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 |
2017 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 | 245/40WR18 tires | 245/40WR18 tires | 245/40WR18 tires | 245/40WR18 tires |
2017 Subaru WRX Powertrain: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2017 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 268hp 2.0L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
The powertrain is well set up for performance. The clutch is light and picks up right from the bottom of its travel. The accelerator is problematic, giving nearly 100% throttle with only half of its travel. it takes a while to get a feel for the delicate touch needed to launch smoothly, but downshifting and drifting out of corners comes easily (at least in the snow). The powerband is not especially smooth, being a bit laggy below 2,000 rpm and running out of breath much above 5,500 rpm. Nevertheless, the harder you drive it, the better it seems to perform. I'm just past my break-in and still finding the best techniques for extracting the best from the engine. It's geared pretty low, so the revs stay down when cruising on the highway, and I've been seeing about 26-27 miles per gallon. Around town it's closer to 20 mpg. I expect both to improve, although I have to say it's getting driven pretty hard right now. see full Subaru WRX review |
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 |
2017 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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2017 Subaru WRX Tires: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2017 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 268hp 2.0L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
The car comes with 18" wheels and 245/40-18 summer Dunlop Sport Maxx tires, which are perhaps overly stiff and offering little sidewall flex. Steering response is immediate and the highway ride is jiggly, but larger bumps are handled well, and frost-heaved New England roads can be run hard without losing touch of the road. I immediately mounted 17" winter wheels with 225/45-17 Michelin Ice3 snow tires and the ride has improved immensely and the tire noise has decreased despite the aggressive snow/ice tread. The combination of all-wheel drive and snow tires is a revelation in the big snow storms we've had. We've climbed hills with no drama while the local SUV's are slithering off. see full Subaru WRX review |
Body | Trim | Base Price | Invoice | Destination |
4dr Sedan | Base | 26,695 | 25,186 | 820 |
4dr Sedan | Premium | 28,995 | 27,309 | 820 |
4dr Sedan | Limited | 30,995 | 29,154 | 820 |
4dr Sedan | STI | 35,195 | 33,286 | 820 |
4dr Sedan | STI Limited | 39,995 | 37,750 | 820 |