Modern infotainment systems come with many features that some folks may like. Still, those features are usually accessed via the touchscreen instead of buttons, which is not only frustrating but also a safety issue. The 2022 Subaru WRX is a decent sedan, but its infotainment system is one of its big trouble spots for those reasons and more. Here’s a look at the 2022 Subaru WRX and its problematic infotainment system.

The problems with modern infotainment systems 

One of the design trends in the car industry right now seems to be big touchscreens and few physical buttons. While some folks may think this gives the car a sleek and modern look, this design choice can lead to many problems. One of the main problems is that automakers will usually remove physical controls and buttons and put those functions on the touchscreen.

This leads to touchscreens and infotainment systems having too many options, forcing drivers and passengers to fiddle with the touchscreen to get what they want. Since many functions are locked behind multiple menus, it can also lead to drivers looking at the touchscreen while driving. This is a significant safety hazard, as the driver’s eyes should always be on the road. 

These are the issues with the infotainment system on the 2022 Subaru WRX

According to Consumer Reports, many of those common infotainment issues are the issues found on the 2022 Subaru WRX. The standard WRX comes with two 7-inch touchscreens, while the top trims get a single 11.6-inch display. These screens share a common issue: it will take drivers and passengers multiple button presses to do simple tasks. 

For example, if you want to heat up your seats, you can press a button for that. It won’t heat up the seats, but it will open a menu on the touchscreen where you can then press other buttons to actually heat up the seats. On top of that, the other climate control buttons on the touchscreen are small, so folks may struggle with pressing the right buttons. This is especially true when the car is in motion, as the WRX’s rough ride may make it harder to press the right buttons.

In addition to those issues, the WRX’s infotainment system is also slow because it takes a bit to respond. Overall, Consumer Reports described the Subaru’s infotainment system as “slow responding” and “frustrating.” The bad news is that this issue isn’t exclusive to the WRX and is mainly a Subaru problem. 

Unfortunately, the 2022 Subaru WRX is not unique here

Consumer Reports states that the Subaru WRX’s infotainment system is very similar to the infotainment system on the more popular Outback and Legacy models. As a result, despite the Outback and Legacy being great cars, they share the same infotainment issues that the WRX has. For example, the Outback’s infotainment system also has problems such as it being slow, overly complex, and the buttons being small. 

The Legacy’s infotainment system has those same issues, though it comes with some issues options currently exclusive to it. For example, the gear selector can block the touchscreen when the car is in Park. Since these problems are so similar between the Subie models, the brand can solve them all with updates. That said, this Subaru infotainment system is still relatively new, so it may take a while before Subaru gives it the overhaul that it needs.