Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

After test driving both the standard WRX and the STI, I felt that the regular WRX was much easier to drive and felt more like a better daily driver - a great car and a brilliant performance bargain for the price. However, after driving the STI, subaru wrx sti 2016 review, I felt absolutely engaged on the road. With the feel of a beefy turbo and the sound of that iconic rumble, it reminded me what Subaru rally cars were all about.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. If you don't mind the ride, the STI is a properly fun sport sedan. It takes a while to get used to the massive wing fixed to the rear of this little speed demon.

Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

Yes, I know the rocking-on-its-mounts lawn tractor engine is part of the Subaru experience, and all the fanboys relish it, but for the rest of us, Subie's big turbo H4 feels slow to rev and coarse at lower rpm. Keep it around 3K, right on the edge of boost, though, and there's plenty of thrust on tap. It's just not as immediate or as fierce as the late Mitsubishi Evo , nor is it as refined as the Golf R. The upcoming arrival of the Ford Focus RS will be the big test for Subaru's rally rocket and its ability to trade on brand loyalty and proven tech. Our STI's shifter, brakes and steering require no such asterisks, delivering lovely, direct feedback and control at all speeds I was able to explore on my pockmarked-pavement routes around Detroit. Incredibly short throws combined with pedals ideally placed for heel-and-toe work make the trans in particular a delight to use. The Subaru faithful will find everything on the latest WRX STI slightly improved, and perfect for the wannabe rally geeks -- for the rest of us, the regular WRX continues to be an easier car to live with. I had already driven the new car, albeit with a CVT, but this one seemed even better. The interior was kind of cool and futuristic looking. The seats had patterns and splashes of body color, and are comfortable too. These heated jobs were also power adjustable, which must be a no-cost option on the Limited trim.

No gold wheels, though.

No gold wheels, though. I love the Subaru brand: the quirkiness, the independence, the engineering; that badge, based on the Pleiades star cluster. Hard on the brakes into a corner, pitch the nose in forcefully, brutally almost, and then, when you reach the apex, get on the gas, foot to the floor, and the four-wheel-drive grip would just dig in and catapult the car down the next straight. Worst thing is the ride. Forget potholes — just a slightly irregular surface will have you jiggling around so much your head bobbles on your shoulders. Yes, there are advantages when it comes to body control on a late-night thrash, but the cost is too high in day-to-day use.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. If you don't mind the ride, the STI is a properly fun sport sedan. It takes a while to get used to the massive wing fixed to the rear of this little speed demon. In fact, there is a lot to get used to in the STI, but when it all comes together, the aggressive Subie, with its serious rally racing technology, is a kick and a half. In Subaru-land this model starts off as the sedate Impreza. Add horsepower and it's a WRX. It's a stiff and harsh ride; great for the track, not so great for daily driving.

Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

By Ben Barry. America suffered sizeable turbo lag with its launch of the Subaru Impreza Turbo. While the Japanese performance saloon first appeared in , America had to wait for 15 years and the third generation for it to arrive. The rally championships that built the brand seem about as relevant to modern-day Subaru as they are to Audi.

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Drive Live Chat. Our ratings explained. Highway 1 bucks and coils and drops rapidly downhill towards the Pacific in a flurry of gear shifts, throttle and brake jabs and steering inputs. Drive TV. I am a man of a certain age, and I am now part of a cult. Bundoora, VIC. Used Cars For Sale. All Subaru. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. By Ben Barry.

No gold wheels, though. I love the Subaru brand: the quirkiness, the independence, the engineering; that badge, based on the Pleiades star cluster. Hard on the brakes into a corner, pitch the nose in forcefully, brutally almost, and then, when you reach the apex, get on the gas, foot to the floor, and the four-wheel-drive grip would just dig in and catapult the car down the next straight.

It also is a giant billboard saying Give Me a Ticket, Officer. He went on to tell me his entire Subaru history. CONS: Bounciness could get taxing. Selling Advice. But then you drive it on the road… My god, this thing is brutally quick. The interior was kind of cool and futuristic looking. Back to Subaru. Keep it in Auto for daily driving, or switch to Auto Plus to tighten up the limited slip differential, improving traction on slippery surfaces like snow or gravel. Used Cars For Sale. Okay, so my younger daughter is only three, but even so her bike is easily chucked into the cavernous space beneath the blue spoiler, with room to put her in there too, if I wanted. So our mixed feelings about the STI continue. Having said that, the competition is heating up with hot hatch production. Yes, there are advantages when it comes to body control on a late-night thrash, but the cost is too high in day-to-day use. Previous Next.