2022 WRX vs 2018 STI - BOTH STOCK! Impressions + rolls 

Holy smokes I would have never guessed the 2022 WRX would even be close to an STi of any year. It's crazy what just a change in power/torque curves with a new engine and gearing can do. Wow. This makes me even more excited to finally receive my ordered WRX next week!

22 owner here. Would never paint my plastics. It gives it a certain look no other car has. Why try to change that

2020 sti owner here I test drove the 23 wrx the other day it was nice sounds system is awesome (sti sucks). That was the only thing I preferred about it. It just seemed to soft and easy to drive. When I got back in my sti I felt at home and like I was driving something with more manual and mechanical feeling.

Caution: thus is long but if you want some solid info & opinion from a LONG time Subaru, Mitsubishi, Audi guy who knows history since Group B and recalls every detail of the WRX from 1991 to present, read on from a fresh perspective you won't have read before. Right off, weird references. US didn't get the bugeye STI. And it didn't replace the 22B, it replaced the GC8. That GC8 could be had as a coupe...and it was the coupe that was rallying. The hawkeye was initially VERY poorly received because A) it had the Tribeca face everyone loathed, B) people scoffed at the Limited with its leather, premium style and C) the "Subaru is losing the script" vs "it's not refined enough" paradox hit right at this time. Hatch love? Subaru listened to complaints and gave us a hatch in 2008...then people bitched "where is the F'ing sedan...I want the wing!" But there was the other paradox...that Limited? It did away with a spoiler. And this kicked off the "spoilers are for boy-racers" and the "wing delete" trend was launched. BTW, 2008-2010, nobody really bitched that the STI got big fender flares...in 2011, everyone that got an STI was pissed this visual distinction disappeared, as the WRX got the fenders. Fact is, Subaru really did nothing wrong. In the 90's the homologation cars were built and sold in countries that actually cared about rallying...not NASCAR. The formula of lowly Impreza with badass drivetrain was loved...but love turned into whining about cheap plastic. Shit, when the STI arrived in the US - without a radio - people whined. From this point forward Subaru was in a no win situation. "I love raw" turned into "cheap plastic and where's the heated seats." I lived through all of this, and have a good memory. For young people...ya just have zero clue...it's just all "history I've heard about." > "Ugly"...Uh, that was the charm. In fact, what Subaru is sexy?? Again, when the WRX was adored, it was based on a lowly, truly ugly Impreza. Verdict: Asinine complaint. > Tail lights are "ugly". In 2021, the complaint across the board was "nice Honda Civic". The cure? "If only Subaru connected the red across the back." The problem? Lack of creativity. Me: a nice honeycomb pattern red reflective tape spanning that black trim. I copied various Photoshop renderings people loved. Postes pics on Reddit...and the "enthusiasts" weren't even keeping up with the car in 2021...none were even aware of the "Civic" complaints and my (awesome) fix got mixed reviews. Verdict: you cannot please WRX buyers - they are not Subaru fans. > "The slant on the tail lights". Anyone genuine Subaru fan would have seen the tail light design over FIVE YEARS AGO on the VIZIV concept. > Rear bumper: again...the VIZIV showed us for five years what it woukd look like. However I will concede something here - something only those aware of the VIZIV would know. The concept car had big dual exhaust tips located in those far ends of the bumper (where the reflectors and partial/functional vents are.) Subaru should have ditched this area when they didn't put pipe outlets there. And, they should have the brought the height of the black down. Ideal look? Look no further than the BRZ. Nevertheless, it's liveable. (And learn how to work on your cars, people. Do your own painting of areas like this. Stop paying Aeroflow Dynamics a fortune.) > Something I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE about this review? It points out the fact buyers modify these cars! So much complaining can be voided by just admitting this. Within 5 days I had a muffler delete axleback. People bitch about the GT getting all the good stuff...OMG. Active suspension? We all put coilovers in...I had them on my last four cars. The Recaros? Well, the whining reviewers find a way to complain (oh, lord hp me) but if you want Recaros, buy some. The entry level are affordable - I put used Recaros in my STI and swapped the STI seats to my Outback. The SPT? It shifts faster than you - deal with it. The steering response adjustment? The car has a greatly improved ratio...besides, seriously boy racers I barely EVER heard complaints even when it had a slow rack and people autocrossed it. And Eyesight? Every enthusiast I've met calls it nanny tech and says they'd turn it off. Verdict: all this shows how ridiculously inconsistent people are about this car. > The last comment was PURE GOLD. "You wouldn't buy an STI that looks like this? I call bullshit." You're my hero! Besides, just like people complain they can't afford the GT, how would all the kids afford an STI? Finally, anyone that has a genuine understanding of how automobile development works would 100% understand the decision on the STI. Bummer, sure. End of the world, hardly. Too bad winter arrived. Because when it's warm I have plans for this car I've seen no one doing. I can't quite swing a full rear bumper fabrication. I could afford it (if it worked) but I don't have the $ to spend and have it fail.

I love my ‘22 WRX. I think it looks great and it drives 100x better than the last gen VB. It being faster than the STi is just a bonus!

Thank you so much for this video!! I couldn't have been happier with my 22...until you showed me how it compares with an STI!!..WOW!! 🤗

Subbed! Thanks for making this kind of content. I agree that it's disappointing the big car review channels didn't bother testing the VB against the VA WRX and STI. Glad to finally see some comparison though.

Just to stop all this bull. I have both. A 2021 sti 6 speed. Plus I have a 2023 Wrx. The Wrx takes the sti. The 2023 has a bigger engine, less boost but no turbo lag. The 2021 sti has more hp but the turbo kicks in at higher rpm’s plus when u shift it has turbo lag. The 2023 Wrx feels smooth. Power all the way to redline unlike the sti. Just saying these new vb engines are so underrated. I’m 48 not a kid anymore but this reminds me of the 70’s when my dad had the muscle cars that came underrated with hp. Btw this new vb engine if u guys modify it, there is no idea what kind of power it will have. Cheers. Again I’m old but still love my Subies! ✌️

I have a 2017 WRX Limited. I think I’m going to trade up to a 2024 WRX in a few years. I test drove the new model back in October and it blew me away. It’s so much faster than my current car.

Great video my guy! Well worth the wait. Keep the videos coming! You make me so excited as I save up for my own

Had a lot of fun rolling with my friend! There will be more roll videos against STi's and WRX's both stock and tuned so stick around!

Man you sound like a legit car reviewer, good work lol

Something not mentioned is the STI was the last subaru with unequal length headers giving it that amazing engine noise. Lets not forget the Brembos.

This is hilarious and awesome. Really great to see the comparison

It would be great if you can make some dedicated vids of the rolls. I'm shocked based on this initial pass that the VB outperformed an STI. Good stuff. I love my 2022 VB. Most fun I've had in a car including an Audi TT I used to own.

I actually think the pattern on the fenders look nice in person too. I thought it was just flat grey grey before I saw it in person! Can’t wait to get my 22' premium at the end of the month!

I enjoy the rear of the VB, not sure why everyone hates it so much. I wish the front was as striking though, front end looks very boring and you can barely see the headlights. Headlights can be one of the most attractive or memorable pieces of a car.

The only reason why the ‘18 STi lost is because without the spoiler it’s -5 morale.

Great video, love your content! VB Power✊

Honestly they are pretty much the same in power. Overall I’d take my 21 sti any day. Even if the 22 pulls on me by a hair. Really doesn’t matter.

Picked up a '23 WRX WRB just an amazing car!

I just drove a 21 sti and a 23 wrx today. So i got the perfect chance to compare them. Sti - raw, loud, you feel and hear everything. It demands your attention and inputs are sensitive. The throttle is very touchy, the clutch is touchy, the gear box is notchy. I enjoyed it. It felt fast and had some nice feeling to rolling on boost. But a bit tiresome to drive as it is loud. The suspension is stiff. The seats are okay - a bit firm. The rumble - to die for. What a sound and feeling on a cold start. That ej25 is special. Wrx - refined, easy and linear power. Easy clutch, gearbox relatively the same, but perhaps a bit smoother. Less demanding. Stiff suspension and sway bars, but it's not punishing. Very quiet and easy power, meaning it doesnt make all the sound and grunts of the ej, but suddenly you're moving! Stock exhaust isnt terrible actually - there is rumble. Just need unequal length headers to get some more rumble. Overall, sti is raw, demanding, and punishing. Loud interior. A true drivers car engaging all of your senses. The wrx is fun, easy going, but has potential to be a wild animal. Refined and feels solid and predictable. Love your vids. Going to test drive a brz (well an 86 at toyota) next week and then decide between brz or wrx.

I can't believe every major media car outlet is not reporting this incredible news!!!

I love my 22, got it 6 months ago when everyone hated them, I’ll still love my 07 sti over anything but the performance on the new wrx is a night and day difference

The looks of any car is very subjective. What may look good to someone may not look good to others (so long as you're happy, that's all that matters). I think Subaru's biggest mistakes were 1) how much they changed the look of the car, IMO the car itself looks nice, but it doesn't have that rally inspired look from the factory (people have made mods to car with new grills and spoilers etc which makes it look very aggressive) 2) the horsepower the car produces from factory and the torque. Even though the car is faster and more responsive than the previous generation, a lot of people won't even go to check out the car because it on has 3 more HP. I think Subaru should've made the HP at least 290 and bring the torque up to 290. Subaru disappointed many WRX fans. 3) Arguably the biggest mistake was canceling the STI, to this day it still makes 0 sense to me as to why they did that. They have disappointed many STI fans (me included) over that decision. If you're going to out, at least go out with a Bang. Again though, this is just my IMO, for all the new gen WRX owners, congratulations. The car itself is a great car, looks nice, and is sporty. Don't let the opinion of others get to you! At the end of the day, it's what puts a smile on your face when you see your toy in the garage.

Good stuff. Keep em coming!

subbed and like this video- hope you will continute to grow. Great presentation in the vids.

I'm sure it's already been said but the dude in the STI can't shift to save his life. Not hating on the 22 WRX.

It’s crazy how much faster the stock WRX is then the STI

the "G4P" license plate is so unfortunate lmaooo

Americans want a hatchback WRX. For more versatility. We also want an optional multi speed automatic transmission. We hate CVT’s. We don’t need both a WRX and WRX STI because the car can be modded for more speed or for the track.

Good review. Owner of a 2019 Wrx. Whether i upgrade in future still on the fence. Not a fan of the cladding but i can live with it, paint it, get bigger wheels, get smaller wheels and more rubber etc but the screen i cant get around. Im so use to the HUD on the dash. I also have a Forester XT. Might be better with no screen and I might even go back and downgrade to a GC8 or Blobeye.

People don’t like change. Everyone has complains about every new car. That’s life y’all looks don’t stay the same either just stfu you either buy the car or don’t

Someone is lying I test drove a 22 wrx my dad had my 2018 sti after 2 gear my dad and my sti pulled from the wrx my car is stock just have a exhaust

A race from a dig would have been nice. 0-60. I also noticed the sti once the traction control is off , feels a bit faster. ( not just by pushing the traction button but holding it for a couple seconds to fully disengage it).

My son has a 2021 sti. And when rolling at say 60km. It is not that fast. From a dead stop it feels quicker. So this makes sense

22 owner. Thing drives like a dream

I think both cars are great

Sti all day the trans come on man I love my 2019 sti limited

Ahhh so glad I got my hands on the 23 VB , however I still see some RTV on the exterior of the engine 😢

love my 22 WRX!

Is that the exhaust on the sti I can hear during the rolls or the wrx? I just ordered a 22 wrx and am curious :)

Awesome video great content

Wow! Shocking results… is the 22 wrx really faster than the sti!? Y is there so many reviewers saying that the 22 wrx feels slower than the 15-21 wrx?

I’d also like to say I don’t think people were meaning the physical measurement of difference with the rear bumper, more so the styling of the rear bumper on the 22 just makes it look bigger in general in comparison to the previous generation because the previous gen bumper was seamless with the body

Why is there a mystery spot sticker when the car is in Missouri 😂

Seems Subaru gifted the STI in WRX skin to their fan base. Scoop them up while supplies last!

22 VB owner here. Had a 17STI. Loved my STI. This 22 FOR ME and my current life situation is better in every way. And YES. It’s faster as the video proves.

When I saw the BRZ hanging with an STI, I had an idea that the new WRX vs the STI would be interesting, can’t believe the 22 can take on an STI!!!

Roll races are fun but lets see a dig race. I think the STI would trounce the 22 WRX.

Nice comparison. I like the new 2.4 motor. But wish the rest of the STi driveline cones with it.

I got an orange 23 wrx still in break in period waiting so I can drive it how i want

Great video. Very surprised at the outcome of the race. This may just be an ignorant question but why doesn't the STI have the wing?

The best WRX to date. Imo it's also one of the best looking. GC8, Hawkeye and this VB are the best looking Rex's.

Nice video!

BuT It LoOkS LiKe A cIvIc!!!!

Can't wait to see a jb4 e30 roll with bolt ons. With intake/tmic and running about 21-23psi, this car hauls ass! Likely figures around 350bhp/tq

4:20 I think Subaru called it "Magma".

You got the nail on the head. It’s all about branding, if Subaru would have put an STI emblem in the car everyone would’ve bought one no questions asked

I had 2018 wrx and trade it in for 2019 sti. Wrx didn’t feel special. Just another compact car like civic si . Sti on another hand feels very special. Handling, steering, gear box etc it’s night and day. New Wrx seems soft and just another blah car

Straight up gapped with that JB4..

Rolls start at 8.28.

My dream car to buy 🙏

8:27 TO GET TO THE DAMN RACING!

Anyone else catch the super crooked Subaru ownership decals on the STI?? 😂😂😂😂

would love to see this from a Dig!

It's just the engine it's a 2.4 liter it's still a wrx it dosen't have the badge sti there for will never be as worth as much money and now that they stopped making stis they're gonna go up in sales tripe in the next couple of years

Excellent video BTW, I wanted to see Stock for stock, the WRX is quite impressive. Sell that STi and buy a VB Premium WRX and might still have money left over , at the very least break even.

Sti left in Intelogwnt mode

Gear ratios, maybe?

Has anyone had a problem with the flooring on the driver side sagging a bit on 2022 wrx?

Always makes me wonder how good are the drivers when I see these videos. My STI gaps new WRX’s and completely smokes any BRZ, older or newer. Easily too. Put me in coach, I’ll show you what an STI can really do! Lol

I like to show the last minute of this video to all the VB haters.

JD muscle USA has a Cobb stage 1 race. That's it I think. Get some Cobb stage 1 22 WRX's and race other subies!

91 or 93?

No, i would not buy it. Just on the simple fact that it is ugly as hell. There are sexier looking cars with either the same performance number or better. Heck, ill take lower performance numbers before i buy that visual insult of a sport car. I respect what it can do but, NO

Kinda silly to put a brand new low milage motor up against a motor that has years/ x # of tens of thousands of miles of carbon deposits; which severely hinder performance. When I got my 2020 STI brand new, when I hit 800 miles on the OD to start opening her up, I was walking 2017 STIs with stage 1&2 tunes but they had like 10-20k miles on their motors. It be better to compare the two if they both have similar milage. But then again, it doesn't really matter much anyhow, plus I don't have the STI anymore anyway ha, picked up a 2022 M240i, couldn't be happier.

VA driver has no idea how to drive 😂

Are you aware the speed of these two cars is not supposed to be measured on a straight flat road?

That stock 22 is not faster than a stock 18 sti if the drivers are equally comparable in abilities.

So this video is totally designed to sell the new WRX. Just look up the performance stats 0-60 and 1/4 miles times of the last 2021 STI. At least to me and many other people the new wrx is not as aggressive looking and to put a cherry on top of it all the back end looks like a baboons A$$.

can you answer why my comment got deleted ???lmfao

That wrx can't be faster than an sti the later has about 30hp over it

I don't care if the bumper is smaller or the tail lights are like better. Or those plastic fenders are functional. It looks terrible. And esthetics and looks are a big decisive part I'm buying a car. Just my humble opinion. But if they offer the top GT trim with a manual I would buy. Because I know aftermarket companies like Varis will come out with a replacement rear bumper and paint matched fenders soon. The aftermarket resources for this platform is amazing.

2022 wrx is sooooo ugly

The STi shifts to slow lol i smoke a 22 VB with my sti hahahah

God what did Subaru do. That thing is ugly as hell. Looks so cheap. What’s with that bumper sticking out like 8”? Lol

Yuck

2022 is still garbage looking. There are Hyundai out there that look more aggressive

Did you hit your head?