A manual five-speed transmission is the only gearbox available, and it operates with a slick-shifting feel, despite a relatively tall shifter and long throw. Not the market’s quickest gear lever assembly by a long shot, but it gets the job done. The clutch is aggressive but also easy to use in traffic, and sporty pedals with ideal spacing make heel-and-toe shifting a breeze.
The whole powertrain feels solid and robust. Drive the pants off of the WRX, and it feels eager, strong and well sorted out. The gearbox shifts positively, the engine doesn’t miss a beat, and the AWD system never makes so much as a squirm as it shuffles power around to maximize grip.
Handling that inspires
A light and easygoing steering system allows drivers to direct the WRX’s capable chassis around with minimal effort, effectively encouraging exploration of the machine’s limits. Tossed around, the WRX steers suddenly, precisely and flatly—and there’s plenty of grip to back up the process both on and off of the throttle. Just point and shoot.
Crank WRX through a bend at speed, and you’ll swear the seat belt is the only thing keeping your spleen from exiting the side window. It’s like driving one great big contact patch, and for all the handling capabilities, the ride isn’t terrible at all.
Sensible, too
Heck, it’s even sensible. There’s a generous cargo hold, folding seats, and auto climate control for comfort. You can even get a ski rack for the roof, and a protective mat for the hatch area to keep Fido’s paws scratching into the carpet.
WRX also has a proven reputation for safety. And since it’s a five-door, you can tell that family-minded significant other that it’s a station wagon. There’s generous headroom at any seat, and no issues were noted with space for four adults and their things. Entry and exit are easy, too.
 |
| A light and easygoing steering system allows drivers to direct the WRX’s capable chassis around with minimal effort. (Photo: Subaru) |
The whole powertrain feels solid and robust. Drive the pants off of the WRX, and it feels eager, strong and well sorted out. The gearbox shifts positively, the engine doesn’t miss a beat, and the AWD system never makes so much as a squirm as it shuffles power around to maximize grip.
Handling that inspires
A light and easygoing steering system allows drivers to direct the WRX’s capable chassis around with minimal effort, effectively encouraging exploration of the machine’s limits. Tossed around, the WRX steers suddenly, precisely and flatly—and there’s plenty of grip to back up the process both on and off of the throttle. Just point and shoot.
Crank WRX through a bend at speed, and you’ll swear the seat belt is the only thing keeping your spleen from exiting the side window. It’s like driving one great big contact patch, and for all the handling capabilities, the ride isn’t terrible at all.
Sensible, too
Heck, it’s even sensible. There’s a generous cargo hold, folding seats, and auto climate control for comfort. You can even get a ski rack for the roof, and a protective mat for the hatch area to keep Fido’s paws scratching into the carpet.
WRX also has a proven reputation for safety. And since it’s a five-door, you can tell that family-minded significant other that it’s a station wagon. There’s generous headroom at any seat, and no issues were noted with space for four adults and their things. Entry and exit are easy, too.
 |
| The cargo space is generous. (Photo: Subaru) |