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Is the 2022 Subaru WRX worthy of winning Motor Trend's Car of the Year (COTY) award? No, because M/T judges were not impressed with the next-generation WRX after it made the finalist cut for the 2023 COTY competition.

Which car did Motor Trend pick?

The new WRX was bested by a luxury car. MotorTrend named the 2023 Genesis G90 its 2023 Car of the Year during the Genesis press conference at the Los Angeles International Auto Show.

The M/T judges found a few things to like about the new WRX. They said the next-generation WRX is "longer, lower, wider, and stiffer than the version it replaces." In theory, those are good things with its new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine upgrade over the 2.0-liter turbo Boxer. But not enough to give the WRX a thumbs up.

Among the slowest WRX models ever

But in practice, M/T says things are more complicated. "The new engine, despite being bigger than the 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-four it replaces, only makes three more horsepower and is less efficient with the manual than before. Worse, it makes the new WRX among the slowest we've ever tested, including the plucky 2002 original."

The WRX power band is too narrow

Ouch! M/T says the new WRX's FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine's power band is too narrow, and "its engine is laggy and peaky." They appreciate the 6-speed manual gearbox but have issues with it too. "It's also rewarding to row through the mostly positive-feeling shifter, even if it's slightly clunky at times."

The SPT CVT automatic option isn't fun

They disdain the new WRX Subaru Performance Transmission CVT automatic. "The CVT version feels like a slightly edgier Legacy sedan," deputy editor Alexander Stoklosa said. Even worse, and speaking toward their performance of the intended function criterion, numerous editors said the CVT-backed WRX wasn't fun to drive. "It's a fine car, but not a good WRX."

The things MotorTrend likes about the WRX

The WRX stays with a formula that works. It comes standard with Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive with all-weather performance. They say the new Subaru Performance Transmission CVT automatic makes it more practical as a daily driver in city traffic. And the 6-speed manual "is quite fun."

M/T Judges say they liked the new WRX sheet metal, but most found the new tablet-sized infotainment display's graphics and UX unrefined. The Subaru scored safety points for offering the latest version of its Eyesight driver assistance, though the system is unavailable on the popular manual-transmission version.

The bottom line

"Ultimately, the manual WRX lives up to its reputation for satisfying all-weather performance, but as a lineup, and crucially against our criteria, the new WRX doesn't rise above the fray," says M/T.

Our take

The next-generation 2022 Subaru WRX is the best model the Japanese automaker has produced. The new FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged engine is an upgrade over the 2.0-liter Boxer. Most performance fans will modify the new engine with aftermarket upgrades to get more horsepower. So the three-horsepower increase is not a big deal.

The Subaru WRX with the new Subaru Performance Transmission CVT automatic will appeal to a few drivers, but 90 percent of buyers will still pick the 6-speed manual option. Subaru has to include an automatic in the WRX lineup so they can use EyeSight to get the WRX the top IIHS safety scores.

Subaru's biggest failure was not bringing back the WRX hatchback trim level for the next-generation model. The hatch offers more utility and would have been a massive upgrade over the sedan. A hotter hatch trim level would have given the new 2022 WRX a significant boost over the outgoing model.

Subaru of America has learned its lesson from Impreza's declining sedan sales and now only offers the hatchback trim level. Will Subaru do the same for the WRX?

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA