Corresponding to the overall global success of the Subaru WRX in the past decades, the Japanese automobile manufacturer just popped up the curtain for its 2022 version. Not only that it has gotten prettier, but it has never been more exciting to drive as it promises a superior level of performance. It has received several awards in the past years in rally sports with a remarkable marking record, and to continue the legacy of the World Championship Rally (WRX), Subaru incorporated new features and innovations to give justice to its name.

Variants

The 2022 Subaru WRX comes in two body types - the sedan, and the wagon. The Subaru WRX Sedan TS CVT variant is priced at Php2,808,000 while Php2,658,000 for the Subaru WRX Sedan 2.4 CVT variant. For the manual transmission, the Subaru WRX Sedan 2.4 MT costs Php2,508,000.

Unlike its sedan variants, the WRX wagon comes in just two variants. The Subaru WRX Wagon TS CVT is available at Php,2,708,000 while Php2,558,000 for the Subaru WRX Wagon CVT.

Powertrain System

It sits on top of a Subaru Global Platform which is a factor in its superior performance. Powering the 2022 WRX is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged flat boxer gasoline-powered engine that makes 271 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque output mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. It comes with a fully-independent suspension setup with MacPherson struts and a double-wishbone.

Exterior

The 2022 WRX got an overall redesigned exterior from its previous version. The front fascia features new LED headlamps cornered in aggressive-looking LED daytime running lights and a black sporty-looking Subaru's signature hexagonal radiator vent grille topped with the Subaru badge in the middle complementing its scoop-designed and chiseled hood. There are also air vent grilles down below with the LED fog lamps along with the front bumper.

Beyond the controversy, the WRX sedan's plastic fender claddings help with the aerodynamics of the car. They have a golf ball-like texture that massages the air, says Subaru. There are also air passages on it to help with the flow of air, especially when running at a high speed. The black fender claddings continue to the side skirts and bumpers of the WRX sedan, while there is no cladding on the WRX wagon as Subaru aims to give a family car vibe to the wagon. Aside from that, the side profile of the WRX has muscular rear wheel arches that give it a sporty outlook. The wheels come in 17-inch and 18-inch alloy, depending on the variant. For the tires, the WRX wagon's tires are noticeably thinner than the WRX sedan.

At the back, it comes with a trunk rear spoiler, and under that is the Subaru logo badge. On each side, the rear profile highlights Subaru's LED magma taillamps with turn signal lights which is a stunningly realistic representation of a flowing volcano magma. The rear bumper below comes in black with character folding that makes the WRX sedan more aggressive and sportier complementing its quad exhaust tips.

Interior

There are just a few differences between the interior of the manual and automatic transmission variants. They both come with the same leather and a hard plastic dashboard finish. The flat-bottom steering wheel is covered in premium leather to have a better driving grip for the driver. It comes with buttons to control the infotainment system and driving functionalities. Behind the steering wheel is a basic instrument cluster with traditional gauges. For the infotainment system, both the automatic and manual transmission comes with an 11.6 portrait touchscreen embossed in the dashboard panel and is connected to an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with a split-screen feature for simultaneous multimedia and information display. Even though it has a massive touchscreen display, the WRX still comes with physical buttons, which is good news for the driver.

When it comes to the seats, the manual and the automatic transmission differ as the manual variant seats are covered in the standard fabric while suede and leather are in the automatic variant. Nonetheless, both variants come with bolstering and lumbar support, which help have a comfortable ride. Plus, the automatic transmission variant gets a panoramic sunroof, which unfortunately is not present in the manual transmission variant.

Safety and Security

Subaru promises that they prioritize safety. That is why the WRX is equipped with the latest Subaru EyeSight Suite which includes lane departure prevention, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency steering, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management system, lane centering control, manual speed limiter, lead vehicle start alert, reverse automatic braking, and the EyeSight Assist Monitor. On top of that, it also comes with the standard ISOFIX tethers, seven airbags, high beam assist, traction control, ABS with EBD, steering responsive headlights, vehicle stability control, door ajar warning, height-adjustable seat belts, parking sensors, hill-start, and hill-descent assist, seat belt warning, and front and side-impact beams.