Used 2022 Subaru WRX

The 2022 Subaru WRX is a compact sedan built for thrills. It has a considerable 271 horsepower, puts that to the ground with an all-wheel-drive system, and packs a sport-tuned suspension.

This car represents Subaru’s competitive nature. Yeah, it has one. It’s not all golden retrievers and being nice in Subaru World. The company is a major player in rallying.

We’re guessing that anyone reading a 2022 WRX review probably knows about this stuff. But if the uninitiated wanted to check out an extreme form of motorsport where breathtaking bravery and incredible car control talents meet, there are plenty of YouTube videos.

This arena is where Subaru has developed serious skills. Expertise is then funneled into a road car and we can all get to enjoy the new 2022 WRX, which marks the debut of a new generation.

It’s based on a platform that’s extremely strong and rigid, giving suspension engineers the best conditions in which to work their magic. Virtually every area has seen improvements and refinements over the 2021 model.

Early in 2022, Subaru confirmed that there will not be a potent STI version of this latest WRX. While that’s disappointing to enthusiasts, look for a future STI to sport some sort of electrification.

There’s a big, fat delivery of torque running from 2,000 rpm up to 5,200 rpm, close to where maximum horsepower is achieved. This means that the 2022 WRX can keep accelerating with a fearsome thrust.

The chassis can handle all this momentum. The first three trims have sport-tuned suspensions, the top GT model has adaptive dampers. Get the WRX on a track and it will retain its composure. There’s hardly a hint of body roll through fast corners.

The WRX’s standard all-wheel-drive system features active torque vectoring, sending power to whichever wheels have the most grip, as well as fine-tuning how the car traces around a curve. The steering is also quick in its responses.

Yet a 2022 WRX can still be an everyday car. This machine is more refined than its predecessor, with reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness.

Depending on the trim, the new WRX can come with simulated suede upholstery, contrasting red stitching, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The GT trim’s Recaro front seats really hold their occupants tightly in place, a great choice if there are plenty of track days planned.

If it’s important, the 2022 WRX has a decent 36.5 inches of rear legroom and 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space, with 60/40 split/folding rear seats. They all help the car qualify as a practical choice as well as an entertaining one.

With the exception of the base model (which has 17-inch alloy wheels), the 2022 WRX runs on 18-inch alloy wheels wearing summer performance tires. The front fenders are now made of aluminum, to save a little weight.

The hood has an air scoop to feed the intercooler. A sport exhaust system comes with dual outlets and stainless steel tips. And the WRX has a tailor-made set of aerodynamic enhancements.

TURBOCHARGED ENGINE
It produces 271 horsepower, the most muscle a WRX sold in the United States has ever had. Having a flat-4 configuration (see our Under the Hood section) also results in an advantageously low center of gravity.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Yes, it feels counter-intuitive not to recommend the standard 6-speed manual transmission in a car made especially for enthusiasts. But the automatic version has a better all-wheel drive system, along with more driver assistance/safety features. Some buyers will get the manual and that’s great — they’ll have specific intentions for the car. For the rest, the automatic seems like a smarter call.

The basic version of the new WRX doesn’t have a trim name. But it does have all-wheel drive and sport-tuned suspension. It also comes with full LED headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a self-dimming rearview mirror.

The infotainment system includes twin 7-inch touchscreens, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, two USB ports, and satellite radio.

There are some minor driver assistance features like a rear seat reminder and automatic high beams, but acquiring forward collision mitigation and adaptive cruise control entails choosing the automatic transmission, which also brings a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system.

One up from base comes Premium trim, bringing 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, LED fog lights, keyless entry/ignition, voice-controlled dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, USB ports for the rear passengers, and an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen.

This model is eligible for a powered moonroof and a 504-watt/11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. When the automatic transmission is selected, it also adds an oil cooler, along with lane centering and automatic emergency steering for adaptive cruise control.

Limited trim adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, powered moonroof, steering-responsive headlights, simulated suede upholstery, and the Harman Kardon audio system. Like the Premium, the auto transmission option includes a few other additions, and this trim gains rear automatic braking.

GT trim is new territory for a Subaru WRX. This model comes standard with the automatic transmission and all the extras that accompany it, plus a custom setting for the selectable driving modes, Recaro sport front seats (the driver’s seat is 8-way power-adjustable), an adaptive suspension, and simulated suede covering the dashboard.

As the most powerful production WRX (so far) sold in the United States, this 2022 model has a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. It’s a 4-cylinder unit, but instead of being arranged in the extremely common upright/inline way, they’re configured as two pairs, opposed horizontally. It’s a Subaru thing. And a Porsche thing, coincidentally.

Output is 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This goes to a standard all-wheel-drive system through either a 6-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission that’s optional in the first three trims, but part of the package with the GT model.

Premium gasoline is required for optimum performance.

2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4
271 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 mpg (manual), 19/25 mpg (auto)