Overview

IT’S been nearly 32 years since the Subaru WRX first appeared as a hot-rodded small sedan with a turbocharged 2.0-litre Boxer four-cylinder under the bonnet, all-wheel drive, and a five-speed manual transmission.

Fairly basic equipment telegraphed its real intent as a homologation special for the World Rally Championship hence the WRX name. It was cheap and quick and rapidly established itself as a performance car favourite.

Multiple generations have followed culminating in the $61,490 + ORC test vehicle, a tS Spec B homage model.

It is a generously equipped sedan essentially the same underneath as the base model apart from an (STI) tuned suspension, sports exhaust, Recaro seats, bigger brakes and wheels and a ‘coffee table’ rear wing.

The base WRX sells from $48,190 + ORC so the test model is a fair step up pricewise.

Competitors include the more expensive and more powerful Toyota GR Corolla that comes in at $67,990, less so the even more expensive FWD Honda Civic Type R from $79,000 and the cheaper but also FWD Hyundai i30N from $52,000.

The latest generation WRX is equipped (plagued) with all manner of driver assist technology that seems anathema to the whole reason for buying one.

It runs most assist features through a multi-camera “Eyesight” system with a large viewing apparatus behind the rear-view mirror.

The WRX was updated earlier this year with a host of new features across safety, technology and styling that Subaru says delivers more value to performance enthusiasts.

The range topping tS Spec B available as a Sedan or Sportswagon – received an even greater level of updates aimed at further elevating the WRX driving experience says Subaru.

All WRXs including the test model are now fitted as standard with a pesky Driver Monitoring System including distraction warning, drowsiness warning, facial recognition but also gain climate control (last used settings) and MID display (last used settings) features.

Also included is a new Emergency Driving Stop System as part of the EyeSight driver assistance suite, the tS interior gaining 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, aforementioned Recaro front seats with powered driver-side adjustment, black roof lining and pillar trim and red WRX embroidery on the dashboard.

Motive power for the 1560kg (kerb) tS Spec B sedan comes from Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer engine developing 202kW of power at 5600rpm and 350Nm of torque from 2000-5200rpm.

Transmission in the test variant is six-speed manual only with drive to all paws via Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

Braking is by four-wheel discs with Brembo six pot callipers up front, two pot callipers at the rear while suspension is via MacPherson strut front and double wishbone rear systems.

Driving Impressions

The WRX tS Spec B is a good car spoiled by intrusive ADAS and other so-called safety technology that interferes seemingly at nearly every turn of the wheel unless you take the time to switch it (almost) off at every start up.

The thing is, most people who buy WRXs do so for the drive feel, not to have some half-baked electronic system “that knows better” calling the shots.

If you stump up the readies for a WRX, chances are you’re an enthusiast driver who can actually steer, change manual gears, judiciously apply the brakes and accelerator and pay attention to the surroundings.

And yes, we had a moment when the test car applied the brakes (panic mode) completely unnecessarily which was somewhat sobering to say the least.

Moving on, we found the tS Spec B a satisfying drive in terms of engine performance and ride quality, offering up strong punch off the line rising to the 6000rpm redline which we think is too low for such a car, 7000rpm being the preferable limit for sporty driving, track days and the like.

It tends to hold the throttle (throttle flare) between gear changes making the engine rev unnecessarily but no doubt cutting emissions. We found the best technique for smooth changes was a form of quick shifting between cogs.

The suspension is nicely calibrated for a wide spread of applications (mode dependent) augmented by the vehicle’s tractable AWD and powerful Brembo brakes surrounded by quality Bridgestone Potenza rubber.

However, because of the standard wheel alignment calibration, push understeer is too readily encountered for a sporty vehicle like this.

It pushes the outside front wheel through turns without much provocation causing the tyre to squeal and scrub without any accompanying change in direction… unless you lift off.

Conversely, we drove the car along our favourite stretch of road, and it acquitted itself well displaying an almost GT car quality in how it competently covers distance, barely flinching when rough surfaces were encountered.

Minimal noise from any source enters the cabin save for a low offbeat exhaust rumble when you use full throttle and overall comfort levels are high across most driving environments.

It was a joy to drive a manual car for a change. Snick, snick, snicking through the ‘box, as most cars are autos or something else these days… non-cars we call them, transport boxes.

We even occasionally selected a lower cog and booted the accelerator just to feel how it hooked up and drove, how the dynamics coalesce to deliver fun in spades. Naughty us…

All this to the accompaniment of the unmistakable Boxer ‘four’ rumble percolating from the quad tipped exhaust.

It sucked down a fair bit of fuel though, struggling at times to dip under the 10.0 litres per 100km mark of 98RON premium unleaded.

Not that quick at 6.0 seconds for the standard 0-100km/h sprint the WRX nevertheless feels sporty enough and provides strong roll-on acceleration through the gears. You won’t be disappointed and there’s not an electric motor in sight apart from the windows and on the steering column.

It has some pretty cool luxury accoutrement and tech’ too like harman/kardon 10-speaker sound, dual-zone climate control, a comfortable suede-style upholstery… and a sensible size legible centre info’ screen with a digital console in front of the driver.

We like the look of the tS Spec B as it has links with STI variants from the past right down to the steering wheel badge and the large rear wing.

Apart from the nannies, we’d certainly consider the WRX tS Spec B… in rally blue please.