2016 Subaru WRX
A rally car for the road
A sports car seems like a great idea until you try to take it on a grocery run, or drive it in the snow. The 2016 Subaru WRX does everything a sports car can, but it’s still an all-wheel drive compact sedan that can handle grocery runs, snow, and much more.
Powertrain and Performance
The WRX is essentially a hot-rodded version of Subaru’s compact Impreza, so while it may look like a regular small sedan on the outside, it’s packing some serious performance under the hood.
The sole WRX engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four, the same configuration used in every generation of WRX since the model was first sold here back in 2002. This latest version boasts 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. In true Subaru fashion, it drives all four wheels.
A genre-appropriate six-speed manual transmission is standard, but this generation of WRX is also the first to offer an automatic transmission. It’s a CVT based on the ones used in less-sporty Subarus and adapted to the WRX to provide a better balance between performance and convenience. Each transmission also gets its own version of Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system for optimum mechanical harmony.
The WRX is inspired by the rally cars Subaru used to enter in the World Rally Championship (which is what gave the car its name) and that still compete in rallycross events in the U.S. and Europe. Rallies take place on all sorts of terrain, making the WRX one of the few performance cars that isn’t fazed by rain or dirt.
While it may be able to tangle with BMWs and Porsches, the WRX is still a compact car, and that’s reflected in its fairly thrifty fuel consumption. With the six-speed manual, it gets an EPA-rated 20 mpg combined (23 mpg city, 27 mpg highway),* and 21 mpg combined (18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway) with the CVT.*
Features and Trims
The 2016 Subaru WRX is available only as a four-door, five-seat sedan. It comes in three trim levels, with prices starting at $26,595.**
The WRX may be based on Subaru’s entry-level Impreza, but it features a much higher level of standard equipment, including a flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, Starlink system with 6.2-inch display screen, automatic climate control, high-grip cloth upholstery with red stitching, 17-inch alloy wheels, and more.
Upgrading to the WRX Premium model nets all of the standard features from the base WRX, as well as a rear spoiler, fog lights, 18-inch alloys wheels, Subaru’s SI-Drive control system (for CVT-equipped models), and an All-Weather Package, which includes heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and windshield wiper de-icer.
The top WRX model is the Limited, which incorporates all of the applicable standard features from the base model, and adds an upgraded Starlink system with 7.0-inch touchscreen, navigation, and voice-activated controls, an eight-way power driver’s seat, leather interior, LED headlights, nine-speaker harman/kardon audio system, dual USB ports, welcome lighting, and more.
Design
The 2016 Subaru WRX still offers the practicality of a compact sedan, but with the attitude of a true performance car.
To elevate the WRX from its humble origins, Subaru added new front and rear bumpers with integrated spoilers—plus a distinctive side scoop—that are all meant to improve aerodynamics. The aluminum hood adds to the coolness factor with a functional scoop that feeds air to the top-mounted intercooler. At the back, the quad tailpipes will probably become a familiar sight to anyone looking to race this rally rocket.
On the inside, the WRX gets a touch of sportiness in the form of a leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed steering wheel, leather-wrapped shifter, and a special high-grip interior fabric with red stitching. For 2016, the WRX also gets a tech upgrade, with a standard 6.2-inch LCD screen and an available 7.0-inch touchscreen.
Hauling boxes of Ikea furniture while power sliding is totally possible thanks to a 60/60 split-folding rear seatback. The WRX offers a maximum 96.6 cubic feet of passenger space and 12.0 cubic feet of trunk space.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2016 Subaru WRX includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, front, front-side, side-curtain, and driver’s knee airbags, whiplash-reducing front seats. Subaru’s Rear Vision Detection System is also available as an option, incorporating blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, and rear cross traffic alert.
The EyeSight® camera-based safety system is also available for 2016. It uses a camera mounted on the windshield to enable adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and a low-speed collision-avoidance braking system.
Bottom Line
Despite its sporty character, the 2016 Subaru WRX is a performance car you can drive every day.
For more information, or to schedule a test drive, be sure to contact us online or visit us Herb Gordon Subaru at 3161 Automobile Blvd, Silver Spring, MD 20904.
*EPA estimates. Your mileage may vary depending on driving habits and conditions.
**Prices list are the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the vehicle and options chosen by you. These prices do not include transportation, taxes, title, other options, dealer installation costs, or other charges.
Image: Subaru