe they can give it that Wilderness treatment next.

[@drewski1441]

Yup!! Looks like an amalgamation of 2/3 different cars.. Really ugly.

[@kirkblackadar7299]

On road clutch dumps are always harsh on these things. You can get away with it in gravel and dirt but the road requires more RPM and more time on the clutch in order to smooth out and avoid a bad bog

[@harlequin75]

exactly. I noticed he does that a lot

[@bsr6823]

I love the cladding because I drive on a ton of dirt and gravel roads. Also get 26.5 mpg on 95% mountain roads. I love this car!

[@crimsonghost411]

Just when I start to think, you know the cladding isn’t as bad as I thought. Then you get around to the rear and it’s f**king disgusting. The tail lights plus the cladding it’s literally disgusting 🤢

[@theredline]

That's exactly how we felt when we first saw this car in person LOL

[@2legitkong536]

I tried redesigning the car on photoshop to make it look more appealing and I couldn’t do it. The shape is too much like a Corolla/Civic.

[@crimsonghost411]

Sucks, I got rid of my 2017 WRX and was thinking I’d get one again when the new redesign came out. Think I’m gonna pass and get a GLI instead.

[@simonp8088]

Looks like the car is trying to shit its guts out. Total prolapsed anus look going for it.

[@shivamarya5225]

i dont think anyone ever bought a wrx for its looks so I don't think its a major problem if the car drives even better than the last gen.

[@johnnyr25]

I think Subaru will have inadvertently created a new industry specializing in replacing the body panels for this car...

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

How exactly? Those plastics hold up a lot better then cheaply painted metal does here in the north.

[@jimmypena2442]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 most new cars have aluminum fenders anyways.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

@@jimmypena2442 rockers are still steel though, and a very common fail point for Subarus…

[@paulcunningham311]

I doubt it was inadvertent. Let's see what kind of fenders the STi gets...

[@2409dlewis]

man if only the cladding and rear end were less aggressive this would be a solid wrx generation

[@4lc441]

Hopefully they decide to do an emergency correction after another model year or two.

[@soapa4279]

Agreed, I can't get past the cladding. It's just too much

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

Get the cladding wrapped if you don’t like it. Those plastic holds up A LOT better in the north where salt and sand filled with rocks cover the roads 6+ months out of the year…

[@puns01]

@@4lc441 They've done corrections before (bug-eye generation where the public weren't happy with the shape) so I think this is definitely feasible

[@nicholasmiller6746]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 you can’t wrap all the cladding. It has little tiny bumps all over them that would prevent the glue from sticking. Subaru could have just color matched. No matter what, the rear end is garbage, it looks like a civic with an unpainted body kit. I’d put money down that they’ll change the design for 2024 after losing money.

[@josiahehrisman6614]

Thanks a lot for showing the fix a flat kit! I skimmed through tons of other videos and I couldn't find any others that showed it until this one.

[@8JFJK8]

I ordered one in black and it looks mean af. I actually love the cladding especially on the black wrx. Lots of Subarus start rusting out near the wheel wells and bottom door because of the way they are driven. Cladding adds lots of protection and soon people will be popping off the cladding and putting body kits on and what not. So stoked for mine to come in.

[@l07smitty]

How long is the wait for you once ordered?

[@8JFJK8]

@@l07smitty ordered it end of April. Its arriving in September. I live in Northern Canada where they are in high demand so you probably wont have to wait as long as me dependin where you live

[@TheDryToalla]

No matter how much I try to like the exterior, I just can't accept it 😭 They ruined such a great opportunity!

[@omairsh8]

The old car was butt ugly as well

[@chrisx5127]

@@omairsh8 2016 was amazing looking. The mid-season refresh was awful though.

[@r0ck8uwa]

Love your reviews. Most journalists are way deep into track performance and most buyers are never going to hit the track. Only thing that I would suggest is to ALWAYS do 0-60 runs alone, extra 200lb does affect the performance

[@TIGFAD]

For a car in this class, of this approximate weight and power, a 200lb weight difference roughly equates to 20hp. For 0-60 times, roughly 15hp will get you an extra tenth of a second. So having the extra 200lb passenger(Rob doesn't look like 200lbs anyway) is only slowing down the 0-60 by about 0.13 seconds. Not insignificant(nearly 1 car length), but not dramatic either.

[@f181234]

0-60 is pretty irrelevant for daily commutes especially if you live in an Area with lots of traffic

[@lol3ndir]

Yeah, just for regular commute.

[@SuzukiKid400]

@@f181234 I always come to a complete stop on on-ramps and then I launch it hard to get up to freeway speeds!! VERY RELEVANT! :)

[@VitalJoe]

Or maybe hook up a boat next time he does a 0-60 test? 0-60 is supposed to be a best of what the car can do, not lugging about a 200lb bloke uphill after the car is heat soaked.

[@ruriksantander6727]

I like the unpainted cladding, the rear diffuser is great, styling is great.

[@rwilliamson238]

I have a 2018 wrx and love the car. That said: To me, it looks like a crosstrek that had the hatch chopped off. I hate all of the cladding... was the focus group that said they liked the cladding paid off or high? All of Reddit and just about every WRX owner I've talked to H A T E S it with a passion. The rear is by far the worst part of the car. The tail lights are dull and uninspired, and there's excessive amounts of cladding. With the amount of cladding, why didnt they just make the whole car cladding? /s

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

Taking advice/opinions from people, especially on Reddit of all places, over a subjective matter such as styling is ridiculous. The cladding is functional for those of us that live in the far north and have to deal with lots of snow, sand with rocks, and salt for 6 months every year. Rocks chip paint, salt gets exposed to bare metal, the vehicles rust out. Cladding really helps prevent that on the 1/4 panels and rocker panels.

[@saigoneze4746]

the tail lights are almost equal in disgustingness along with the bumper on top of bumper .Just cannot fathom what subarus designers were thinking when they drew this up?!!

[@josh5669]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 function over form, I approve. Also I'm really digging the wrx in red, looks sick other than on the side profile, it looks kinda weird but honestly the back looks fine to me

[@bhop0073]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 plastic fades.. you overlooked that part

[@stevethomas760]

Got behind a Crosstrek yesterday. Almost no plastic compared to this WRX.

[@ConstantineJoseph]

0-60 in 5.7s is highly respectable as the type R which is the benchmark of a great sports sedan has a 0-60 in 5.6s. And this is the base model not meant to compete toe to toe with the Type R. Just imagine what the STI variant will do? I do think that it will compete with the Golf R and possibly the AMG a45 series

[@jayd6916]

The type r is also FWD

[@ConstantineJoseph]

@Bry Zeer That is why the STI is expected to have a 400hp power range.

[@ConstantineJoseph]

@Bry Zeer It is based off the 271hp 2.4 boxer I4 engine which is in the Ascent and the WRX. Given today's technology advancements in turbocharging with the advent of the AMG 421hp 2.0l turbo in the A45S, the configuration consists around the platform of a bi - turbo or a twin turbo in common terms. For a car to hit 400hp in a 4 or 5cylinder like the AMG compact car range and the Audi compact RS3 cars, twin turbo charging is the way forward. I project that the base engine of the 2.4l will be used but will have tweaks to strengthen the components for greater horsepower output along with two turbos that will reach such performance levels. Subaru is unlikely to build a DCT at all, however they will definitely not be using the CVT and instead, will be using a quick shifting auto transmission, and of course the manual stick shifter. I can understand your skepticism, in fact you can say that many enthusiasts are skeptical as well on the 400hp STI that will challenge the AMG counterparts. What one can really say is, that Subaru will be trying to push the envelop with the WRX STI, to be the marque that will designate Subaru's performance benchmark. Just like the sibling Toyota's Supra 3.0 I6 (Zupra). In fact I will go on the say I will concede to you that the STI will not go as fast as the Mk8. However the WRX STI should exceed expectations with a sub 5 second 0-60 sprint, possibly 4.1 to 4.4s. However it is the driving dynamics, the aftermarket upgrades, customization, 4 door compact sedan that can do it all, while having much more reliability than......a notoriously undependable VW...... that is where the new STI selling point should be at. Unless of course, Subaru pulls their usual move by disappointing us with a mere 5 hp upgrade then we can all move on from the legacy WRX platform

[@JasonBrozic]

That rear bumper coupled with the fact that the WRX comes available with a CVT is a serious foreshadowing of the mess the car industry has become….

[@jeremyreese9663]

Man if they would’ve put this motor in the new brz, the brz would be even more fun to drive and would probably hit 0-60 in the low 5 second range.

[@amiller2121]

It's hard to fathom the choices that Subaru made with this car. I'd love to know who was in this focus group.

[@ronniedarko2536]

@@jeremyreese9663 they both have the same motor. WRX just has a turbo and the BRZ does not.

[@WhiteCarbon7]

@@amiller2121 I also want to know the focus group. They completely played it "safe", which all car companies do to market to 30-50 year olds, but if their average market is

[@jimmypena2442]

@@jeremyreese9663 New brz has this engine but without the turbo. Also the BRZ has been rated at 5.0-5.2 0-60

[@sshhddoo9892]

maybe an aftermarket manufacturer can make a huge diffuser to replace the rear cladding and maybe this thing will look bearable

[@WhaddupImJohn]

The back still looks straight honda

[@ks-bg5uk]

Every new wrx is supposedly uglier than the last gen. As a 11 ltd owner, I really like this new model. To bad Subaru was too conservative on the tune. But the engine is a tuner friendly engine and can be a beast once in the right hands like Cobb. The interior looks great and the cladding doesn't bother me. I'm not a fan of the rear lights but like all wrx models, it will sell. Can't wait to see the sti.

[@DEVILTAZ35]

They care about reliability at Subaru though. Once you started upping power down goes the last ability. Plus out the window goes the warranty lol

[@ks-bg5uk]

@Bry Zeer much better buy? People like raw enthusiast rally cars. To those fans, nothing beats a Subaru. Btw, I own both an S3 and Wrx Limited. Different types of cars.

[@ks-bg5uk]

@Bry Zeer Audi first rally car came out in the 1980 genius, about the same time Subaru came out. Lol

[@ks-bg5uk]

@Bry Zeer you obviously have never gone to a dirt track like Rally Ranch here in Texas. Ignorance. I just be talking to a kid.

[@ks-bg5uk]

@Bry Zeer 29 yr old with a 16yr old brain. Lol.

[@tyler_motell]

The more I see it, whether it’s different colors or angles, I start liking it more and more. Especially for someone like me who is very active in the outdoor world whether it’s hauling kayaks, camping gear cross country, etc but doesn’t want to switch to an SUV. You have my attention again Subaru.

[@pbranham3508]

I understand where your coming from but just because a car has awd doesn’t mean it should ever been driving off-road.

[@anthonykiedis1765]

@@pbranham3508 Subaru literally advertises this car with footage of it driving off road.

[@eagletalon9735]

The taillights look like they're off of a Civic from 2 generations ago

[@apr7853]

I literally just bought a 2019 Crystal White WRX from my local Subaru dealership and I have no regrets. I absolutely love the car. Maybe later in the future it will be better, but the 15-21 chassis looks amazing 🤩

[@bands3061]

I picked up a new 2021 limited loaded with a bunch of shit with my fiancé absolutely no regrets too, it makes me feel like the new gen just makes mine look so much better, anyone who buys the new one no hate welcome to the subi club

[@daphenom45]

So you guys are the people getting raped in the used car market, been wondering who's paying these ridiculous prices lol

[@bands3061]

@@daphenom45 no I bought new? And doesn’t everyone drive a used vehicle? I kinda needed a car right now anyway with awd since I travel to different states for work. I’m only 19 as well so considering I have a better job than college kids even me getting a new car I still have a way better head start

[@parkerstephens1355]

I love the growl from that engine

[@gryphon123456]

I like the new exterior, looks like it means business. I’m interested to take one for a drive. It really doesn’t need rev match. I’d rather fewer electronics. In fact I’d like a much smaller screen in place of legit buttons. It’s a more driving focus feature. Add awd which is great for winter. It’s really growing on me.

[@jeffreyspencer4005]

A Christmas Story: SUBARU: "Just in time for the holidays, welcome to our press preview of the new WRX. We hope you'll love it!" SOFYAN: " I hate the styling" SUBARU: "Our focus groups/marketing department LOVED the cladding." SOFYAN: "0-60 time 6.57 seconds. It's kind of sluggish..." ROB: "I think I can do better...5.9 seconds" CLUTCH: "Something smells funny in here!" ROB: "I think I can do better...5.67 seconds!" DRIVELINE: "Holy Mother of GOD!!" CLUTCH: "I'm melllltttiiing!!!" SUBARU: "Take those guys off our Christmas list..." Great job, boys!!! Merry Christmas...

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Outclassed by all the competition before even one is sold.

[@Kelvinjan]

The wheel opening moldings don't look as bad as I thought, but the rear bumper is horrific. As you said, it's too much mold in color down there, which looks and feels like a cost savings move or they were really trying to make it appear rugged...but this isn't a crosstrek. Also, I hate that the rear bumper looks like a "shelf"...it just looks out of place. And the rear lamps+trunks and overall rear design is a big miss for me.

[@DEVILTAZ35]

If they do that on the STI they are sure to lose sales.

[@IMP3TIGO]

I think it looks bad from all angles. The front is the best, but that cheap matte plastic is such a turn off.

[@Slackboy72]

Those focus groups that liked the mouldings were probably Japanese housewives.

[@noblestar7742]

I'm more disturbed by the rear taillight than the cladding, personally. Darker tones like dark grey or dark blue actually made the cladding much more blended in. You cannot do much to hide that tail lights without spending money. Besides that, i actually think this car has pretty gorgeous lines, love the muscular wide rear sides.

[@glenngrimstad1950]

The car looks like a Civic from the rear.. Ughhh

[@mitchwow5325]

These new options are looking really nice for people who want a practical daily driver. I currently am dailying a v6 mustang but when the time comes to get a new ride, the wrx and si are looking really nice. I also love the kia stinger, but not having a standard transmission takes a big hit on points for me. I'd have to try both the si and the wrx to see what I like better, but they both look great! Also, as someone who enjoys driving stick, I honestly don't care at all about if it has rev matching or not because it's a lot more fun to do it myself

[@edunpeal]

And the best thing and what I like the most about this car is, it’s readily available and NO dealer markups😎

[@stevensimunov7826]

The high RPM clutch dumps send a tremendous amount of shock through the drivetrain and I'd wonder how long the car would last without something major being destroyed. If you drive it aggressively without abusing it (a rolling start vs dumping the clutch) it isn't very fast yet still uses almost as much fuel as a Mustang GT. Unless you have to have AWD, I don't see the point of getting this vs. a Civic SI, Mazda 3 turbo, etc.

[@MrTresto]

The WRX is not refined, it's a 'brute' car. The whole point of it is to shake you around. It will give you a lot of sensations for a not so high price compared to a lot of other cars that would be faster. Also the WRX used to be one of the faster cars when it was released, even though it's not necessarily the case anymore, in the mind of people, things don't always evolve that fast and the shadow of Colin McRae in this Impreza WRC is still there. It's not all logical. I'm not defending it, more like, explaining it. I'd personally never buy a WRX (or a Subaru in general) as I like a lot more drivetrain, interior, and ride refinement... But for the price, if you want something a bit raw and with a sort of 'aura' to it, it's kinda cool, regardless of its actual real life characteristics, a Civic Si or a Mazda 3 just doesn't have any aura at all, even if they very well might be better cars in real life ... :)

[@4lc441]

The handling is definitely better than the Mazda 3 Turbo and it has like 70hp on the Civic SI. I think it has a place, especially when you consider that this is still one of a handful of manual + AWD + 4 door cars that exist.

[@daphenom45]

@@MrTresto Colin McRae was almost 25 years ago bro, thats like saying General Lee is selling the charger. No one born after 1990(which would be a 31yr old) cares about that rally blue Impreza. This car is a one trick pony: AWD for the cheap in the affordable fun car segment. There's way more young adults that associate Honda with fast and furious/need for speed games then your example.

[@extraordinarywolf320]

I have to have AWD , FWD sucks. Old school here either AWD or RWD period...

[@noblestar7742]

@@daphenom45 uhh Subaru WRX has the lowest median age buyers in the US, bruh. So you are statistically and objectively in the error, here.

[@adrianotero7963]

As an original owner of a 2002 bug eye wrx in rally blue .....this vehicle is warp years ahead.....would not mind getting one for sure.....

[@dlg5485]

I owned a 2020 WRX for about a year and, while it was a reasonably fun car to drive, it's also very unrefined and rough around the edges compared to its competition. Its clutch and gearbox are honestly pretty annoying to drive in comparison to the Si, which I also have owned in the past. Subaru really needs to work on refining the WRX's driving experience, but I suspect they know that most WRX buyers are 20 something dudes without much experience with other vehicles that won't necessarily realize how rough this car is. However, as a 50 something dude with lots of experience with other vehicles, for me, the WRX just isn't the one. There are far better choices in this segment.

[@Szcza04]

German golf r is what you’re looking for or Audi s3

[@theredline]

Subaru claims the median age for WRX buyer is the youngest in the segment at under 35 years old.

[@pherron7471]

Subaru are lifestyle vehicles. I'm not really going to take a Golf R hiking or haul my dogs around regularly in one. That's what a Subaru is for.

[@f181234]

@@theredline I guess that’s where all the Vape memes come from

[@thrillhousecycling7260]

Less refined than an Si for sure, but the performance is in a totally different league. I understand the lack of refinement criticism, but WRXs have always been kind of “raw” (and a performance bargain).

[@yacob2776]

Rob's face when Sofyan is destroying the transmission 🤣

[@armandoo2950]

This reminds me of the Pontiac Aztec!!

[@stevethomas760]

Hate to disagree but I'm thinking Chevy Avalanche

[@soho71]

Ouch....

[@hyenaman007]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MrTriath1337]

Kia Stinger 2.5 GT Line is 300HP, 311 torque and with AWD is rated 29 MPG highway. More cargo space as a liftback car too.

[@danielbuchanan5327]

The rear taillights are in line with the new GR86 taillights. I definitely thought "lava" about a second before you said "magma inspired" lol. I'm excited for the upcoming STi.

[@dungteller367]

Thanks well done. I want one. I had one in 2001 and enjoyed it. IMO the looks are unique much improved from the earlier models. Living in NH the all wheel drive is a must. It seems like the WRX is just enough of all the stuff I want in a car I am buying mainly for fun.

[@Cats_Are_Scary]

In a few years Subaru will remove or body color match the fender cladding and fix the rear protruding bumper for the next model redesign. As it stands now not bad as far as I'm concerned. I'm still waiting for the STI though.

[@stevethomas760]

Not sure if Subaru can be trusted to fix this mess for the STI. Rumors of this car having 300 HP were floating around too. Maybe, just maybe Subaru will listen to some of the concerns of WRX buyers. At least this one

[@fifteen8850]

@@stevethomas760 it looks fine lol. The driving experience is where it’s at and as far as I’m concerned they’ve nailed it.

[@sulleysaad3266]

I don’t mind the cladding at all!! The car amaizing !!! Way better than previous gen!!

[@milesfathi]

So the brz is now the fastest subie? Car and driver got 5.4 second 0-60 in that thing.

[@f181234]

STI will be faster

[@ziaoemmanuel]

Sofian is the only reviewer with the balls to say that Subaru messed up with the cladding

[@andyp8434]

Close to 40k for a CVT with Toyota Camry performance? nah I’m good. I’d rather spend 5k more and get the new golf R with proven performance way nicer interior and exterior or even a little more for a 3 series, Acura TLX type S or Audi S3.

[@Jaybird217904]

Genesis g70 for me

[@redwineisfine]

I agree, gtr.. is a better looking vehicle with more horse power and awd

[@DaftDucktool]

And you get to avoid the stigma of driving a car where vaping was invented and the term “boi” was coined.

[@stevethomas760]

No Elantra N? Guess you're a AWD or nothing. This is coming from a WRX owner who wanted this model to the car that I would be buying in '22

[@Benihana716]

Without even going 10 seconds into this review, I gave it a thumbs down (just because it was the 2022 WRX). However, after about a few mins in, I realized this was a REALLY good quality (and fair) review, so I flipped that to a thumbs up. Guess I'm new to Redline reviews and didn't know what I was in for. Those launches, though... Those were.. horrendous, if I'm being honest... Phenomenal presentation though! I appreciate the high quality audio/ visual presentation and editing. Should really get someone who launches cars well on the next one, though (especially if a review will be coming for the STI).

[@ballathug8404]

Hopefully the Sti will come without the cladding

[@royaljelly1976]

(2013 WRX base model sedan owner stage 2) When I purchased my car a loud and vocal minority was screaming online about the hatch back, it looked nothing like the concept car, and it was ugly ect. They predicted it was the death of the WRX and no one would buy it. This was later proven to be not the case and the hatch was very popular. WRX was made to be modified so the hp/tq numbers and exhaust sound mean nothing to enthusiast. For ~$1500 (not including labor) you can get an after market exhaust, down pipe, and access port which will add ~60hp and permanent exhaust drone. As far plastic body parts, most of my car is painted plastic front and rear bumpers. I have cracked or cut them, either drifting in the snow or to fit a front mount intercooler, over the years to me it makes sense to replace them with "cheaper to replace" unpainted parts considering the people in the market for these types of cars. Also the factory paint job from Subaru is garbage and I wish I had plastic around the wheel wells because that is where most of the paint chips have occurred and its starting to rust. If you buy a Subaru I would recommend having clear bra paint protection applied the second you drive it off the lot. Also it's common for WRX owner's to add larger rims and lower the car. As a result they "roll" the fenders to accommodate the new wider/larger diameter rims. I am not sure how the plastic wheel wells will effect this. I am guessing either a company will offer after market plastic wheels wells for larger rims or most likely ppl will just cut them or let them rub. The most important question is how will the new engine and transmission handle tuning (ie. ringland). IMO a wrx is about maximizing performance, reliability and affordability. Its the modern day muscle car for cold weather. In summary, I don't think the WRX is a good looking car if I had to pick the best looking body style I would say the Hawkeye was the appealing of the lot. I don't really like the looks of this new version, but it wouldn't stop me from buy it if I was in the market for a new cheap sporty car you can daily drive. As a side note Toyota is coming out with the Corolla GR hot hatch which might be a better option.

[@fale892]

If the cladding over the tyres were removed I'd like it more. The rear lights make the entire rear end look weird

[@jayparks3051]

Love seeing Rob joining you on the tests. His launching & shifting makes him even hotter 🥰 👋 Rob!

[@00raisergundam]

it's a no for me. The rear and the wheel wells kill it

[@mikep.5517]

The wheel surrounds probably snap into place so it's possible someone will come out with paintable "wide body" arches that, if tastefully done, might help it. But as it is, yuck.

[@31186dan]

Great review. I pick mine up next week! Manual premium!

[@jcarn24]

Just like everyone else, I think they missed the mark on the looks of the car, and even the overall numbers. But the biggest pro is always going to be AWD. No matter what, at the end of the day if you want AWD performance this car will be on your list

[@khronin]

I just chose a Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus over this--cheaper--just as fast--better reliability--better interior.I came from a stinger and needed something that sits up higher but that is sporty enough for some fun.I also paid 35k out the door and these are going to be 40k and low 40k with the full electronics and stereo like the mazda has.I already drove my CX-30 in an ice storm weeks ago and had no problem--so it checked off the last box for me that day.It also has no problem on the HWY--especially on 93 gas--you can cruise near triple digit speeds and even faster without breaking a sweat and I do not know if the subbie has the HWY power the Mazda has--this is at 70% pedal in normal mode.kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip_MpaykZtBsp6c

[@DM72513]

Glad you let Rob try the 0-60 run.... You need to daily a manual for 6 months.

[@myplaylissst]

Am I the only one who thinks this is actually good looking vehicle?

[@BA-jc7nq]

Nope.... I think it looks pretty damn good as well

[@garrettbarbosa3080]

Its perfect just what I was hoping they would do in the mt of Central Pennsylvania it will be rugged enough to rip around on and off road in even bad weather.Like a true rally car great job already spoke to my subie dealer time to put my money down! Yehaaaaaa!!!

[@drepar3359]

I'm sure it's an awesome car but for 30 grand plus I would like to have a fully painted vehicle.

[@BrandoDrum]

I can almost guarantee that after these hit the roads and people see them folks will start shutting up about the looks and buying them. It happens with EVERY GENERATION since 2002

[@Vertignasse82]

Exactly. I'm amazed no one seems to remember.

[@splatbubble]

16:27 I respectfully disagree. The way I understand it, all the way up to the previous generation, the WRX (and STi) were all about AWD putting power down with an aggressive launch... obviously times have caught up to them but I specifically remember reviews on the 2004 Golf R (R32?) that had sentences like, "yeah this thing is quick, but if you see a WRX or STi go hide in the corner.) The funny thing is I see a lot of people, for whatever reason, not caring so much about the details of 0-60 any more. I mean yeah we want quick cars, but since a Camry can do sub 6, etc... people are now focusing on other stuff. Just my observations. Thanks for the review! I have a 2021 WRX Stage 1 and I dig it. Subscribed.

[@shivamarya5225]

Naahh, people have just moved on to stuff that really matters, i.e. handling, the main draw for the wrx today is the awd handling compared to its fwd competitors which are lighter and hence faster like the civics and the golfs. 0-60 numbers are good but they don't always mean fun like the previous brz had torque at the bottom and near the redline but not in the middle where you need it to enjoy the car more safely, 60-100 or even 60-120 numbers tell more about overall enjoyment than 0-60, because lets face it you're going to launch the car from idle stop a few times and then you're gonna get bored and to get the same enjoyment you need. besides EVs have faster 0-60 still but most of them are not fun to drive with very few exceptions.

[@splatbubble]

@@shivamarya5225 I don't disagree on any particular point. :) Yeah, I think we are on the same page here that since every car can pretty much zoom off the lights, then now we can focus on the fun/handling factor. It's neat, now whenever I go and test drive a car I just KNOW it's going to be quick, so now it's all about the feel!

[@richardnavratil9661]

Rob's "what the f*ck" at 15:09 was pretty funny...

[@gladdy02]

I hate to say it because I've been waiting on the new WRX, but I'm going with stinger gt line over the WRX 😖

[@f181234]

Those don’t really compare

[@jayczyzyk9707]

Excellent review

[@caglioso]

Other than the power bump I really don’t see anything positive about the updates. They seem to have made every other aspect of this car worse from the terrible cladding to the dreadful infotainment.

[@fifteen8850]

Don’t know what your talking about. This car is basically a slightly more powerful outgoing wrx with better usability

[@ChiSpire]

Power bump? Same torque and 3 more hp. That’s a positive for you?

[@lash9400]

I’m more impressed with the BRZ over the WRX. It’s as if Subaru held back on this generation, the body cladding at the side doesn’t bother me as much as the rear end. Come on Subaru, get it together..

[@Efreet17]

They so dumb, brz is nice looking but slow AF, they couldn't put turbo in BRZ? 😏

[@mdkflip7231]

Absolutely. They put the work in and the brz seems to be a better car in every way. This new WRX looks like a complete flop

[@lash9400]

@@mdkflip7231 it’s crazy because the WRX/STi is Subaru’s halo car. It’s like they put zero effort in it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the STi.

[@jayczyzyk7607]

Come on Stephan clutch heavy steering light it’s a pure sports car be real

[@ChristianRunsNY]

My stock 2017 Forester XT is quicker off the line lol. It's got to be quicker than that with another driver?

[@pjhill1741]

Yes, acceleration times from the manufacturer are based off performance from a professional driver.

[@ChristianRunsNY]

@@pjhill1741 1 second is a pretty large gap though, no?

[@pjhill1741]

@@ChristianRunsNY yes, the times tested and advertised by the manufacturer are achieved with a professional driver, which neither of these guys are so you can easily expect their tested times be off as much as a full second or more in a 0-60. But this video does give you an idea what times the average joe would get.

[@pjhill1741]

@@ChristianRunsNY I would also factor into this video specifically the fact that they have two people in the car. An additional 150-200lbs will certainly effect the times they get.

[@ryanstanley640]

Wow, I think you have the most comprehensible reviews. Thank you.

[@jrp7837]

This new WRX is going to do a great job at putting more people into a Hyundai N-Line or Honda Si.

[@RLTtizME]

You are just not Subaru material. You deserve a Hyundai Jerpie.

[@papa_pt]

with the recent Si price hike I doubt it

[@f181234]

Lol the N line doesn’t even have a LSD barely a performance car

[@troyberber2324]

The intros and music for Redline Reviews are always spot on and engaging. Well done, again.

[@RevyM3]

Sofyan! Ya cant clutch dump these at low rpm :P Great review though! Its a shame they chose this kind of styling as its definitely an incomplete look....also its interesting how this is going vs the Si which has the same power for a BRZ these days. Granted its a 4 door.

[@anf2029]

Oh nah he didn’t call those Hawkeye headlights 😂

[@stevethomas760]

A WRX owner since '02. REALLY wanted this model to work for me but Subaru left a lump of coal under the tree instead of a new bicycle. To much plastic with a 3 hp gain on a totally new model, no thanks. Remind me not to let Rob borrow my car. Have to say that was a solid launch

[@glenngrimstad1950]

So I am selling my 2003 as I now have a 2018, The first thing I did was Paint the Black Plastic Side skirts, Subaru was flamed for it and they did it again... This car is Pathetic..

[@stevethomas760]

@@glenngrimstad1950 Painted the door sill/skirt on my '02 too. Wish I would have bought the last year STI wagon when it came out.

[@djftremblay5895]

I can live with the cladding, no issue, people have to see that in different places it will be good, drive on rough roads or even a very salty winter road that can damage the paint. I do understand people that wants to keep it on pavement in areas like Florida... But remember this is a rally car, try going on a gravel road high speed with a civic SI and see the damage it can do to the car. This car has a unique niche now that the Evo is gone.

[@buoyant69]

That’s a pretty quick 0-60 time. It could give an 4WD F-150 crew cab with the Power Boost V6 a run for its money. It even has slightly better mpg - on the highway anyway.

[@CigarChompinSarge]

So how the hell does this have less mpgs when Subaru has already said fuel economy is improved over last gen? Wtffff

[@98MAzdaMilleniaS]

This weighs more than my Tiguan suv lol 😂. Stage 2 with 285 bhp 325 lb ft ready to troll on some new Rex owner

[@f181234]

I have a 1st Gen Tiguan it’s probably the most boring VW I’ve ever driven

[@lion3014]

I can’t believe they went through with this design

[@bidensucks6792]

I actually like it, the 1st modifications would be paint and body to paint the parts of the bumper's the factory forgot to paint. But otherwise it looks good, I'm not a fan of the tail lights when off but they look good on. That's something I've done with previous vehicles in the past and it's not as expensive as you may think.

[@seadoo4life127]

Biden does suck. As far as the cladding I’m thinking it can all be wrapped. Not a big ordeal

[@bidensucks6792]

@@seadoo4life127 That's another great idea, sort of forgot about that. What does that run if you happen to know. Thinking of having my XLR wrapped, will it help protect the paint? I have a lot of questions lol.

[@seadoo4life127]

@@bidensucks6792 I can tell you that it will protect your paint for sure. I know someone that had it done. She spent about $800 for her car. Some charge more some less. I guess it depends on who’s doing it and how good they really are. The cladding cannot be that expensive. I would say either buy a black WRX or a gray one and maybe use a carbon fiber type wrap. That might look really good. Well maybe on those colors the cladding really won’t stand out.

[@bidensucks6792]

@@seadoo4life127 Thanks. I appreciate the advice.

[@idokwatcher2062]

Look closer, it's textured plastic, it will be difficult to paint. It has to be smoothed out.

[@Iraqveteran-ke6qu]

Rather have the cladding than paint when you go off the beaten path. Less paint to scratch.

[@MTB_Rider_96]

The older Sti model has 310hp, was really hoping they would boost it up to at least 350hp. It is disappointing that, in order to get any respectable HP out of this car, you have to do at least 10k of upgrades (20k if you're serious about HP) and void the warranty.

[@ThatWasherNerd]

Nah I’d disagree with you. A simple intake, down pipe, and tune should grant an extra 30-40hp. All for around $2k-$3k.

[@tyhyhh]

Well this is a wrx not a sti

[@franciscohernandez-perez7904]

Aftermarket should take care of those as even the PSI on this WRX can be brought up a bit more. I feel like they really limited this new WRXs HP, maybe to make the STi stand out. I don't think HP will be an issue with some mods and tuning the problem is you would void warranty -_-

[@MTB_Rider_96]

@@ThatWasherNerd Thanks, good to know.

[@MTB_Rider_96]

@@tyhyhh Right, and this should have at least 325HP and the STi should have at least 350HP.

[@Dannyb201]

Thx for the lots of accelerations, no other reviewers does it and mine is already ordered, I was looking to hear the sound and performance of it, thx

[@Jtbg80]

I think sales are going to be miserable. I see a redesign in a year or 2

[@MaddNomad1015]

They say that every redesign

[@f181234]

People always say this with every redesign

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Subaru went to this engine so it is shared with the rest of the Subaru lineup. For one lower volume car having the 2.0L engine was nice but made no sense for Subaru which is a small company. Why is the horsepower lower than its use in other Subaru cars? That is because Subaru decided since their car offers more than 30 more horsepower than its nearest competitor, the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Type N, there was no need to give it the full boost (only 12 psi). If people want to boost the engine themselves that is possible with this car. The price according to Subaru is within $1000 of the old car, so the pricing is very competitive as well for an AWD performance car, if that is what you want.

[@Hashbrowniepie]

That focus group was full of blind people

[@rmfrick91]

Your reviews are always A+ Top Notch! I love watching your content! Thanks!

[@josephmyrtil12]

Honestly, this is a great review I loved it...but when I look at this car all I see is just another car, there is nothing that takes my breath away like a WRX normally would. Sadly I really wanted a WRX but now I am going to have to pass on this😒 I don't know maybe a Civic Si?

[@HCG]

Mazda 3 Turbo, absolutely fantastic car with an interior far above its price range

[@stevethomas760]

Elantra/Kona N?

[@fifteen8850]

It looks like a clear evolution of the outgoing wrx lol idk what’s wrong with it

[@alexpeguero38]

I own and love an 18 50th anniversary wrx. They killed this car with that rear. Reminds me of when I owned a 12 civic si.

[@certifiedbidry]

Missing a wing

[@SSChambers1]

I heard the cladding is actually some sort of alloy in one of the other many new 2022 wrx videos out there. Though, the majority say it's plastic. Either way, all new gens of the wrx were shunned initially just like the 2022. People will still buy them and most of us will warm up to the look. At least the interior seems nicer and built a bit better. The 3hp increase seems lackluster at first but with the FA24 there will be more headroom for power. At the end of the day, it's not an STI or a rAcEcAr. It's an adequately powered, practical, AWD, agile and fun car to drive when paired with the 6spd. Also, I'm sure Subaru will offer the Recaros as some sort of package upgrade to the lower trims in the years to come. Possibly paired with a brake upgrade and/or some sort of minor cosmetic change. Seems odd to only offer them on a trim level that the minority will buy (15%).

[@SimplyTrashed]

cool, but it’s still ugly 👍🏽

[@SSChambers1]

@@SimplyTrashed then don't buy it.

[@lokerola]

I just can't stand the hideous swaths of plastic cladding. This isn't a freaking off road SUV! It's really a design fail for me. The massive screen with all the haptic interface needs to burn in hell. I'm not driving a PHONE, I'm diving a CAR! I don't want to have to take my eyes off the road to adjust settings. Give me buttons! I do like the larger motor with flatter torque curve. But I'm very happy that I bought a 21 WRX. I also think slipping the clutch, rather than dumping the clutch, allows for a better 0-60. But it's not a beast off the line, that's for sure. I find it more fun to drive around twisty roads than it is doing drag racing.

[@WRX_CARLITOS]

I have a black one but it hides the cladding really good and I love it

[@TheCldmstrsn]

Damn this car looks so good! Love that side profile. Not sure what the controversy is on the side cladding, looks really good in contrast with that red. cant wait to see the STI next year and honestly with them putting the SPT in the WRX I am wondering if we will finally see the STI with an automatic like they do in Japan and other markets.

[@cybernetck]

I’m surprised at how much more I like the bright red ; looking forward to the STi next fall!

[@Toyota4Life]

Fan boy alert 🚨

[@TheCldmstrsn]

@@Toyota4Life or just honest opinions. I like a lot of different cars and brands.

[@KTSoriginaL]

The rear bumper gives me mixed thoughts.. (positive)it looks tough, aggressive and tanky. At the same time (negative)it looks unfinished, out of nowhere and ugly. I don't mind the plastic moulding, but it could've been more refined than this in my opinion. Maybe Subaru is preserving all the good features for STI..

[@stevethomas760]

Remember the rumors of 300 hp on this car? My hopes for the STI are slim

[@mitchwow5325]

The wrx would definitely look nicer if it had no cladding, or was wrapped. The interior looks nice though. And the tunability is very attractive

[@dlg5485]

This redesign just doesn't make sense to me. All the plastic cladding looks idiotic and the power/torque numbers are insulting, considering the larger engine...and fuel economy went down too boot. What the hell is Subaru thinking? Hard pass on this WRX.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

How are the power numbers insulting? It makes slightly more power on 4 PSI less boost then the previous generation with a vastly improved power curve... Want more power, a Cobb accessport is a pretty inexpensive modification, and dozens of protuners will support this vehicle. The fa20 on the stock turbo with supporting mods could make 120 whp more then stock on 93 octane, let alone adding some ethanol or methanol… this vehicle has more room to add power so it should be even better with a few modifications. And considering 99% of WRX owners tune there vehicles I’m sure this one will get the same treatment in the aftermarket… also the cladding is functional for rust prevention for those of us who live in the north…

[@dlg5485]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 So your suggestion is to pay $40k for a brand new vehicle and then spend even more money modifying it because it came from the factory with inadequate specifications. Nah, I'll pass.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

@@dlg5485 the WRX is a tuner car. If you want a car you don’t have to modify/can’t really modify do buy yourself a Tesla. True car enthusiasts modify there vehicles and make them better then the factory sent them out as

[@dlg5485]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 The WRX is a tuner car because owners made it a tuner car, exactly because it's inadequate from the factory. That only demonstrates my point.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

@@dlg5485 it’s plenty adequate from the factory, but like anything manufactured there always is room for improvement. Making something better is part of what’s great about modifying vehicles

[@hyenaman007]

Thoroughly enjoyed this review!