Subaru’s New WRX is Less Sport Than Wagon

Subaru is well-known for many things. Its associations with rallying, all-wheel drive traction and other activities are two of the most popular. The two are now said to be in wagon form. What’s the reality like? To find out, we spent a few days in the 2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon.

The WRX Sportwagon is now available alongside the Subaru WRX sedan (a review will follow soon). The Subaru WRX Sporstwagon in is available in three trims — base GT, tS and tS. We spent some time with the top-of-the-range tS to find out if it can live to its reputation.

First, we wanted the elephant out. The omission of an STI spec car is something that will be noticed by most loyal Japanese car fans. Subaru has not yet explained the reason for this, but has mentioned it previously. Subaru claims that the shift to a global platform, which introduces regulations on fuel economy, omissions and is used on 2022 WRX Sportswagon, has forced them to say goodbye to STI. For now, at least.

It’s not all bad news, though, because if you choose the top-of the-range tS, Subaru offers a kind of apology/compromise through the STI branding on your seats and steering wheel. While it’s cool, there is a risk that some Subaru purists might not like the idea.

Let’s now get to the review of the WRX Sportswagon tS. What is it exactly? Subaru says that it is not an evolution of the Liberty wagon or the Impreza wagon. It is actually a completely new beast, though some might liken it to a Levorg. Although the Levorg is no more sold in Australia, the WRX Sportswagon may be similar.

The 2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon is a practical, performance-oriented people-mover and is available only with an automatic CVT transmission. There is no manual gearbox available. The Subaru WRX Sportswagon shares a 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer engine (and the sedan comes equipped with a manual), which makes it a bit confusing.

What is it like inside?

Two words: incredibly comfortable. It is easy to see the large, clear screen at the center console that is portrait-oriented. Apple Carplay, Android Auto, and Android Auto are supported. Subaru, unlike other car manufacturers that have joined the tech-focused touchscreen train has kept some physical controls for volume and climate control. Although some controls are now touchscreen-only (heated seats), the large, responsive touch-sensitive buttons on the screen still work.

The seats are very comfortable and do a great job keeping you centered as you travel.

I must admit that I prefer the seats in WRX sedans. They did a better job keeping you in your seat, which could be because the sedan is the vehicle that best embodies what it means to have a Subaru vehicle bear the WRX moniker.

Plenty of space available for various activities.

The argument is that the WRX Sportswagon is more practical than it is performance-oriented. With 492 litres of cargo space when the rear seats are up and 1,430 litres folded down (folding them down is easy), there is plenty of room for shopping, luggage and whatever else you might need.

I did have some issues with the Sportswagon’s size. It felt much bigger from the cockpit. The view out of the windows was difficult to adjust to. Subaru has provided many cameras all around their wagon, which are very useful when parallel and reverse parking. A camera view of the passenger side wheel allows you to see how close you are to the curb.

Overall, however, the Subaru WRX Sportswagon tS interior is a wonderful place to be. The materials are high quality and the interior feels well-constructed. This certainly makes it worth the $57990 initial price.

Extraordinary delivery of power

After ensuring that your interior comforts are taken care of, let’s get on to the main event. How does the Subaru WRX Sportswagon tS do? The short answer is that it performs exceptionally well. The turbocharged flat-four engine of 2.4 litres produces 202kW at 5600rpm and 350Nm torque between 2000 and 5600rpm. These numbers aren’t too impressive, but the WRX Sportswagon’s torque delivery is low at the rev range makes it an outstanding performer.

You won’t find a speed of 0-100 km/h if you are looking. Subaru does not claim to have one, but I was able to manage the spring in just over 6 seconds.

You’ll be cruising at cruising speed in no time. Subaru’s all-wheel drive system is a surprise, providing exceptional traction so you can feel secure every time your right foot touches the ground.

A little lighter-footed

While I was impressed by the Subaru’s power delivery, I was less impressed at how it made me feel while driving. I found the steering of the WRX Sportswagon too heavy for my liking.

Although Sport was a better option than Comfort and Normal, it did not make me feel as connected to the road below me. The driving modes are not available on the tS model.

Subaru EyeSight also offers a variety of driving aids. The EyeSight system has a few cameras behind the rearview mirror that continuously scans the road ahead for potential hazards and oncoming collisions.

The system can detect anything that could cause your Subie to look a little less than it should. Although I felt the EyeSight system could be a bit too dramatic at times, overall, it made me feel safer on the roads. My driving was not the problem, but Sydney traffic’s many obstacles.

There are fewer thrills than the sedan

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon is supposed to be a hot wagon’, and should therefore be right up my alley. However, it did not exhibit the loony characteristics that a hot’ car should. It didn’t make my smile as often as I thought it would. It was certainly not as thrilling as the WRX sedan.

It’s still a good car. It is comfortable and handles well. However, I think those who are looking to purchase a Subaru with the WRX badge on it will want something that they can confidently drive around corners and have a lot of fun with. They’ll get a comfortable cruiser that can happily take the whole family on a weekend trip.