2016 Subaru WRX Review – The ‘Rex’ Returns to Genuine Greatness
The skinny: The Subaru WRX has been given fresh equipment upgrades as part of a model-year 2016 (MY16) update, delivering two fixes for this $38,990 sports sedan.
Firstly, the undersized 17-inch alloy wheels switch to a chunky 18-inch variety. Secondly, the slimline dot-matrix audio screen of the pre-facelift version is now flicked for a bright 6.2-inch colour touchscreen.
The mechanicals stay the same – 2.0-litre turbo boxer four, all-wheel drive, and six-speed manual or optional automatic (the fun-factor also remains intact).
Vehicle Style: Small sports sedan
Price: $38,990 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 197kW/350Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol | 6sp manual
Fuel Economy claimed: 9.2 l/100km | tested: 10.5 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Born as a rally-bred sports sedan in 1994, the WRX has become an icon. It may have lost its way there for a while, but this fourth-generation returns genuine greatness to the ‘Rex’ badge.
Prices dropped to greet the sedan-only range released two years ago, and buyers flocked. They keep on coming – with 2842 WRX models shifted so far this year (to October 2015) it has jumped the Toyota 86 coupe (2600 units) to become the best selling sub-$80,000 sports car.