• Priced well against rivals. • Good equipment levels. • Good build quality. • Room for a family with a big boot.
• Old-school turbo lag • Manual only • Requires more attention and skill to drive quickly than some rivals.
Subaru has added some safety features to the 2016 Subaru WRX STI and adjusted the pricing slightly.
VERDICT: The Subaru WRX STI is an icon, and that Subaru hasn’t watered it down since its rally-driving days is very cool. Now with added safety features for 2016, the WRX STI is able to transport a family of four (five in a pinch) without feeling like a race car for the road. Think Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, because should the mood take you, this thing will give newer rivals a real run for their money. This is a performance car for drivers.
WHAT IS IT?
Late last year, Subaru announced safety upgrades for the 2016 WRX Premium and the WRX STI. These include: Blind Spot Monitoring; Lane Change Assist; Auto Dimming Rear View Mirror; High Beam Assist; Side View Mirror; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; and Power Folding Mirrors. At the same time, Subaru also announced a price drop by $500 (to $49,490+ORC) on entry-level WRX STI and $200 for those fitted with a rear boot spoiler.
Beyond these safety and price changes, the WRX STI here is very much the same WRX STI as the 2015 model. That means that under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer engine producing 221kW at 6000rpm and 407Nm of torque at 4000rpm. This is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and will see the STI go from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds.
There are two variants to choose from: WRX STI and WRX STI Premium. Both get the same five-star ANCAP rating, seven airbags, all-wheel drive, LSD, traction and stability controls, reversing camera, hill start assist in forward and reverse and the brakes are the same on both variants. The STI Premium adds side view monitor, blind spot monitor, lane change assist, and rear cross traffic alert. General features include: push button start; Datadot security and immobiliser; dual-zone climate control; eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat (STI Premium); seven-inch touch screen with sat-nav, Bluetooth connectivity and voice control.
Subaru offers capped price servicing on its range, including the WRX STI with intervals of six-months or 12,500km with servicing prices ranging from $294.07 to $584.07 at 35,000km.
In terms of competitors, the WRX STI is up against the Volkswagen Golf R (from $52,740+ORC), the Mercedes-AMG A 45 ($74,900+ORC), the Renault Megane Sport (in its various guises - from $44,000-$62,000+ORC) and also the Audi RS3 Sportback ($78,900+ORC).
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
The WRX STI doesn’t feel crazy quick in general driving and that’s because it’s still a relatively old-school turbocharged car. Meaning, below 3000rpm almost nothing happens. From 3500rpm, though, the STI’s nature changes and by 4000rpm it’s reeling in the horizon and you’re reaching for the next gear. And fast.
The gearshift and clutch action is good. There’s none of the ‘notchiness’ of STI gearboxes of old, or the on-off abruptness of clutches in the past. Indeed, the clutch is well weighted in its action and there’s decent feel through the pedal.
Don’t think the WRX STI is a snail around town, though, because it isn’t. There’s enough usable grunt below 3500rpm that you’re never left flat-footed. It’s just that torque builds more slowly from idle until 3500rpm.
While this current model WRX STI is easily the firmest riding WRX STI in memory and thus, probably ever, you’d still be hard pressed to describe it as hard riding. Sure, suspension travel is short, but the dampers do a good job of smoothing out harder hits and the body insulation is such that there’s little transmission of impact into the cabin.
The steering is super direct and while the weighting seems a little inconsistent and feel through the wheel is a little light on, there’s enough of everything that you can make the most of the car’s grip and power.
Now, the grip. For a long time it’s been a hallmark of the WRX STI and it continues in this current model. The main difference between this model and ones that went before it is the attitude of the thing. No matter how hard you push the STI, thanks to its big anti-roll bars, is refuses to roll mid-corner and turns in and grips with scalpel precision.
Climbing inside and the WRX STI feels more premium than it ever has before, and in the majority of places you’ll be touching regularly you’ll be touching soft plastics. All of the buttons and switches feel nice to the touch and sturdy enough to last the test of time, too.
The dashboard layout is nice and easy to use and the colour Starlink touchscreen unit is responsive to touch and straightforward in the way you access the things functionality. At the top of the dashboard is the 4.3-inch colour screen that displays the side view mirror image as well as turbo boost and drivetrain operation.
The front seats are grippy without trying to come off like a racing seat has been stuck in a passenger car. And there’s enough adjustment on the seat, as well as with the steering wheel, that both short and tall drivers will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel.
In the back, there’s decent room for two adults in each outboard seat, the middle is best left for adult accommodation on shorter journeys only as it’s really only a perch. I managed to fit my two child seat restraints into the back (one’s a harness restraint and the other a booster) and both kids said they had enough leg and headroom. There are three top tether mounts in the back but only the two outboard seats carry ISOFIX mounts. The boot offers 460 litres of space.
