The 2022 Subaru WRX Is More Than Its Spec Sheet, According to Road & Track
Subaru completely redesigned the Subaru WRX for the 2022 model year, but the 2022 WRX specs haven’t changed all that much. Fans and hard-core enthusiasts hoped for big power. Some fans hoped to see a 2022 WRX hatchback or wagon for the latest generation. But, they were all disappointed. The newest Subaru sports sedan has only increased about 40 horsepower since it was first released.
It’s falling behind the high-performance sports cars it used to crush. But Chris Perkins of Road & Track doesn’t care about any of that. There’s more to the 2022 WRX than just its spec sheet.
The 2022 Subaru WRX hasn’t gotten much of a power boost since it came out
“Twenty years later, the WRX is let down by its spec sheet. It has just 41 more horsepower than the old Bugeye, and that puts it around midpack in its competitive set.”
Chris Perkins, Road & Track
Is the 2022 WRX fast? Sure, its 0 – 60 time is just around 5.5 seconds. That’s not the fastest Subaru time, but it’s respectable. Is the 2022 WRX powerful? Kind of. Its standard 2.4-liter Subaru BOXER four-cylinder engine makes 271 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque—Road & Track calls this level of power “adequate” for the class.
It may not be anywhere near the Ford GT, but it can hold its own plenty well against more mild-mannered competitors like the 2023 Acura Integra.
What the 2022 WRX lacks in pure power, it makes up for in feel
This is one of those cars that just feels immediately right.”
Chris Perkins, Road & Track
The 2022 Subaru WRX is built well. It has a high, upright seating position that feels better than other low-rider cars. However, it’s not so jacked-up that you feel like you’re driving a truck. A thoughtfully designed steering wheel is the perfect weight, shape, and thickness. You can tell that engineers spent time crafting it.
Road & Track also applauds a consistent feel in all of the controls—the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, and shifter. It drives smoothly and hasn’t lost any of its fun or functionality.
The 2022 WRX shows that Subaru still values car enthusiasts
The Subaru Impreza WRX started off as a homologation car, to allow the Subaru brand to build wilder rally cars to dominate in races. Like most homologation specials, the WRX slowly slid into real domestic production, becoming a more popular option.
But, Subaru never stopped treating it like a rally car. The attention to detail can be felt in every inch of this car. The engineers are thoughtful with the little things, but the little things add up.
Want one for yourself? The price of a new 2022 Subaru WRX Base starts at $29,605. The 2022 WRX Premium starts at $32,105, the WRX Limited at $36,495, and the WRX GT at $42,395. As to when you can get one, that’s a whole other question.
What about the WRX STI sports car?
As you may know, there will be no 2022 Subaru WRX STI release date this year—the model has been murdered. Subaru killed the fifth-generation STI, for now. That was a car that really had feel, and was a loving gift to rally-car fans for years. It may not have been the most reliable car, but it had a cult following.
Should the WRX STI return to life with a battery-powered electric powertrain, it’ll be interesting to see if Subaru maintains its commitment to the small details the same way that it has with the all-new 2022 WRX sports sedan.
