Why I Wanted to Love the New WRX: What Let Me Down 

The new WRX is perfect. Even the cladding, makes it a great daily, you just don’t care where you go, the car will be fine. Not the fastest, not the most luxurious, not the best in something in particular but the best overall in its price range. So much hate on it, coming always from old WRX owners (STI in a great majority) but man… still, this is an amazing car, sporty, aggressive, AWD, suitable for a family, comfortable, and abled to compete with anything. If you need more power, just tune it, if you need more sound, go for what the after market offers, but you cannot really complain, it’s what it is and it is great. And yes, go ahead, I will be waiting for the haters, but no one will change my mind on this car 🫶🏼

Nice video as usual Ross well done. I agree the car is too quiet, however WRX's have never ever really made that much noise from the factory. People tend to compare stock to aftermarket.

I can sense the disappointment in your voice it's like someone tore the heart out of the WRX

I cant be the only one finding the new giant screens in cars tacky and gimmicky looking?

Its a sedan and its manuel , rare combination in 2023.

Wrx hasn’t used an EJ since 2015. STI yes not the wrx’s though.

I think Subaru are marketing the WRX to the original WRX owners who have grown up and so have been making the WRX grow up with them if you know what I mean. I don't like the black side cladding, it makes the WRX look like an SUV and so in my opinion it would look better being colour coded. Yes I agree the exhaust could have a better note but not too loud but enough to know that the car is revving up. With bi-modal exhausts been around for a few years now surely Subaru could put a system in the WRX.

This car is magnificent to drive luxury mixed with performance

The CVT isn’t the normal CVT in other Subarus, it shifts extremely fast almost like a dual clutch + you do get all of the convenience of remote start, dynamic cruise, lane centering, front auto-emergency braking, etc. The auto is being slept on in this car.

Hi Ross. What I really like on the Mitsubishi Evo and the Subaru WRX models, that they can be ordered with a 6 speed manual gearbox. Most of the others cars have AWD only with a automatic gearbox. But I really like the older Subaru WRX models much more (sound + emotions + more rawness like a "rally car" should be....). The big touchscreen in the middle of the dash on this new one don't looks right for me for this car. Best wishes Chris

This car is perfect. Msrp $30k 400whp/400wtq for $35k Sorry ross

I think the haters need to accept that the car is a wrx and not a wrx sti. At some point Subarus strategy was to release the sti at some point after just after the wrx, hence the wrx was a more staid release in terms of sound, feel, looks etc. Stop complaining it's still a beaut, if you want more power etc, the car has sti potential so modify it.

Good review Ross. I bought a wrx sportswagon TS (essentially a Levorg)last year brand new. It’s really punchy but it’s clear Subarus gone for a more refined approach. I guess their reasoning is they want to compete with bmw 1 series and Audi a3. I got an aftermarket cat back exhaust and it has a nice growl but nothing like the EJs. I would have bought an i30 N but it was an 18 month wait. It just feels like they are winding up the ICE Subarus and investing into electric and hydrogen.

Biggest downside of the this new subie is no sti version, but still, it deserves to be in the same league as the gr Corolla, civic type r, and Nissan Z.

Awesome review! Personally I will say for 50k I will go buy a new CLA 35. 50k is pretty damn pricey to me for a WRX. However, this new platform has crazy potential! Seeing the numbers even with simple mods and tunes looks incredibly promising! May pick one up and trade in my 2015 ✊️

Hi Ross, a little bit of respectful criticism here. Please research more before you do a video panning a car like this. Recaro are only available in the US market, seats for the top trim are the same here. Also the cvt in this wrx is miles ahead of last gen and I seriously doubt you've even tried one before saying it is no good. Engineering Explained does a great video showing just how good it is. Personally I think you just said the typical manual journalist talking points to get clicks. Finally the sound, I've owned 2 previous gen rexes and this car has a very nice engine note, if you want theatrics get a Hyundai n or aftermarket exhaust, but as it stands this car has a very burble and some nice induction noises. Tbh your video seemed really poorly researched and you were more focused on getting those clicks than digging a little deeper and seeing how good this car is under the surface.

Unusual to see analogue gauges and a manual handbrake in 2023, good to see

i have 2 wrx, one wrx sti 06 jdm, another gc8 with ej207 and 6 sp (i built and tuned engine myself) ive owned lots of cars imo after 2015 they are more like a liberty gt than a wrx good video

This engine with its current output should be an option across the 2023 Crosstrek range, and the WRX spec should have at least another 50kw and 50nm. That’s my thoughts on the matter anyway.

Hey Johnny mate,when I first watched the preview of this car on your Insta page I honestly thought it was an EV because it's so damn quiet lol,I like the look & it goes alright but yep I agree at the end of the day it doesn't compare to earlier versions no way,anyway another top review buddy thanks man.

Aftermarket this car could be something, Depends how much $$$ you are prepaired to drop. I like the WRX logo/letters in the headrests.

I have a feeling this new gen will be like the G80 gen. Looks fugly at first glance esp considering what we are used to, but it eventually grows on us

Hello Ross, I think it’s a nice looking car. Seems to handle well. I thought it’s 0-100 could have been a bit quicker for what it is. You are right, it is too quiet. It doesn’t even sound like a sports car should. I think there needs to be a few adjustments done to the car to justify the price tag for what you would expect for a car like this. Great review again.

It's criminal that they never gave it that rex sound we all know and love

So he talked about unequal length exhaust manifold runners making a Subaru what it is, but then he showed a video of a modded STI with an equal length header... The FA sounds like garbage on the exterior. You don't want it to make much noise.

Keep mixing it up Ross 🤘🏼. I love hearing real people give really opinions.

Enjoy while it lasts, hopefully the updated version will include adaptive suspension. One thing for sure, depreciation is going to be low.

Is your opinion based on driving one for a day or after 6 months ownership?

Seems like they have tailored this to the North American market.

great review I agree is to quiet with a exhaust it would be a lot better

I really don't like the look of this car. The cladding looks cheap, the headlights look a bit too small, and the whole rear end is a mess. Those taillights look like they belong on a Honda Civic, and the rest of the features back there all look like they're stretched vertically. Instead of looking low and wide, like you'd want from a performance car, it looks tall, narrow, and the plastic comes up so far! Now, I understand these cars have a rally background. But, at least in the U.S., I don't think most people who are drawn to the WRX necessarily care. They want the performance they get out of it on pavement. They also want the fun of a manual transmission, so I agree it's ridiculous this car doesn't offer its highest trim level with a stick! My take is that this car has just ensured the resale value of the previous generation of WRXs and STIs will remain high.

If you're thinking about buying one of these, I suggest you don't listen to those "MT purists" s*itting on the CVT. Go drive one instead and see for yourself. I came to the dealership searching for a MT 6 speed, and left ordering a CVT. If you are not planning to race in this car on the track, and just want a normal car thats fun to drive, the CVT will not disappoint you.

With where subaru is going with the WRX and the STI variants. I don't think I'll go out of my way to try and buy one. I have been a die hard subaru boi since 2002 and just like most car companies, the brand evolves and I don't think that's bad. But it feels like (and I have driven the new WRX so this is from my experience) they decided to move away from the "racer boi" attitude of their sports cars and make as refined as possible versions of their vehicles. And I get it.... but when I owned my first wrx I got it because the car demanded respect when you drove it and it had a TON of excitement. The newer models, just all seem to not have any of that feeling I'm talking about unless you drop like 10k into mods and a tune, and proper calibration and set up of the car to make it reliable after removing like 90% of what the car had. Again I love the brand, I wish they made the car more exciting. It was more boring than my 1.4l manual 2017 jetta. That little motor at least makes cool turbo noises and engine growl from the factory and gets better mpg. Add a stage 1 tune to clean up the torq curve and honstly it feels better than the 2021 WRX STI my friend let me borrow for a day to look cool for a chick I tried to get with.

3:18 it's bloody ugly mate, absolutely terrible.

You’re driving on the wrong side Get a left hand drive it’s much better trust me🤣

Sounds like only old men who just retired from the public service buy their top of the line model

6.5-7s to 100 is slow for this kind of power awd car. Anyway, good review.

Look how they massacred my boy 😭

Unless your going to track a car, large brakes in normal driving are no better, it's a myth that you need large expensive brakes a daily driver. modern ABS brakes Standard on cars are more than adequate.

I’m ok with the looks and the transmission. The engine has enough but feels very vanilla. I think the manual should have adaptive dampers, pre-collision and adaptive cruise. The infotainment…is absolutely terrible! Shifting with a touch screen for climate and heated seats is simply a bad idea.

I've seen people already color matching the cladding on this new gen WRX. It looks pretty good color matched.

Pro tip - The fact factory optionable sports exhaust helps for more sound

That's not much quicker than my wife's Cerato GT and it has a good exhaust note from stock. Love Subaru engineering but the plastic guard's are a no go for me.

Alot of points you point out about this car are more aftermarket areas. Your driving a Bone stock WRX and expect a UEL header sound???? Dont make no sense. None of the WRX came like that Bone stock. This car has and is getting good aftermarket support like all the other cars before.

The unpainted trend does kill the looks of modern cars for me. It just gives them that ugly over styled look to them. Still wouldn't look that bad if the plastic trims were painted the same colour as the rest of the car though. If I was going to get an WRX I would prefer to get one from around the 2005 models over those new ones.

The new fa24 motors are way Fuckung deeper then the older models stock.

When you (don't really) !! need to keep your eyes on the road something flashes on the dash and tells you !!! Sort of defeats the purpose. Ha ha

What the hell did they do to the focus st / ugh I don’t like it at all!

Sound is lacking big time...dont understand why car makers dont put decent brakes on there cars...not bad looking car...each to there own....

Beats a GR Yaris around the track engine is a let down though

Check if my dislike button went through

It’s really funny how most of the people talking crap about the new cvt have never driven it.

2.5 ej was in Wrx before the FA 2.0 people always forget. Idk why People think 2.4 is something impressive...

The front looks ok, but the rear is hideous.

Almost as slow as a standard XR6 or S Commodore from 15 years ago... and not much more economical despite the smaller size...

I like mine, the RTV issue is a bummer, aftermarket exhaust is on the list along with a stereo upgrade. But otherwise isn't too bad, I like the driving so far, but another couple issues I have is locking the car while running, with manual why the fuck isn't there a remote start. Why can't my key fob lock the car while running, I'm from the U.S. and because of work I carry my handgun and it makes a security risk when the car unlocks itself while running with keys outside of it ,Just doesn't make sense. But otherwise it runs nice.

I absolutely brutalised one of these in my G8 last week at the lights. I was shocked.

Great review as always mate. I find with each generation of Subaru from mid 2000’s they just seem to be getting more lifeless and bland. Disappointing power and slower than a new Camry(technically different class of vehicle)I guess the only reason you would buy one is for the handling and the manual. Very sad indeed.

I loved the 90s early 2000s Subies (and owned a couple) but after that, Subaru lost me.

Most motors are quiet stock. Like a Harley Davidson motorcycle it sounds nothing like it should without an aftermarket exhaust

Black or gun metal grey looks killer in the new wrx. The arches and trim suit the body colour... put an aftermarket exhaust and some te37's with coilovers and would look sweet and sound nice

Imagine what the hater's are going to be saying year's from now when Subi's go full electric ect...ohhh i can't hear the engine...ohhh i can't hear the exhaust..learn to adapt now coz it's gonna really hurt later on

here i thought that doing 105 in second was too short in my vz, as my previuos ls1's could pull 115 or so, but having to shift into 3rd at ~85 in the wrx is laughable... and yes i did own a wrx once... for a short time as i just didnt like it (05 model)

from the bck it looks a bnit like my subaru Legacy 3.0R sedan in black buut it rly looks similiar imo but i love it

So it’s slower 0-100 than the RS Turbo Liberty from 30 years ago…

So the 2015-2021 Wrx FA20 is some type of EJ variant?

Plastic is cheaper than steel, that black plastic crap is a con on all cars

Drove one and the steering felt so dull and disconnected, like a video game

Is it a sedan or a lift back? 🤔

The Asians will do wonders with it by putting extras from Ebay on it😂

Next it will be an EV 🙄

CVT 🤢🤮🤮

Definitely could be a little bit louder I reckon

The new WRX is a real disappointment and it's almost like Subaru has given up on this model entirely... Miss the glory days of Subaru, this just isn't a WRX 😔

what a dog's breakfast. Looks tacky on the exterior with all the plastic.

7 seconds, wow, that is laughable. lol

Very disappointing car. At least the after market scene has already been adding quite a few nice options

The SPT sucks, like I mean really SUCKS. Yes I own one. Worst car decision in 25 years

Almost fantastic 🙂 50/50 split on dirt sucks ass big time. But hey it's a new car so it unlikely you are going to take it out the bush and flog the f out it. I'd like to have a drive and see what it's like. 🙂👍

rear end looks horrible, lost its tough look

I thought it was aimed more for Northern Hemisphere with the plastic for the snow and salt in Winter. Australia should have got Colour coded body.

What a wet car!

So bulky. Almost looks like a suv 😂

The cluster continually flashing would be enough to turn me away from buying one.

In my eyes, it looks worse than an AU, and im a ford guy

The WRX is dead.

so pretty soleless ...no thanks

NO WRX sounded that great until there was an aftermarket exhaust stuck on it. Top spec in Australia doesn't get Recaro's or brakes upgraded. This model is literally faster than the previous Gen STI and ultimately people aren't buying 1990s WRXs in 2023 - buying tastes have moved on.