First Drive: 2022 Subaru WRX Barely Moves the Needle

Update: Since this first drive was originally published, we finished testing a Subaru WRX. Read the complete Subaru WRX road test.

The redesigned 2022 Subaru WRX sticks close to the formula it originally established 20 years ago: It gives driving enthusiasts a turbocharged four-cylinder engine plopped into an aggressively styled four-door sedan with road-hugging, taut suspension, heavily bolstered sport seats, and—best of all for consumers—a strong dollar-to-performance quotient.

The new WRX (the name is inspired by the World Rally Championship) now uses the same global platform that underpins every Subaru car and SUV other than the BRZ sports car. With the new platform comes an updated steering system and revised suspension tuning, as well as a larger engine. Thankfully for the few purists left who prefer shifting for themselves, a six-speed manual transmission still comes standard on all trims, except for the new top-level GT, which comes only with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

After spending time with a WRX Limited that we rented from Subaru, we found that this rally replica continues to be an entertaining and highly capable back-road machine. But in spite of the numerous changes, we’re hard-pressed to find any areas where the new WRX has made big gains compared with the outgoing model. What’s more, the ride is still very stiff, and Subaru’s new infotainment system brings with it a high frustration factor.  

Pricing begins at $29,105 for the base WRX with the six-speed manual transmission. Opting for the CVT (or SPT, for Subaru Performance Transmission, as Subaru refers to it) adds an extra $1,850 to $2,250, depending on the trim. The Limited version we rented with the manual transmission starts at $35,995, and the GT tops the lineup at $41,895, not including the $995 destination charge that Subaru tacks onto all WRXs.