2016 Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX is available in three different variants; WRX, WRX Premium, and WRX limited. All trims come with an all-wheel-drive system, as standard, and all trims use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Features such as a 6.2-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a USB input, satellite radio, a CD player, and cloth upholstery are offered, as standard. The WRX trim adds features like heated front seats and a moonroof, while the WRX Limited trim adds leather upholstery.

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Thanks to the standard all-wheel-drive system, the base trim offers excellent value for money. It comes with many standard features such as a 6.2-inch touch screen and a rearview camera that add to the value aspect of the trim. For extra added safety, we would recommend you to go with the WRX Limited trim as it is available with Subaru’s EyeSight advanced safety features.

Being the only car in its class that offers all-wheel drive as standard, the Subaru WRX certainly does not aim to be the most fuel-efficient car. Thus, it offers 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg over on the highway, and a combined fuel economy figure of 23 mpg. While the engine is quite efficient, the all-wheel drive does take away some of the efficiency benefits. However, the performance the WRX offers is truly outstanding for the price and the fuel economy numbers are acceptable if not the best in its class.

The most efficient sedan here is the Hyundai Sonata which offers 26 mpg of combined fuel economy figure. Its light curb weight and efficient motor help you save more in terms of the overall running costs. The Lexus on the other hand provides very similar fuel economy figures in comparison to the Sonata.

The Subaru WRX’s cabin can seat up to four people in relative comfort. The front seats provide good overall comfort and support making it easy to undertake long-haul trips in them. Even while it is a sedan, the dashboard has been designed to exude rugged appeal. The materials used on the inside are mostly hard plastics and it is not easy to find any soft-touch materials. Thus, the cabin feels built on a budget and lags behind its rivals in terms of offering a premium feel. The overall visibility from the inside is great thanks to the high seating position.

The rear bench can seat 3 people but should strictly be used for two. The width of the cabin is not enough to fit 3 people comfortably on the rear seats. However, you will never find yourself complaining about the head or the legroom even if you are seated at the rear. There are plenty of storage spaces inside the cabin to store small items and water bottles. Overall, the cabin feels built to last but lacks the refinement and finesse that its rivals offer.

In terms of the boot capacity, the Subaru WRX lacks behind all its rivals. However, the loading lip is not very high which makes it easy to load and unload the luggage. The Hyundai Sonata provides the most spacious cabin along with the biggest boot in its class. It is followed by the Lexus that feels a bit more cramped than the other in the second-row seats. Major interior features include-

• 4-Way Passenger Seat -inc: Manual Recline and Fore/Aft Movement
• Valet Function
• Remote Keyless Entry 
• Automatic Air Conditioning
• Illuminated Locking Glove Box
• Driver Foot Rest
• Full Cloth Headliner
• Fade-To-Off Interior Lighting
• Cargo Area Concealed Storage
• Cargo Space Lights
• Steering wheel controls
• Front reading lamps
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Electrochromic rearview mirror
• Cruise control

How intuitive is the 2016 Subaru WRX’s infotainment unit?

For the 2016 model year, Subaru now offers a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard. It comes with features such as Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD Radio, a USB port, a rearview camera, and Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system. A larger 7-inch touchscreen unit with satellite navigation makes the list of optional features. Both units come with voice recognition for a truly hands-free experience.

• USB connection
• Speed sensitive volume control
• CD Player
• Satellite radio
• Bluetooth
• HD Radio
• Rearview camera

Most Subaru cars are meant to look rugged and come out as a bit bland or boring sometimes. However, the WRX comes with a lot of sporty elements to break the monotony of the typical Subaru design philosophy. While it is no pageant queen, it does look imposing and stands out with its subtle yet distinctive looks. The massive air intakes at the front and the smartly designed headlights help to enhance the sporty appeal. From the sides, the clean and simple profile renders a balanced look. At the rear, things look a bit busy with quad exhausts and a small diffuser. The large rear spoiler helps the standard WRX differentiate from the more performance-focused STI version.

In comparison, at 3260 lbs., the Subaru WRX is the lightest compact sedan here. On the other hand, the Hyundai Sonata offers the best in class road presence, thanks to its larger physical dimensions. The Subaru is the smallest of the bunch followed by the Lexus IS200. The Sonata also looks much more premium and attractive than the WRX or the IS200. Few major exterior features include-

• Rear spoiler
• 18-inch wheels
• Clearcoat Paint
• Rocker Panel Extensions
• Fixed Rear Window w/Defroster
• Light Tinted Glass
• Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Wiper Park
• Lip Spoiler
• Black Grille
• Front License Plate Bracket
• Trunk Rear Cargo Access
• Front Fog Lamps

The Subaru WRX is known for offering best-in-class safety features as standard. It boasts features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The Limited trim gets Subaru's camera-based EyeSight safety suite that packs in navigation and blind-spot detection, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The newer model now adds a driver knee airbag to its standard equipment list, as well as a rearview camera. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not crash-test the 2016 WRX. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2016 Subaru WRX a Top Safety Pick+. Other salient safety features include:

• Driver and passenger airbags
• Electronic stability control
• Child safety locks
• Traction control
• Emergency trunk release
• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane-departure warning 
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear-view backup camera

The 2016 Subaru WRX is a fun-to-drive compact sedan that is immensely capable of putting a big smile on your face. The standard all-wheel drive makes it stand out in the segment. It also makes it quite a sensible buy for buyers that live in tricky terrains or snowfall-prone areas. The standard safety kit it offers is also quite healthy and remains the best in its class. Where this Subaru lacks is in terms of fuel economy and usage of mediocre interior materials make it to the list of its cons. Thus, the WRX is for buyers who care more about performance than a modern cabin or fuel economy numbers.