Body | 4dr Sedan |
Wheelbase | 104.3 in |
Length | 180.9 in |
Width | 70.7 in |
Height | 58.1 in |
Curb Weight | 3433 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 52.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.1 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.4 in |
Total Legroom | 78.7 in (over 2 rows) |
Cargo Volume | 12.0 ft3 |
2015 Subaru WRX Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2015 | The Subaru WRX has always been fun to drive. But it used to be cramped inside, especially in the back seat. This is no longer an issue. The new car has more rear seat legroom than the one-size-up Legacy had during its 2005-2009 glory days. Unless your friends and family are tall, they'll fit in back. While the GTI's back seat is nearly as roomy, the Focus ST's isn't in the same ballpark. If you want rear air vents for your passengers, though, you'll have to get the VW or the Ford. Subaru doesn't offer them in the WRX. see full Subaru WRX review |
2015 Subaru WRX Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2016 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 268hp 2.0L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
Anyone whose owned a previous-gen WRX knows rear seat space, especially leg room, as "OK" at best. Subaru has revised the rear seats to where there is now more leg room for the lucky passengers in the rear. With the driver seat adjusted to how I sit (I'm 6-feet tall and have a more upright seating position), there is about 1.5 inches of space between my knees and the driver seat back (vs. no space on the previous gen!). Comfort is pretty good, although the seats take on more of a lean on the seat back, which may/may not jive well with your passengers backs. see full Subaru WRX review |
Trim | Base | Premium | Limited | STI | STI Limited |
Standard Engine | turbocharged 2.0L H4 DOHC-4v 268 hp@5600 258 lb-ft@2000 | turbocharged 2.0L H4 DOHC-4v 268 hp@5600 258 lb-ft@2000 | turbocharged 2.0L H4 DOHC-4v 268 hp@5600 258 lb-ft@2000 | turbocharged 2.5L H4 DOHC-4v 305 hp@6000 290 lb-ft@4000 | turbocharged 2.5L H4 DOHC-4v 305 hp@6000 290 lb-ft@4000 |
Standard Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
Optional Transmission(s) |   | 8-speed manually-shiftable CVT | 8-speed manually-shiftable CVT |   |   |
Standard Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
Standard Tires | 235/45WR17 tires | 235/45WR17 tires | 235/45WR17 tires | 245/40WR18 tires | 245/40WR18 tires |
2015 Subaru WRX Powertrain: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2015 | With many of the latest turbocharged engines, including those in the Volkswagen GTI and the Ford Focus ST, you'll only notice the boost kick in if you're paying close attention. The WRX has a new direct-injected engine for 2015, a 268-horsepower 2.0-liter instead of the previous 265-horsepower 2.5-liter, but it retains old-school turbo flavor. There's a distinct transition as the boost kicks in. You feel it, and hear it. But the new engine's on/off character makes for more of a rush than the GTI's when you do want to get on it. Once the turbo spools up (in a blink of an eye over 3,000 rpm) the engine, with a distinctively grumbly flat four sound, pulls hard. This is a very quick car. The new STI, which retains the old STI's 305-horsepower 2.5-liter engine, isn't any quicker. All-wheel-drive makes it much easier to employ the full power of the engine than in the front-wheel-drive competitors. Especially if the road isn't straight. Or dry. All is not well with the powertrain, though. The six-speed manual transmission sounds and feels clunky. You'll find much better shifters in the Focus ST and GTI--and those are hardly the best. Also, the engine's bipolarity isn't optimal for around-town drivability. If you're not making a conscious effort to either keep the engine below or above the point where the turbo fully spools up, boost will kick in just as you shift. It's much easier to drive the Focus ST or especially the GTI smoothly. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) that can be manually shifted among eight simulated gears is optional. I briefly drove a new WRX with the CVT, and didn't care for it. Though Subaru's CVT is about as good as they get, even when using the fixed ratios the engine felt weaker and far less responsive than with the manual. As much as I mind the clunkiness of the manual, I strongly prefer it to the CVT. Comparing two-pedal cars, the GTI with its optional DSG automated dual clutch manual transmission delivers a much more satisfying and engaging driving experience. see full Subaru WRX review |
2015 Subaru WRX Powertrain: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2016 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 268hp 2.0L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
Powertrain performance was put last in the pros list for a few reasons -- which I'll touch on later in the cons section as well. If you're looking for a daily driver with power in all the right places -- look no further! Power comes on strong from ~2200 rpm to about 4500 rpm, right where most people will be driving on a daily basis. Plenty of passing power without having to really wind out the engine. A low-mid range torque grunt is the best way to describe its power delivery. A wonderful powerband for those who don't want to really let the engine rev out. Up high; however, not so much -- more on this later. Clutch/transmission is pretty darn good compared to the previous generations. Clutch has a nice grab point and an almost aftermarket-like engagement, transmission is (with the optional STI short throw shifter) much more notchy and certain with how the gears engage -- both have some little quirks/qualms that come in the cons section. see full Subaru WRX review |
2015 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 268hp 2.0L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
3 out of 5: Lots of power for the price and displacement, but turbo power is still peaky/laggy. Power delivery is a bit unrefined. Manual transmission is not stellar, combined with turbo lag, it can be a bit rough in low speed every day driving. Clutch take up/catch point is bit soft. see full Subaru WRX review |
2015 Subaru WRX Powertrain: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2016 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 268hp 2.0L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
Before continuing on, understand that I'm particular about power delivery/driving feel (especially at this price point vs. comparable cars) -- my perspective may not be applicable to you.
On to the meat and potatoes of the WRX -- the powertrain performance. When you buy a WRX, chances are good you know you're paying for the powertrain first and everything else second (but more of a close second rather than like an STI where powertrain reigns supreme over all else). What really makes the WRX, ends up being just short of what I expected.
Modern cars tend to have a bit more linearity in the small-displacement, turbocharged engine category -- they usually give a nice wallop down low to mid-range and then gradually die off up top. The transmission/clutch action is also pretty light and easy to manage. This is where the WRX starts to show its lack of polish, as pointed out below:
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None of our members have yet commented on the tires of the 2015 Subaru WRX.
Body | Trim | Base Price | Invoice | Destination |
4dr Sedan | Base | 26,295 | 24,817 | 795 |
4dr Sedan | Premium | 28,495 | 26,848 | 795 |
4dr Sedan | Limited | 29,995 | 28,232 | 795 |
4dr Sedan | STI | 34,495 | 32,635 | 795 |
4dr Sedan | STI Limited | 38,495 | 36,355 | 795 |