2015 Subaru WRX: Full Video Review!

"Driving Sports TV" (drivingsports) 12/16/2013 at 12:47 • Filed to: Subaru, WRX, Review, Driving Sports TV

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Ryan drives the brand-new for 2015 Subaru WRX. Can this all-new version live up to the hype? Or, (to muddle a metaphor) has Subaru thrown its turbo-charged baby out with the bathwater?

The new WRX is powered by a new 2.0-L flat-four with a twin-scroll turbo making 268hp and 258 lb-ft peak powering all four wheels thanks to Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system (50:50 in the 6MT, 45:55 variable in the CVT.) Pricing was not announced at the time of the review, but we expect it will be close to the outgoing models.

Some other details that I couldn't fit in the review: the steering rack is tighter at 14.5:1 (versus 15:1 previously), the steering wheel is smaller (but not as small as the BRZs), the seats have a movable headrest due to safety requirements (but they're really nice anyhow), the front stabilizer bar is upgraded from 21mm to 24mm, the rear bar is 20mm (previously 19mm), rear springs are 62% stiffer than before. Also, SI-Drive now adapts intelligently to driving style, going to the 8-speed stepped mode when driving aggressively. The car also stays in the SI-Drive mode you last used (I or S, not S#). This is due to the way the car was rated by the EPA. The MPG numbers you'll see are basically a mix between I and S, not optimum MPGs which is why, on paper the CVT gets only 19 city / 25 hwy / 21 combined whereas the 6MT gets 21/28/24. In the real-world in I-mode the CVT will get equal to or better MPG than the 6MT.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Driving Sports TV 12/16/2013 at 12:56

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As someone who has owned a Legacy GT turbo 5-speed...

Who buys a car like this because of fuel economy ratings?

I get that they shouldn't be abysmally bad... but it seems like a fair amount of engineering went into setting fuel economy numbers, that strays the R&D and engineering focus off of the performance car this is supposed to be.

They sure as hell didn't spend the development money on the styling.

Driving Sports TV > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 13:11

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I also had a LGT turbo 5-speed (with a 16G and lots of other bits). Fuel economy is required by the government and is wanted by buyers. They can't not address it in an update. Mazda ignored it with the RX-8 at their peril (or lack of engineering funds) and it killed the rotary program. (18mpg freeway is inexcusable... I owned one of those, too.)

The car has so many enhancements versus the outgoing model, I think they spent their R&D very wisely. If you get a chance, check out a black 2015 WRX in person, it looks really good (but is tough to photograph).

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Driving Sports TV 12/16/2013 at 13:46

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Direct Injection is addressing it.

and don't get me wrong, I like the idea of SI Drive dynamics controls, so that EPA stiffs don't dictate the ONLY dynamics profile of the car.

But really... 8 stepped gears in the CVT? Why not 43? It is an infinitely* variable (*stepless between two end point ratio limits) gearbox.

It is good that the changes are quick... but as the video (you?) mentioned... it doesn't have the direct power application feel, because there are slip devices in it, basically a torque converter.

And please... let's not get started on the rotary, which is a whole different discussion. EPA regs have no idea how to handle a rotary engine, whatsoever, and getting it to conform to piston engine behavior is one of the reasons the Renesis wasn't as good as it was probably capable of. Also, advances in engineering that eliminate the sealing gap at the spark cavities would help immensely with combustion blow-by and emissions, as well.

But back to the Subaru...

I am glad that the seats are better. That was required.

I am glad that the suspension is tighter and better handling... but I only hope the bushings last past 70K miles... My legacy's didn't.

If it is true that the WRX stepped up to the 5x114.3 bolt pattern that is IMMENSELY more common for wheel fitment... that is also a good thing.

But the stuff about tuning the suspension stroke by only having one body style that the japanese engineers were talking about? Seems maybe a bit more geared toward justifying the reduced cost of not building the 5-door more practical body style.

Frankly, I would rather have this sort of performance car as a 3-door fastback coupe than a sedan anyway, and I am not talking about an under-powered and lower-traction RWD BRZ. Something more an AWD alternative to Genesis Coupe, Mustang, and Nissan Z, than an impreza sedan with a hood scoop.

I fit more stuff in my old Probe GT and Fox Mustang hatchback than I could ever fit in my Legacy GT, or my SVX, with their dinky little trunk lid openings.

That is where 5-door WRX and STIs actually offered something that EVO didn't. You could actually put something in the back, and carry it... you didn't have to have a separate vehicle, and leave the fun Subaru in the garage.

I am glad Subaru is getting some of the details better, but some of the big-picture things still aren't quite right.

After the WRX Concept bait and switch to what the production car looks like, it really should have some compelling qualities, because looks ain't it... even if people give the looks a pass while others like me don't really like the looks... I am not sure anyone is lusting after the looks of the car, and just have to own it because of how good it looks.

I have seen so many promising developments take a turn for the worse... about the only thing I have even a slight shred of hope for...

...is that the guts and the improved details of this WRX or maybe even STI-grade hardware, will possibly get ported over to XV Crosstrek... where at least the car will have a rear hatch for better cargo accommodation, and enough ground clearance to actually survive some of the pot-holes that decimated my Legacy's suspension. Rally cars don't have low ride height, anyway.

It is great that it handles well when new, but if it can't survive decaying roads... it will become a clattering rattle-trap, and handle worse as it ages, as I have seen my Legacy GT do, before 100K miles, with failed bushings all over the suspension, blown stock dampers (<60K miles), and two sets of Bilstein spec.b. dampers after that.

I hope the improvements are long lasting... but I am becoming a proponent of some ride height.

Jayhawk Jake > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 14:07

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I don't think it's an issue of buying a car because of the fuel ratings, but not buying one because the fuel ratings are so bad.

There will be a market regardless of the fuel ratings, but it's so abysmally worse than similarly spec'd/priced cars. Is AWD really worth getting fuel economy that much worse than competitors?

I'm not saying it's that bad, 28 highway is alright, 24 city is manageable, I got that in my last car. But you aren't going to win over any GTi/ST buyers with economy numbers like that.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Driving Sports TV 12/16/2013 at 14:48

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That whole bit about how awesome the CVT is...just annoys me so much! Sure, theoretically a CVT can be OK...but going on and on about the ooooh, 8 sequential gears! changes gears faster than you can even time!...WHAT GEARS?

Driving Sports TV > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 12/16/2013 at 14:51

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Some CVT's in "geared" modes are very, very slow to respond. So yes, having a fast CVT is an achievement of sorts. *Though perhaps it shouldn't be.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jayhawk Jake 12/16/2013 at 14:54

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And as a Subaru owner, I wouldn't entertain a FWD VW GTi or Focus ST, or even a FWD Mazdaspeed 3.

View the torque-steering discussion thread earlier today.

A recent headline mentioned that AWD car sales are growing significantly faster than the whole market... meaning more people are turning to AWD cars. They are more stable, more sure-footed, and have a larger margin of control before complete traction loss.... and some AWD is better than others. Subarus being among the best, with fully active, and evenly balanced torque distribution in most cases, before any tire slip even occurs, where other systems are reactive after the abs sensors detect a wheel speed slip anomaly.

Real AWD... in actual inclement conditions, sand-covered roads, un-paved roads, or even just preventing needless wheel-spin on dry tarmac, with proper tires, and a manual gearbox to control both acceleration and engine braking, with an actual clutch...

Yeah, it is worth it.

The thing is... Subaru and Audi are the only brands really doing it...

Audi is getting more expensive, and further away from affordable with anything that has real Quattro in it...

and Subaru is making fewer and fewer truly compelling performance cars, with fewer and fewer variations... their appeal is getting prohibitively narrower as well.

About the only performance coupe with AWD and a manual gearbox worth considering anymore is a 10-15 year old 996 Porsche Carrera 4, and that isn't exactly a solid option, either... if there is anything wrong with the car, a Porsche out of warranty can be quite an expensive thing, too.

Jayhawk Jake > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 14:56

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I meant more along the lines of people who aren't focused on AWD, just want a sporty 4 door for 28 grand or so.

Unfortunately you're right, Subaru and Audi are really the only place to get a performance oriented AWD car these days, or at least a non-barge sized AWD car that isn't a crossover.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Driving Sports TV 12/16/2013 at 15:00

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I've definitely experienced a few of those, so I suppose (sadly, in this day and age) it IS something to celebrate.

Overall the car seems like quite an improvement over the last model though - and like you said in the video, there's finally a new 6 speed manual now which sounds very promising...so there really isn't much to dislike about the car. And interior quality seems to have improved too (one of my main gripes with Subaru's...my 05 Legacy has a wonderful interior -albeit still rattly-, but apart from that generation Subaru has seriously lagged behind for a long time, I think).

Also, Subaru door and seatbelt chimes have always driven me up the wall. So glad to see they've stuck to tradition with that one :-S

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jayhawk Jake 12/16/2013 at 15:08

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The sad part is...

There is NOTHING out there for the people who ARE focused on AWD in winter climates, but want a sporty coupe.

TT is WAY, WAY too expensive, A5 is pretty expensive, too. AWD Golf variants are so boxy, you might as well get more doors, as the profile isn't any sleeker or more aerodynamic.

I am kind of fed up with sedans and trunk-lid coupes. The fourth time you can't bring home something you purchased, because it won't fit in the vehicle.... it gets frustrating.

Not because the item is too big for the volume of the car's interior space... but because it won't fit through the trunk opening, nor the side doors...

A vertical hatch-back is very practical. A sleeker fastback is even better, sportier, and nearly as practical.

Sedans are a tradition. I get that they aren't exactly going away due to habit.

But 5 door passenger cars, and 3-door sport coupes are so much more versatile for cargo, depending on whether you need passenger accommodations often.

It is not much of a wonder why people buy barge-sized cars with hatches on the back, if they can't exactly bring home what they need in the trunk of a sedan. Versatility becomes the name of the game... and versatility can apply to cars smaller than 'barge-sized' as well.

And forcing someone who wants versatility, to get a barge, when they want something of a moderate-size, is not very efficient, either... and I continually wonder if that is why barge-sized vehicles are so prevalent.... because anything more modestly sized, wasn't versatile enough *for it's size*, at the time of the sale.

BarryDanger > Driving Sports TV 12/16/2013 at 15:26

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Sedan only, CVT, EL Headers, 0-60 in 6 seconds. WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.

DasWauto > Driving Sports TV 12/16/2013 at 15:29

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Sedan only? I couldn't've cared less about the looks or the CVT (I wouldn't buy it anyway) but the lack of a hatchback completely loses my interest.

Jayhawk Jake > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/16/2013 at 15:50

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I know the feel of not being able to fit stuff in your car. I had to carry a few boxes on my passenger seat from time to time in my Koup because it wouldn't fit through the trunk opening or between the door and seat to go in the back.

I wish more cars would utilize the switchback of the Skoda, where it's like a trunk but opens like a hatch. It can't be THAT hard

mcseanerson > BarryDanger 12/18/2013 at 04:02

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apparently the wagon version is the forester xt, only available with cvt. bah

mcseanerson > Driving Sports TV 12/18/2013 at 04:04

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not trying to be mean about the video review but I don't think I can stomach more than 6 minutes of sedan only cvt 0-60 in 6.0 quiet wrx video review. This reminds me of when mitsu said they were taking the evo upscale.... and look at them now.

mcseanerson > mcseanerson 12/18/2013 at 04:06

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When you say the gear changes are so fast you can't even time it you're right, I can't either. Because I can't hear it.

mcseanerson > mcseanerson 12/18/2013 at 04:08

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new personal best, made it to 8:49 before I had to stop again.

Josh > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/18/2013 at 04:27

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This is why I purchased a '13 WRX hatch as soon as the rumor mill confirmed sedan only. The '15 could handle like a 911 all day but I'll keep my hatch. Ultimately, it appears that in addition to sedan only, the '15 is also slower, uglier and doesn't sound as good. Outside of the new 6MT, literally zero shits given until this thing has five doors. I hope their sales numbers get punished by this and they are forced to introduce one.

xenocyclus > Driving Sports TV 12/18/2013 at 09:34

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Looks like it's a much better car than previous Impreza offerings, but they took away what made the WRX so special - symmetrical AWD, crazy styling, and the boxer warble.

So, it's a better car. But I don't feel like it's a better WRX.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Josh 12/18/2013 at 11:03

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Frankly,

I am wondering if an XV-Turbo is already a forgone conclusion, just not admitted yet, in order to give WRX/STI it's time in the limelight.

It is already basically an Impreza 5-door that is tall enough to be classified as a Light Truck for CAFE.

If they split half the turbo models between passenger cars and light trucks, CAFE-wise, their potential government fines are figured differently, and perhaps avoided.

Turbos are the thirstiest engines in their lineup, the H6 is sold in modest numbers, and probably is slightly more fuel efficient in most test cycles.

Levorg shows that they are thinking wagon for other markets, but not US...

An XV Crosstrek Turbo/Sport with WRX (or better yet, STI) guts under it would shift some demand toward the easier LT fleet average calculations.

And it would be sportier (lighter, 6MT, sharper steering, etc...) than Forester XT which isn't much of a sport package, just a turbo alternative to putting and H6 in Forester, which would step on Outback's toes.

And as badly beaten as my Legacy GT's suspension got, some ride height, some tire sidewall, and some suspension travel... I am actually to the point of welcoming, rather than harsh, stiff ride that only gets worse as the car ages and gets beaten by the bad road surfaces.

Josh > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/18/2013 at 11:53

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Yes to all of this. I think an XV turbo variant would be excellent. I actually prefer the styling of the XV to literally anything else new in Subaru's lineup. I just absolutely hate the fact that it's bloated as hell currently and packs 140ish crank horses for it's rather excessive weight. Turbos and stiffer suspensions will remedy almost all of my complaints. Tech packages and hybrids will not. Every time I write that I just hope that someone in the marketing department of Subaru is actually reading this.

Ultimately, I would love to see a stateside Levorg offered with the 6MT but I'd also like to ride a unicorn.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Josh 12/18/2013 at 14:43

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I am not sure that the XV is all that bloated... it has to be on the lighter side of the lineup...

but the FB20 is an economy engine, and anemic, and the 6MT is off the table if you add any options.

More than 100+ additional horsepower, and a manual available WITH the option packages...

Add the STI's DCCD and closer to 290-300hp like the Legacy DIT in Japan, and SI-Drive with the manual gearbox, and at least a rear limited slip...

That could beat the pants off of anything in it's class, and some heavier hitters.

Mini Paceman/Countryman, Range Rover Evoque 3 and 5 door, Q3 and Porsche Macan (at least the base-model)... decimated, performance-wise.

World rally blue with black unpainted plastic around the bottom and the fender flares, meaty black or gunmetal wheels and tires, and maybe just .5 to 1 inch less ride height than the base XV...

Yeah. that is a rally car for all roads, and any roads... maybe even no road.

Make it a 3-door body style, in addition to the 5-door, like the the new Cross Sport concept shooting brake... (basically use this side door and roofline on an XV Crosstrek floorpan, with WRX/STI drivetrain and front end styling.)

That would be fantastic. I would buy that.

Josh > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 12/18/2013 at 15:06

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For sure - I agree with all of this again. I guess I meant bloated by it weighs between 3050 and 3100 pounds for 140ish horsepower. To me, that's an absolutely unacceptable weight to power ratio.

Driving Sports TV > xenocyclus 12/29/2013 at 23:33

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It still has symmetrical AWD.

xenocyclus > Driving Sports TV 12/30/2013 at 11:19

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Torque splitting 45:55 - even when Subaru states it's symmetrical - leaves me feeling that it's not. Semantics, I know, but I'm not a fan. However, you are completely right, it's still technically symmetrical.

Driving Sports TV > xenocyclus 12/30/2013 at 19:08

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"Symmetrical" refers to the position of the engine to the drivetrain. It has nothing to do with the front/back torque split. Subaru has 5+ different AWD systems, all of which have variable front-back torque distribution with the exception of the 5MT and 6MT non-STIs, which have a locked 50:50. All of them are Symmetrical.

xenocyclus > Driving Sports TV 01/06/2014 at 08:56

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Learn something new everyday. I always assumed symmetrical referred to power transfer between wheels. Thanks for the clarification.

Driving Sports TV > xenocyclus 01/08/2014 at 01:01

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No worries, happy to clear it up for you.