Take one look at the wide stance and aggressive sheet metal of the all-new 2022 WRX and you’ll know it’s been designed to perform. Over the past two decades, this Subaru sports sedan with a rally heritage has established an enthusiast subculture all its own, thanks in part to its distinctive design, all-wheel drive capability and turbocharged power plant.
The 2022 WRX – Poise and Power
Despite the chiseled exterior, what’s most striking while tearing through the winding roads of Mendocino National Forest is how much the WRX has matured. Nearly three inches longer and more than an inch wider than the outgoing car, the fifth-generation WRX now rides on the Subaru Global Platform, a change which has allowed designers to give the WRX bodywork that’s wholly unique from the Impreza for the first time in its history.
There’s also more power underfoot, thanks to a new 2.4-liter turbocharged SUBARU BOXER® engine that dishes out 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Yet Subaru still manages to keep the weight in check. Depending on which configuration you choose, the WRX can weigh a few pounds less than the vehicle it replaces.
Designed for Performance – and Daily Driving
After producing over 400,000 examples of the WRX since its U.S. debut in 2001, Subaru has also tailored this model for the enthusiasts who are putting these four-door hot rods in their driveways. Tackling switchbacks is paramount, but so is year-round commuting and hauling growing families, so there’s a strong focus on boosting the everyday driving experience as well.
The bigger footprint yields additional legroom, shoulder room and headroom up front that make this WRX feel noticeably more spacious than its predecessor. The new architecture’s improved lateral and torsional rigidity elevates the vehicle’s handling capability while also enhancing the ride quality.
The rear sway bar now mounts directly to the body rather than the subframe and the suspension stroke is lengthened, which both give the 2022 WRX more high-speed stability and mechanical grip and, in turn, allowed engineers to tune other elements of the suspension system for a better ride through the traffic and potholes of the real world.
And with a new dual-pinion electric power steering setup to provide better turn-in response and steering feel, the new WRX is not only more surefooted than ever but is also more civilized.
Cabin Comforts
That theme continues into the cabin where the sport seats up front have been redesigned to keep you in place more effectively during spirited driving while also reducing pressure points on your body for more comfort the rest of the time.
An all-new available 11.6-inch tablet-style infotainment system replaces the optional 7.0-inch unit in the outgoing WRX. The new system’s screen real estate feels the size of a cookie sheet in comparison, providing easier access while using the optional navigation system or Google Maps by way of Apple CarPlay®1 or Android Auto™.2
Subaru wisely chose to maintain physical controls for often-used functions like volume and temperature adjustments too.
New GT Trim and Enhanced Power
The fifth-generation sports sedan also sees the introduction of the new top-tier GT trim. Due out later in 2022 and paired with the Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT) automatic, the GT scores Recaro®3 performance front seats, electronically controlled dampers and additional drive mode customization options, among other exclusive upgrades.
We spent our initial stint with the new WRX in a Premium model with the six-speed manual transmission. It’s been the gearbox of choice for no less than 85% of WRX buyers – a figure which tops the entire auto industry among vehicles that offer a choice between an automatic or rowing your own. With short throws and a nicely weighted clutch, it doesn’t take much time behind the wheel to understand why.
The additional power offered by the new 2.4-liter engine as well as the enhanced steering precision and chassis updates give the WRX the kind of poise that encourages you to ratchet up the pace out in the canyons. Meanwhile, the improved road manners, additional interior space and upgraded creature comforts make this a markedly better place to be when you’re out taking care of the day-to-day hustle.
The exterior appearance is more extroverted, but the sum of the improvements in the engine bay, underneath and in the cockpit make the 2022 Subaru WRX more refined than it’s ever been.
Twenty years on, has the vehicle evolved from a rally car into a mature sports sedan? Maybe a bit, but that’s just fine by us.
1 Apple CarPlay® is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. 2 Android Auto™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. 3 Recaro® is a registered trademark of RECARO Holding GmbH LLC.
