Fans Say Pump The Brakes There’s A Lot They Don’t Like About The New Subaru WRX

What will it take for Subaru to pay attention to the buyer segment for the WRX/STi. We don't give a sh#t about the Crosstrek or the outback looks, those already have legions of their own respective fans. No WRX fan wants a turbo Crosstrek pretending to be an off-roader. This styling is our puke. And the CVT is a complete POS for a car that many will want to tune. 2.0 to 2.4 is 20% more displacement for only 3 more meager HP. PATHETIC. Bigger block more weight, more understeer, poorer MPG and for what? 3 hp. Who the FU&k gave to the OK to this.

I am on my 4th Subaru (wife #1) and presently on my 2nd STi Hatch (2014). HERE THIS SOA: I WILL NEVER BUY A CVT WRX OR STI. Fortunately, I am able to afford luxury brands, and this design direction is making me look at the Audi Allroad, the Audi RS Wagon, the Mercedes E Wagon and AMG Wagon, all of which have VASTLY superior automatics. The CVT is where performance cars go to die a long slow and painful death. For GOD's sake give us a real automatic.

And this new WRX design is a TURD warmed up and dressed for the opera only this will only take you to a dive bar, as no one will want to be seen in it.

Subaru needs to offer a rally-capable hatch. I like my Crosstrek, but the acceleration is glacial, and the CVT (that is tolerable for me) is hated by many people. A 2.4T/6spd Crosstrek (WRX, or even STI) with the roofrails and a hidden 2" hitch would check all the boxes for me. Install some aluminum skids, a rear lunchbox locker, and adjustable coilovers. Then lower it to rally...or...Lift it, install mudders, and disco the anti-swaybars to offroad. Uncover the hitch to tow the quads, waverunners, snowmobiles, small boat, dirtbikes, etc...or insert a multi-mount winch to do recovery. (The 1st-gen Crosstrek could have handled all this with just a better powertrain.)

Commute to work at 30MPG+ during the week.

Subaru can either offer a turbo hatch or I can buy a Wrangler 4xE or a crewcab pickup that gets 30MPG+. The Ridgeline and Maverick are versatile almost like that. Where's the ballsy turbo Crosstrek, or updated turbo Baja?

Very disappointed in the new 2022 WRX. The exterior design continues to get worse, the base model infotainment system belongs in the early '90s and has only 271 horsepower. Most of all, the apparent push for CVT in the top trim was a huge mistake. I was looking forward to getting my hands on the new WRX but unfortunately, I will have to settle with a different brand entirely. Subaru has lost its way.

Paint the wheel arches body color.

I'm very disappointed with all the black plastics everywhere, wheel arches, rear bumpers looks awful on a sports sedan. There is way too much space between the tire and the wheel arch. Looks ok on a SUV not a WRX.
Only 5kw and no extra Nm from 2.4l engine, really!!!
I believe the WRX is heading the same way as EVO. Very sad, RIP
I'm replacing my 2017 WRX with a Hyundai i30N DCT or Golf R.

Really disappointed with the styling and very minor increase in engine output. Also, I’m sure the rumors of 400hp for the STI are as far fetched as the 300hp WRX rumors. Most likely will leave Subaru for a different brand until they give us another aggressive WRX.

The '22 WRX is a complete disappointment. It is so totally disappointing that I just ordered a '21 WRX to replace my '17. What I'd really like to have is a Levorg. Subaru squandered an opportunity with the fifth generation WRX.

You guys complain too much. Just move on to a different brand. They stopped making the hatch and the Fxt, only two vehicle I will buy. I've had a Forester (oil consumption), WRX hatch (oil & block issues), Legacy(oil consumption) and current Forester XT to replace the WRX cause I think i'm all grown up now (cvt issues, cause Subaru decided that a CVT would be fine). I've moved and moving on with other brands that are more reliable, powerful, and just as good AWD with hybrid. 4Runner to replace WRX. Now I'm just looking for the Rav4 Prime to replace my FXT.

Since 2004 I have owned three WRXs and one STi. The STi was bought in 2004 and by 2014 had 240000 mules with the original engine, clutch and transmission. Since 2001 my wife has had four Foresters. This means eight Subaru's in twenty year period. This means I have obviously been VERY pleased with Subaru cars and my local dealership.
I anticipated a significant improvement in the 2022 WRX. I was initially confused and concerned when the new engine has a 20% increase in displacement but only a 1.7% increase in horsepower and no change in torque. There may be a significant improvement in handling related to the switch to the Global Platform and the increased rigidity of the car's body. Only time will tell when the cars are available to be tested.
I read somewhere that the slight increase in horsepower and no change in torque
was related to the CVT transmission's inability to hand more torque. That sums like a plausible reason but if it is true it also means that more importance is being placed on CVT buyers than manual transmission buyers.
I agree that the plastic wheel arch trim makes the tires look small but I also that the sleekness of the prior WRXs has disappeared. It is also not clear what color options are available.
What to do is the question! Perhaps I and I believe many others will try and buy a 2021 WRX or STi.

I've owned 4 STIs (99, 05, 12, 16) literally every generation and a Legacy B4 and I lost interest with the latest generation. I owned my 2016 for a year before I sold it. It just wasn't that good compared to my other STIs. I left the fold after my last STI and was hoping to come back for the new STI. Buuuuut Subaru doubled down on what made the last generation a disappointment to me. It wasn't very powerful and the handling was pretty Garbage especially when compared to the Veloster N I bought in 2020 (now sold). I have little hope for the STI based on what we got with the new WRX. It's obvious they are trying to pull a Mazda and force the enthusiasts out of the brand so they can go up market. They don't want to cater to the enthusiasts which is a real shame considering it's an enthusiast car. That's fine I guess seeing as enthusiasts don't make up volume sales but Hyundai managed to launch an entire enthusiast brand at an affordable price and as a former owner of an N... They... Are... Excellent! I have owned something like 20 different sports cars from various brands and my N was at the very top in sheer driver enjoyment. The next on my list was my GC8 STI type R. So while it saddens me that Subaru decided to pull a Mazda I am perfectly fine taking my money elsewhere. I plan on getting the new Z as it stands right now. Maybe the Ranger Raptor if it makes it here to the US where I currently live. Anyway fk Subaru for trying to sell a CUV sedan. The deserve all the backlash they are getting and so does Mazda. What Subaru forgot is that it's the enthusiast that helped make the brand what it is today and the abandoned them as soon as they could. My vindictive nature hopes they pay dearly for their sins against the people who made the brand what it is today. Without the enthusiast Subaru would still be a car for hippies and tree huggers and would have little mass appeal. Also fk them for trying to force a CVT on people. Every other brand has nearly abandoned them because even non car enthusiasts hate them. I owned one car with a CVT as my city run about and it failed at 50k miles. So with all that said... Fk em. Other brands have figured out how to keep the enthusiast happy so it's not impossible. In fact this is all Subaru had to do to get a meh... Drop the CVT and add enough horsepower to be competitive with competition. Least we forget an Veloster N is SIGNIFICANTLY faster than an STI around a track for the price of a WRX.

You people do all realize that the reasons our "dream cars" are either unavailable to us or disappear is reflected in your comments?

In the 1990's, when cars like this were pure joy on wheels, they were ugly econoboxes used in WRC, and homologation rules made them available. But in the US, we were (and continue to be) in love with SUV's, we watch NASCAR, not WRC, and in Japan they were still very much aware of the American attitude about "rice grinders". So guys like me - likely considerably older than you - missed out on the EVO 5 (my dream car) and GC8 coupes (that ruled WRC).

By the time things began changing in the US enough to warrant federalizing their engines & meeting NTSA crash standards, they'd done so with redesigns. You all act like the 2001-2004 period of US WRX, STi, Evo were the first...the best...the "coolest." Jesus.

No, amazingly mega-fan bases were born despite the fact Japan (and much of the world) got a pile of tech in these cars. But despite this, the fans and owners get older, their spouse's car feels more comfy & quiet, better amenities (hint: in 2004, the STi = no radio...and fans didn't give a S! You people would have bitched.) So like ALL companies, with all cars, more has to be done to bring in new buyers and keep current owners happy. This is HARD. Companies like Toyota, Honda, VW have it easy...they bring owners in when they can afford a Civic or Corolla and keep them happy as the years pass with nicer sedans and SUV's, and years later they're buying Lexus, Acura, Audi

The problem Subaru has with the WRX crowd is pleasing everyone with one car that meets all the dreams and desires of people cross-shopping freaking Kia's and Audi's, cars, Jeeps, SUV's and trucks. Just how the hell do they do this AND, AND sell it to you at a price that doesn't have you bitching about the price online?

I'll end by going back to where I began...the 90's. How many of you actually experienced, hands-on, a 90's vanilla Mitsubishi Mirage or Subaru Impreza? I'm betting VERY few of you. Now imagine those cars best you can, rattling off the dealer lot, hard plastic, terrible audio, uncomfortable if your over 5' 10", etc. Not fun. But hey, entry level car. Never going to win Motor Trend Car of the Year, but that's fine. NOW...imagine those companies freaking racing these cars (whaaa?) and offering you a 225-276 hp AWD version, with advanced traction and stability systems, big brakes, Recaro seats...but now even noisier, cheapo audio, still creaking and rattling, but a joy holding your Momo wheel. BUT hang on...it's 1995...and they want the same $$$ as Subaru is asking for this 2022 WRX.

YUP. You guys wouldn't touch it. You guys are the types these companies knew would never drop the money on those dream cars, because for that money you'd want all the good stuff, but underneath an Audi or Lexus.

You think you're all die hard fans. Hate to break it to you, you're not. Your spoiled and should be thanking God there even is a WRX anymore. If Subaru brought all of you into a focus group on the next WRX, they'd take notes, return to Japan and kill the car.

Not a good car, unless you are about the fancy technology. Sti looks like a Toyota camry. Sti 2004-2007 are better models but not compare to the 1990s models. What is subaru trying to go for a pansy fancy looking car or a sports driven drifting car?

I cannot fathom owning the new WRX, it just doesn't make any sense - I feel that anyone who does buy one is just shooting themselves in the foot. I feel for those who have been waiting - and got this p.o.s.
I had an '05 STi I wished I never sold. Currently driving a '14 Forester XT since new. yea it's got the CVT, and it's honestly not half bad @ over 170k miles trying to make 200k, no issues so far. HOWEVER, that's a Forester and I don't drive it like I stole it nor do I do performance anything with it. It's got decent power and is fun enough as a family/grocery hauler. Nothing more.

The '05 STI blew the doors off almost everything back in it's day at a great price point - I'd rather have that back. The new WRX seems can barely keep up with the competition in terms of styling AND performance. Just get a Tesla Model 3, or whatever else. I don't see an updated WRX, I see something thrown together with a larger displacement but only +3hp? Just laughable. Subaru is gonna have to make some serious changes to get sales back because this WRX isn't gonna cut it.

Im so glad I didnt wait for this redesign and bought a better brand.

Subaru drove its performance segment off a cliff years ago and never looked back.

Exploding STIs and BRZs with a garbage engine that eats itself.

All they needed to do to the BRZ was fix the mill, but noooo... they let that poor thing limp around for almost a decade loosing to Honda Odysseys off the line.

If you want a drivers car, you're looking at the wrong company.