2016 WRX/STI

The Subaru WRX & STI have a cult following among car enthusiasts all across the globe. The STI essentially is a rally car meant for the streets. I’ll like to talk about both the STI & the WRX in this article & try and highlight the pros & cons of both. The basic recipe has been simple & Subaru hasn’t messed with it. It’s a 4 cylinder turbo charged motor which makes ample power with an all-wheel drive system. The STI produces 306 HP & 290 lbft of torque whereas the base WRX produces 268 HP & 258 lbft of torque. These are respectable numbers for a fairly small 4 cylinder engine. The STI has a lot of clever technology up its sleeve to makes this car handle like no other at this price point. The chassis & the suspension are perfectly dialed in for a spirited drive on a twisty canyon road. It has an option which allows you to lock the differential helping the distribution of power between the front & rear wheels. If I were you, I would just leave that setting in auto & let the car figure it out. The 6 speed manual transmission which thankfully is the only option on the STI is a treat. There is a short throw shifter option which I highly recommend. The WRX has the same 6 speed manual & have recently started offering a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) option. I’m not a fan of CVT’s but I must congratulate Subaru for coming out with one of the best CVT’s out there. I still will stick with the 6 speed manual.

The words shabby, shoddy & cheap have been often been used to describe the interior on this car. This was true until the last generation but Subaru has tried to address this gripe in the latest generation. While you won’t call the current interior luxurious by any standards, it a major improvement over the previous model.  You can get heated leather seats, Harmin Kardon music system, back up camera etc in an interior package which makes it a pleasant place to be in. Subaru is a smaller auto maker who essentially are not in the business of making pretty cars. They make sturdy reliable cars & some high performance cars with an excellent all-wheel drive system & pass on the savings to the customers. There is enough room in the back to fit 2 adults comfortably & a 3^rd one too if required. The boot is also big enough for everyday use.

There are some major differences between the WRX & the STI. The most important one is the motor. The WRX has the latest FA series motor which is new & modern. The STI has to do with the old EJ series motor which has been more or less unchanged for over a decade now. The WRX achieves peak torque at a mere 2000 RPM whereas the STI has to be revved up all the way to 4000 RPM. Below that, the STI feels gutless. Once the turbos on these cars have spooled up, they really start going with the WRX hitting 0-60 MPH in 5.5 seconds & the STI doing it in 5 seconds. I know most WRX/STI owners don’t care about fuel economy but I think it’s a point worth mentioning. Thanks to the WRX’s modern engine, it promises a higher fuel economy of 27 MPG as compared to the STI’s 20 MPG. The WRX is a couple of hundred pounds lighter than the STI because of the smaller motor & since it doesn’t have some of the technology that the STI has. This weight reduction does work in the WRX’s favor. The ride on the STI is stiffer than the WRX which on the track is great, but might become a pain in the back for daily driving. The price is another major differentiating factor. The WRX starts off at $26,590 & the STI starts at $34,690. Its upto you if you want to spend the extra 8 grand for the STI.

The STI on the other hand has its advantages. If you plan to take your car to the track, the STI is a clear winner. It’s sharper, faster & more agile than the WRX. The wing on the STI might look obnoxious & boy racer to some, but to me it looks absolutely awesome!! It’s functional & provides the car downforce at high speeds. Both the cars are very loud inside because of lack of sound deadening material. That’s one thing which I’ll highly recommend everyone to check out before getting any one of these cars.

For decades the competition for the Subaru WRX was the one & only Mitsubishi Evolution, but the Evo is now gone & the Suby is now in a class of its own. The closest rival I can think of is the Volkswagen Golf R but that comes has a higher price point. I highly recommend to wait for the Ford Focus RS which is expected to make north of 350 HP & is expected to be launched this year. If you are looking for a high performance car with excellent handling at a cheap price, then look no further.