Overview
Like a Subaru WRX, but with more of everything. The Subaru WRX STI has more horsepower, bigger aerodynamic features, beefier brakes, and a more extreme race-tuned suspension than the already outlandish WRX it’s based upon. Anyone who likes their enchiladas on the mild side, stop reading right now. This Subie is a full-bore, five-alarm, barely civilized race car that’s somehow legal for road use. In other words, it’s one heck of a lot of fun! Within its class, however, the WRX STI lacks the refinement of competitors like the Honda Civic Type R, the Ford Focus RS, and the Volkswagen Golf R.
What’s New for 2017?
The only thing quiet about the 2017 WRX STI is what’s new and improved this model year. Diehard fans of this rally machine will be glad to know Subaru has kept its hands off the STI, the 2017 model is unchanged from the year before.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The WRX STI scorches its way down the road courtesy of a turbocharged 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder that sends 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. Offered only with a six-speed manual, you can forget about smooth and refined performance. This Subaru has loads of turbo lag and demands your full concentration all the time, and the firm suspension keeps excessive body motion in check at the expense of ride comfort. That’s perfect if on every morning commute you like to pretend you’re a rally legend gunning for glory on a narrow tree-lined trail. It’s tiring, yes, but also outrageously entertaining.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The WRX STI might appear to be somewhat practical because it has four doors, room for up to five people, and a trunk bigger than the Altoids-tin-sized cargo areas found in many sports cars. But this Subaru’s driving dynamics make it somewhat hard to live with on a daily basis—unless you’re a hardcore enthusiast. The interior is hardly the last word in fashion, making it obvious that this vehicle was bred in the heat of competition. Clear gauges and controls that are all within easy arms-length of the driver make it an accommodating place in which to conduct the business of going very, very fast.
Get a Subaru WRX on Garisea here
