We spent one week testing out the Subaru WRX STi and what an absolute machine this car is! Here are some of the highlights of the car from spending some time with it.
Subaru WRX STi – That Boxer Engine
The Subaru WRX STi has always incorporated one of the most famous engine types in the world, the boxer engine. The engine is identifiable by its unique lovely sound from great distances, which is often accompanied by lots of turbo noise. The engine in the latest WRX STi is no different. It has that classic Subaru sound, however, the volume from previous years appears to be slightly more muted, but is still pitch perfect. This engine creates 296 hp and 407 Nm of torque and gets the car from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds. It also has a top speed of 159 mph so it is still a very capable machine.
Looks To Die For
In my opinion, the latest WRX STi is the best looking car to date. It still features lots of typical Subaru styling and of course still incorporates race car looks. Although, it is a lot more mature and well thought out rather than being just in your face and ridiculous. Another favourite point on the car for me was the 18″ alloy wheels that suit the car’s sporting heritage perfectly.
Super Sharp Dynamic Drive Modes
Using a WRX STi on a daily basis could arguably be a difficult car to drive because of its high level of performance. So how do you a make car that is razor sharp on the track, but still soft and safe on the road? Well, Subaru have an intelligent drive system that incorporates three different drive modes. This adjusts how the power is delivered from the car. These modes are Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp. The modes all work really well with the base mode still providing boat loads of performance but slightly softening throttle response allowing you to safely use the car in all environments. Nevertheless, when you want to wind things up a bit you still have the Sport and Sport Sharp modes to get the ultimate out of the Subaru WRX STi driving experience.
This Is A Rally Icon Of The Modern World
One thing that makes the Subaru the legend that it is today is its four-wheel-drive system. More specifically its symmetrical design four-wheel-drive system. This system has been designed to perfectly balance the weight all around the car. As you can imagine this is a huge benefit to handling especially when you also include that the boxer engine can sit lower and further back in the engine compartment than a typical engine format can. The way that this AWD drive system puts the power into the wheels is fantastic. The mechanical grip level of the car feels exceptionally good and is very rarely interrupted by electronics, or at least it is perceived that way. This gives you a really rewarding driving experience that feels very true to the classic Subaru Impreza WRX STi range.
Dropping The Impreza Name
So just to clear a few things up, Subaru have separated the Subaru Impreza name from the WRX STi from a branding perspective. The reason for this is to further emphasise the fact that Subaru do make exceptional performance cars but also make more refined and sensible cars such as the base model Impreza. Although the Impreza name has been dropped off the back of the car of course it is still an Impreza at its core.
The Iconic Styling Of The WRX STi
The Subaru Impreza has always looked in your face and high performance just from the body styling. I can confirm that the car still looks exactly the same today. The rear profile of the car is a perfect example of that. Take a look at that large, highly crafted and efficient wing that creates negative lift on the car and the rear lower splitter that incorporates four exhaust pipes into the tail of the car. This is the perfect example of what real Japanese high-performance cars should look like in the modern day. I think it is a great tribute to the legend of the the WRX STi.
