STILL GREAT! 2022 Subaru WRX Review 

The thing I hate the most of my 2022 wrx is that In apple Car Play there are sooo many restrictions… you can’t use a dial pad while on a call in car play it says keypad restricted.. but while on Bluetooth phone call you can!? Da fuc Subaru now you’re actively trying to get me to pick up my phone and use it

Oh nooo! The back headlights look just like civic's and the plastic trim going around the WRX not good.. to me that is other that I like it.🤗😎

😁

Hey enjoy watching your reviews do you know if they will make Sti for this new model?

Back headlights? Is that like front taillights?

Ain’t that the truth

True grew on me too

still horrible looking

2 months later and it's still ugly

BRZ's still pretty ugly to me

Congrats boomer…

Hope you have fun with your car and it serves you for a very long time. So which one did you pick: the manual or the CVT? and why?

@@gallivantingsprt Thanks. I got the 6 speed. The CVT is supposedlyabout 0.1 sec faster to 60, but I like to shift myself.

@@ikkenhisatsu7170 I completely understand your choice. But so many reviews say that the CVT is also good, so I am a bit on the fence. I think both will find their customer though

@@gallivantingsprt I'm sure the CVT is great. I never drove one, but if it had a dual clutch paddle shifter, I definitely might have gone that way.

"Lowered crosstrek"-🤓

Yes. That would also be my dream set up. 2.4 Turbo boxer from the WRX in the Crosstrek with the 6MT. I really want to buy another Subaru, however I am disappointed that there's no hatchback version of the WRX for 2022. I'm currently looking at the Impreza 5MT and 2.5 Impreza RS...but the latter doesn't come with a manual transmission. The Crosstrek manual transmission makes the most sense at this point, but yeah if we could get it with the 2.4 Turbo or at least the 2.5 NA engine with manual transmission, I'd be happy.

I don't mind calling this gen the WRXtrek.

Yep

Right! With a big wing, a manual, wrb, gold wheels and 400hp.

The version we get in New Zealand has less of the black plastic shit and we get a wagon/hatchback version as well

@@stefan_4508 WHATTTTT luckyyyyy

Idk I kinda like it

Which version did you go with? Is it comfortable inside? What about fuel and mpg?

@@joshuawalker7038 Since he didnt answer I will. I have a 22' Limited WRX. It is definitely comfy for a performance sedan. My average according to the car is 24, and I get like 30-35 on the highway if it's flat. I will say I wish the gear ratios were shorter, since it would be better for highway cruising since at about 65-70 mph it settles around 2800-3000 rpm. On paper it's about as fast as the last gen, but the torquecurve is much stronger across the power band. There is good torque from 2000-6000 rpm. Also, since it has a larger bore, that means it makes less power from aspiration, meaning less wear on the turbo, and less wear on the headgasket and internals. Good car. Not a fan of the huge screen though, I just wish the climate controls were buttons. The steering feels very good and light and has short ratios. Very fun to throw around corners, and the grip is undeniable. AWD system is top tier, Limited slip diffs front and rear. A bit of understeer when challenging the grip though. EPIC shifting transmission. Good car and im very grateful to have it.

pretty sure this car does not have limited slip diffs at all. That was only on the STI. WRX has open diffs front and back.

What audi did u go from?

*Bimmer

@@H-RutherfordHill it’s beamers not bimmers

@@driveonthestraightpath2138 Not it’s not. Beamers are BMW motorcycles. Bimmers are the cars.

@@H-RutherfordHill never heard that one

I had fun

Too much coffee.

tune it and void your warranty! very smart

@@ericlucci2829 who cares about a warranty lmao, or just wait a few years for the warranty to expire so you can mod it

​@@anaccount7923 Tell me you've never purchased a new car without telling me you've never purchased a new car.

@@Holmesson im 18, of course I haven’t purchased a brand new car

@@anaccount7923 Which is precisely why you don't care about warranties. You've got some growing up to do yet. Don't worry about it, we've all been there. Cheers bud.

I saw one irl the other day and honestly the back and sides look really good imo but the front really does look like a cross trek with a hood scoop

Old better

35k for a 4 cylinder with a cvt....

@@stevebuscemi3622 The manual is the one you should be getting. If you're getting an automatic anything, you might as well go electric.

same and prevents rusting the paint

@@stevebuscemi3622 but the CVT isn't that bad, they didn't go down the horrible path of simulating gears but just made the paddle shifters tweak the torque band, and the adaptive dampers are really helpful

@@SeanRosairothere is still metal under the plastic. It will rust just the same

Sadly, the ocean sets us apart :(

Same. Except I never cared for the Wrx until a few years ago. Test drove one, drives like a dream so I bought one in Sapphire Blue. Lovin how capable it is.

Solution, buy a WRX from the 90s! ;)

@@bujin5455 the 2.5RS that we had available in the US is still my favorite body style. But sadly no turbo. So pretty slow. 2nd favorite is the 2011 STI hatch. But used prices are insane. So went with the 2022 since I had the luck of walking up to the deal and getting one at sticker price. No regrets. Best car I’ve ever owned. Only complaints are it’s way too quiet and clutch catch point is super high from all the other cars I’ve ever driven. Both are easy mods

@@robtronic yeah, I have one of those (2.5RS), with an STi drivetrain and an EZ30R. Pretty fun. Subarus are like Legos, if you want an RS with a Turbo in it, it can happen. My favorite is actually the 2006 STi in WRB. I feel like that was peak STi. My buddy recently bought a really sweet 04 blob eye WRX for $6k, it had 60k miles on the clock, and 16k miles on a fresh short block installed by the dealer. Seems like you found something you like, so congrats on that! :)

Don't go smaller than a 2.0 trust me.

Would you consider the GR Corolla?. Might be a little more but a bit more practical, but probably less grown up than the wrx

Should've waited for the Corolla my guy

@@robertness6041 I think the Corolla will suffer the dealer markups like crazy, but the deal breaker for me is the lack of rear legroom in the hatchback Corolla for car seats. It's something like 5-6 inches less than the sedan Corolla. My wife doesn't work but even my daily needs to be comfy enough to fit them in a pinch. The Corolla looks like a blast though.

@@BigNate5545 waited for big time markups, gonna start at 50k if Toyota doesn't put their hands in to stop it. I love everything about it but it's going to be another Type R but worse in this market.

@@robertness6041 No offense but the Corolla hatchback is probably one of the ugliest hatches there is. People say the Wrx is ugly, but what they mean to say is they don’t like the plastic cladding. The actual shape and lines of the Wrx are really good looking, because people are loving the 2022 Wrx’s that have gotten the cladding with color matched the paint.

Yeah, but it looks like a generic traffic car from Underground 2

Saw an Evo just an hour ago with Ralliart livery, it was immense!

When it turns into an EV: “At least it still has its moniker…right?…”

like the audi allroad or MB E class all terrain or Golf Sportwagen Alltrac

Yeah but the sensing part

But Subaru bumper covers are all one piece. You still have to replace the entire bumper cover and paint the upper portion if the cladding gets damaged. Idk why the parking sensors are so high. I've wondered that on my Crosstrek. It probably is something to do with the Reverse Auto Braking feature and wanting to better detect taller objects.

I’m a one take wonder

What are your monthly payments

So how would you change it to get more feel? Lowering coils? A bit more negative camber?

@@anoopko if its EPS, theres' not much you can do. Maybe suspension bushings, tires. But you won't drastically improve it

Purchase a Perrin Steering Dampener Lockdown ($90- easy install) and it will tighten the steering by 20%. It’s a must have with the last gen and this gen.

@@launderedentertainment Will that fit into the CVT one as well?

@@gotrice5 Yes.

You can’t wrap the cladding they have a texture on them you have to sand to wrap or paint them

Can you not just buy replacement fenders that are paint matched? I can't see how that would mess with the warranty. I won't buy this car tbh unless I can do some cosmetic mods to make it look like an actual WRX while still maintaining warranty. I would definitely tune it once the warranty is up though

One of the few newer cars I've seen that actually looks worse in person.

@@s_________b Its really the rear-end. I saw few in my area and the rear-end looks like a civic but fucked up. Its just doesnt look very good. The front end looks fine personally. But i dont really like the fact this car is wider and fatter than the previous 2021 platform. Thats why it doesnt handle well and understeers bad. Someone did a test with an Elantra N and lets just say WRX is extremely disappointing as a new generation when other manufacturers have consistently improved. WRX looks more like it hasnt improved at all whether its fuel mileage or in general.

It's actually just under 30k for the base model which isn't terrible for a new car but it's quite a bit more expensive than the previous model which started at 23k straight from the factory. After seeing what IAG has been doing to theirs I think the car has a ton of potential and I'm excited to see how it responds to performance parts and tuning.

idk if that's true. sti being discontinued the prices have shot up

@@jaybosher6144 only a handful of super low mileage 2021s have gone upwards of 40s, but 2015-2020 you can find them all day long at $35k

Real question, what do you do when the cladding gets scratched up and looking trashy? Can you order up new fender panels to snap in place yourself? If so, I'm all for it. But if you still have to take to a pro to do some kind of sand/paint/replace option, then I'm not sure that cladding is any kind of advantage for the consumer?

@@ragweedmakesmesneeze agreed. Making cladding with the argument that it's for beating it up and ruggedness loses its appeal if it's not an easy swappable separate replacement panel.

@@ragweedmakesmesneeze People have already removed them to be painted, and it looks like they are just separate pieces

@@ragweedmakesmesneeze the cladding is super simple to replace. It literally takes 10minutes.

@@raiderfan367 i don’t think it when takes that long.

How much did you end up paying?

I have also placed my order of the base model in gun metal grey and I think it looks fabulous. the 2 section screen plus no sunroof(save a lot more weight and body strength) is the way to go. (in Canada) it comes with 17" wheels with the same brakes as the more premium trim. I am going to keep the 17" and just putting on the RE71r and Endless brake pads. perfectly transformed.

Basically the same MPG as a full size truck...

@@fatoni698 full size truck is around 16mpg.

@@yanniobkirk5744 "The WRX has been rated at 19/25/21 mpg on city/highway/combined with the CVT transmission, while Ford's much larger, heavier, and larger-engined truck delivers 19/24/21 mpg-just 1 mpg short of the Subaru on the highway"

this is why i'm convinced the STi cancellation was last minute. I suspect the Recaros would have been standard in the STi, and then the limitation makes "sense".

@@RobWormaldPlus Considering that Subaru is apart of the Toyota Motor Corp, the reason I think the STI is gone and maybe why the WRX was watered down was to make cement the Gr Corolla into the hot hatch market with basically the Golf R as it’s only competition.

The top CVT trim for Canada doesn't even include the Recaros

@@ordinarysuperstar3721 if you're not going to buy a sport transmission you dont need sport seating.

@@the1reef.243 they are part of Toyota group not Toyota motor group but probably lol

I'm thinking of getting one. Been in my bugeye for 16 years. You still have it? How's it holding up?

After seeing one in person, that rear end is a straight up deal breaker

@@KO-iw3vucan't you get an aftermarket back bumper that is paint matched? If not now is that something that will be made in the future?

@@jdyeetyaww yes, but a year later I now think they are other issues with it aesthetically. You probably need to replace or paint the bumper, lower it, get larger tires, paint the plastic cladding, etc. Most new car looks grow on you, but I dislike the new wrx more and more every time I see it.

Oh yeah you're right. Been a while since we drove the previous wrx forgot about the Rev hang

That was my thought. I test drove a CVT a month ago and will likely test drive a manual today. They look a LOT better in person. Cameras seem to make the cladding look larger than it is but it proportional to the rest of the car. It does FEEL like a large car though. It's thicc in person.

'Your opinion is wrong.

I think the BRZ is their sportiest sports car. This is more of a rally car/sedan

Well it's a Subaru , it will be cheaper to fix after a weekend of rally cross . Plus I believe the plastic cladding will offer more protection from debris from aggressive rally cross activity.

@@thomasmatewe this is all true, but that implies the car is made for rally cross. Which it probably is! In other words it is no longer a street race type of car, though. It's more rally focused than previous WRX models

@@crabhab now, you're definitely right. But in the days of the WRX STI, that was the sportiest car they offered. They are turning the WRX into more of a rally focused car and letting the BRZ be the only sporty car for the street now

The more it's seen, the better it looks. I see one here and there and it looks fine. I'd buy one. I'd go for Blue, Grey, or Black.

Saw an old review of a bugeye a long time ago. Remember they looked kinda like a neon? The TV presenter said "it will take the cops a little while to notice....this..is the fast one!"

Trans Siberian Orchestra

@@TheStraightPipes lmfao that's funny, I've never heard of them... Prog Classical Christmas metal 😂

I owned a blob eye. It's the best one

Its bamboo butt. Embrace it

or a Pontiac Aztek

😂

I think it is gonna be a crossover electric sti.... saddly

Honestly I think it will be electric rear wheel drive component. I worked for Subaru for nearly 10 years. They are always a decade behind the competition usually because they want to be reliable. I think a new STI with 30+ mpg and 350hp with electric rear diff would be slick!

@@MrBonderd aren’t like 80% of wrx sales and 95% of sti in manual though? Stick shift is like part of the DNA of the WRX

@@dominiclussier8810 I think so, it makes sense

Tell me you haven't been in a Model3 performance without telling me you haven't been in a Model3 performance.

Plastic face

Whoa that's crazy. RIP ❤‍🔥

@@TheStraightPipes It was the Xtreme Machine Jet truck. It's now been wrapped. Russ has been doing an awesome job running it. Man I would have loved to come up for the event. Have to get up there for another one if you do it again.

It’s funny because not only can they not make a good looking car. They’re also the only Japanese car maker who is not known for their reliability.

There is a wagon variant. And it has painted cladding!

Estate would be sick.

Honestly I was with you on that but after having it for some time it does really well for a sedan! I have much more room than in my GTI

They already have the Levorg STI wagon which is a different name for a WRX, but its not sold in North America unfortunately :(

Are firm brakes a bad thing?

@@jonboy602 I had to mash the brake pedal down to stop the car. Happened with both auto and manual.

@@Qubnomil Ah ok. Usually a 'firm' pedal is something you want as opposed to a spongy pedal with a lot of travel. If it felt the same on 2 cars, chances are you are coming from a car with very high servo assist on the brakes. Many other new cars are like this as it gives the impression of 'good' brakes on a quick test drive. I suspect you'd adjust to a less over assisted pedal very quickly.

We're serious about being not serious

The only downside to the N is no AWD. I would love if my N had AWD.

Another thing ill add is the legroom is the wrx is wayyy better. Having been in both the wrx is more comfortable.

there’s no reason to buy a wrx over competition really lol. fa24’s leak like crazy on the outback xt. i found one with 6000 km on it with a leaking oil pan. i’m nervous for owners who purchased this car.

@@ericlucci2829 only time will tell I've got 3000 miles on mine so far

You summed up all the problems right here, except that a hatchback would be nice again.

@@JJJ.98 you could have checked my profile before replying like that 🤌

idk man... the new civic type R looks much better lol

@@tacom0nsta658 can't argue with that 🤌

Yeah I'm really liking mine so far. I was not a huge fan of the looks initially, although once I saw one in WR Blue I started to like it more. But seeing it in person makes it look so much better, there's definitely still stuff I'd personally change about it but overall I really like it.

The wheel wells started to rust because it’s a Volkswagen…

Your GTI is likely quiter. I have a 2021 last gen stock wrx, horrible road noise and droning on highway.

@@pt93music suabru paints are horrible, too soft.

@@brolyvi1211 very true but Volkswagen takes the cake. Every single one that’s 10 years old is covered in rust. Particularly around the hatches and Volkswagen emblems.

Straight up disagree on many of your points. Have you even driven the new car? The steering is many miles ahead previous gens. The bumper is hideous yes. The transmission isn’t amazing but not nearly as bad as you’re putting it. The biggest issue with your statement is the competition. What other mid 30s car beats this with flying colors? The Honda Civic SI? Nope. The Golf GTI? Nope. They all have shortcomings as does the WRX.

@@CheckeredFlagPodcast not sure how you can disagree with MY points..the guys literally show you that the steering is dead. Even stated, “I don’t know what’s going on with the wheels” and “feels like Crosstrek steering”. Your qualm is with them on that one. As for the tranny, I didn’t make mention of that in terms of quality, I stated that the features enthusiasts want (Recaros / adjustable suspension) are locked to the CVT, or transmission enthusiasts hate. BUT I have owned a couple of WRX’s and I can assure you their trans fall under the category of “meh”. As most reviewers of this car state, it’s “fine”. When compared to other transmissions on the market, such as the one in the Si, Subaru lacks. That’s not opinion, that’s a well known fact. WRX trans are not great and when you add power they need more support. The STI trans is superior but that’s not on offer here. Regarding price: this car, decently optioned, will hit high 30’s. The highest non-CVT trim will get you at 37-38k. And if you want adjustable suspension and better seats you’ll pay even more. Of course you can argue all day that buying the base trim WRX gets you the car cheaper but then you have a Nintendo DS as a head unit. If it were really a DS I could see that as a selling point. I’m not a Subaru enthusiast, I’m a car enthusiast. I’ve owned plenty of Subies to know what you get with them. Subaru is notoriously behind the times with what’s on offer on most of their cars. Hell you can’t get LED headlights in their plebeian cars without getting the top trim. Their competition is stiff and although they may not have AWD, I’ll argue that most people truly only need a decent set of winter tires to handle what they’ll actually use the car for. How would I know? I have an AWD, FWD and RWD car in my garage and although my Subie kicks ass in the snow, the others have been problem free in just the same. But I digress. This WRX is half baked. It’s the scraps of what would have been a better car. A cheap STI without the promise of an STI…

​@@CheckeredFlagPodcast biased answer here but Veloster N or Elantra N

@@TheTortuga58 that is apples to oranges. The Elantra N isn't AWD nor is the Veloster. The N also starts at a higher price before market adjustment right now and the Veloster isn't sold New anymore.

@@CheckeredFlagPodcast I know it's apples to oranges, but you mention civic and gti, so you didn't think FWD was out of the question either.

911 safari

I live in Arlington and drive to DC and in traffic. Great daily driver. You have a couple seconds on the manual stopped on a hill before driftback in gear. Resting your foot on the clutch is not a problem. I stay in 2nd or 3rd a lot. Great for passing.

@@dragnet11 how long have you been driving it?