Subaru WRX 2018 review
- Price N/A
What we like
- Strong engine
- It's a bargain
- Keeps the WRX faith
What we don't
- Low-speed ride
- No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Tinny sound from six-speaker stereo
Colin McRae. Richard Burns. Possum Bourne. Petter Solberg. They're all names we know (we being motoring tragic everywhere) and the reason we do boils down to one of the most powerful automotive nameplates on earth - the WRX. Those four names all won rallies, lots of them, in shiny blue WRXs.
A few years back, Subaru dropped the Impreza from the name because we all did 20 years ago. WRX stands on its own, despite its humble hatch-and-sedan basis.
Despite a whole new Impreza platform, the WRX fans are going to have to wait a couple of years for the all-new Rex. So to tide us over, Subaru has sent over an updated-for-2018 WRX with new looks and an updated interior.
Verdict
The WRX is a bit Jekyll and Hyde. It's almost annoying around town, with its jerky and inconsistent clutch. The ride is busy and fidgety but that translates to a solid platform for fun on almost any surface. The key being that you have to be going quickly and putting in robust, positive commands to get the most out of it.
The WRX stands alone in its class. It still has the feel of the MY00 WRX that we all (well, almost all) adored, so you could accuse it of being old-fashioned. That's okay, because there are plenty of modern touches, like proper safety. The MY18 update has also brought better looks, an improved interior and a solid overall package. It's still a performance bargain - my WRX cost over $40K almost 20 years ago.
Did you expect the WRX to be like this? Or has Peter's memory fooled him and the WRX has always been compromised?
Subaru WRX 2018 review
What we like
- Strong engine
- It's a bargain
- Keeps the WRX faith
What we don't
- Low-speed ride
- No Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Tinny sound from six-speaker stereo
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