Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement.

No gold wheels, though. I love the Subaru brand: the quirkiness, the independence, the engineering; that badge, based on the Pleiades star cluster. Hard on the brakes into a corner, pitch the nose in forcefully, brutally almost, and then, when you reach the apex, get on the gas, foot to the floor, and the four-wheel-drive grip would just dig in and catapult the car down the next straight. Worst thing is the ride. Forget potholes — just a slightly irregular surface will have you jiggling around so much your head bobbles on your shoulders. Yes, there are advantages when it comes to body control on a late-night thrash, but the cost is too high in day-to-day use.

Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

After test driving both the standard WRX and the STI, I felt that the regular WRX was much easier to drive and felt more like a better daily driver - a great car and a brilliant performance bargain for the price. However, after driving the STI, I felt absolutely engaged on the road. With the feel of a beefy turbo and the sound of that iconic rumble, it reminded me what Subaru rally cars were all about. Having not owned a Subaru before I learned of other options - such as the Golf R and the upcoming Focus RS - I still felt Subaru was much more compact and had a much more grippy all-wheel-drive system. After all, if you are after power, power and more power, you might as well buy an M series or AMG. Of course, you will be looking at a far heftier price. At an affordable price, it is surprising Subaru has been able to deliver an outstanding performance car which is coupled with a very spacious cabin. The STI is my weekend car, which was a fact that greatly influenced my purchasing decision. The My17 models now come with an 8 speaker Harmon Kardon system and sub as standard, along with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring sat nav. If you are considering the premium model, I would say there will not be much difference apart from leather seats, sunroof and blind spot detection. The base models still include comfortable Alcantara and leather seats, which I think would also perform better at staying cool in the heat.

Drive's Best Cars.

Yes, I know the rocking-on-its-mounts lawn tractor engine is part of the Subaru experience, and all the fanboys relish it, but for the rest of us, Subie's big turbo H4 feels slow to rev and coarse at lower rpm. Keep it around 3K, right on the edge of boost, though, and there's plenty of thrust on tap. It's just not as immediate or as fierce as the late Mitsubishi Evo , nor is it as refined as the Golf R. The upcoming arrival of the Ford Focus RS will be the big test for Subaru's rally rocket and its ability to trade on brand loyalty and proven tech. Our STI's shifter, brakes and steering require no such asterisks, delivering lovely, direct feedback and control at all speeds I was able to explore on my pockmarked-pavement routes around Detroit.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. If you don't mind the ride, the STI is a properly fun sport sedan. It takes a while to get used to the massive wing fixed to the rear of this little speed demon. In fact, there is a lot to get used to in the STI, but when it all comes together, the aggressive Subie, with its serious rally racing technology, is a kick and a half. In Subaru-land this model starts off as the sedate Impreza. Add horsepower and it's a WRX. It's a stiff and harsh ride; great for the track, not so great for daily driving.

Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

No gold wheels, though. I love the Subaru brand: the quirkiness, the independence, the engineering; that badge, based on the Pleiades star cluster. Hard on the brakes into a corner, pitch the nose in forcefully, brutally almost, and then, when you reach the apex, get on the gas, foot to the floor, and the four-wheel-drive grip would just dig in and catapult the car down the next straight. Worst thing is the ride. Forget potholes — just a slightly irregular surface will have you jiggling around so much your head bobbles on your shoulders.

Predator oil chat

Having said that, the competition is heating up with hot hatch production. I race air-cooled Volkswagens in desert races like the Mint and the Baja Unfortunately, fuel economy is heading south with all this playing around. I love two-seater, RWD convertibles and own a Mazdaspeed Miata for pavement fun and a lifted Miata for pre-running. In Subaru-land this model starts off as the sedate Impreza. View all Subaru Reviews. Add horsepower and it's a WRX. Electric Cars Guide. The rally championships that built the brand seem about as relevant to modern-day Subaru as they are to Audi. At 75 mph, it sits right where the turbo spools up, meaning if you put your foot down, even in sixth gear, it gets up in a hurry. All Subaru.

By Ben Barry. America suffered sizeable turbo lag with its launch of the Subaru Impreza Turbo.

Unfortunately, fuel economy is heading south with all this playing around. Ford is finally bringing the Focus RS to America, which offers an easier ride on the street and more power and torque to boot. If you don't mind the ride, the STI is a properly fun sport sedan. Next morning we explore with permission some of the Forestry Commission gravel tracks that weave through the forest. Engine cc 4-cyl boxer turbo, bhp rpm, lb ft rpm Gearbox 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive Stats 5. View all Subaru Reviews. New Car Calendar. They are not true racing seats but they still offer plenty of support while remaining soft enough for long drives. In terms of global recognition, Subaru owned a colour like Ferrari owns red. All Family Cars. Gallery: Subaru Ascent. Doors and Seats 4 doors, 5 seats. Also, be ready for looks.