Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. If you don't mind the ride, the STI is a properly fun sport sedan.

No gold wheels, though. I love the Subaru brand: the quirkiness, the independence, the engineering; that badge, based on the Pleiades star cluster. Hard on the brakes into a corner, pitch the nose in forcefully, brutally almost, and then, when you reach the apex, get on the gas, foot to the floor, and the four-wheel-drive grip would just dig in and catapult the car down the next straight. Worst thing is the ride. Forget potholes — just a slightly irregular surface will have you jiggling around so much your head bobbles on your shoulders.

Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

After test driving both the standard WRX and the STI, I felt that the regular WRX was much easier to drive and felt more like a better daily driver - a great car and a brilliant performance bargain for the price. However, after driving the STI, I felt absolutely engaged on the road. With the feel of a beefy turbo and the sound of that iconic rumble, it reminded me what Subaru rally cars were all about. Having not owned a Subaru before I learned of other options - such as the Golf R and the upcoming Focus RS - I still felt Subaru was much more compact and had a much more grippy all-wheel-drive system. After all, if you are after power, power and more power, you might as well buy an M series or AMG. Of course, you will be looking at a far heftier price. At an affordable price, it is surprising Subaru has been able to deliver an outstanding performance car which is coupled with a very spacious cabin. The STI is my weekend car, which was a fact that greatly influenced my purchasing decision. The My17 models now come with an 8 speaker Harmon Kardon system and sub as standard, along with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring sat nav. If you are considering the premium model, I would say there will not be much difference apart from leather seats, sunroof and blind spot detection. The base models still include comfortable Alcantara and leather seats, which I think would also perform better at staying cool in the heat. The only negatives I would say is that you will not have a refined ride in the STI, and if you plan to use it as a daily driver expect the petrol station to be your best friend. Sell My Car.

We want plusher interiors, premium badges — and things like the Golf R have stolen its thunder.

By Ben Barry. America suffered sizeable turbo lag with its launch of the Subaru Impreza Turbo. While the Japanese performance saloon first appeared in , America had to wait for 15 years and the third generation for it to arrive. The rally championships that built the brand seem about as relevant to modern-day Subaru as they are to Audi. It was a surprisingly enjoyable car to use around Berkeley, California, even at slow speed: that burbly flat-four turbo engine, the surprisingly meaty hydraulically assisted steering, and the closely stacked gears, all of it gelled to deliver that unmistakeable Subaru DNA. Sure, the doors and boot clang emptily when you shut them, and this is a very easy car to stall when you combine first gear with steering lock, but the STI feels as usable on the daily grind as it does exciting and characterful.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. If you don't mind the ride, the STI is a properly fun sport sedan. It takes a while to get used to the massive wing fixed to the rear of this little speed demon. In fact, there is a lot to get used to in the STI, but when it all comes together, the aggressive Subie, with its serious rally racing technology, is a kick and a half. In Subaru-land this model starts off as the sedate Impreza. Add horsepower and it's a WRX.

Subaru wrx sti 2016 review

By Ben Barry. America suffered sizeable turbo lag with its launch of the Subaru Impreza Turbo. While the Japanese performance saloon first appeared in , America had to wait for 15 years and the third generation for it to arrive. The rally championships that built the brand seem about as relevant to modern-day Subaru as they are to Audi. It was a surprisingly enjoyable car to use around Berkeley, California, even at slow speed: that burbly flat-four turbo engine, the surprisingly meaty hydraulically assisted steering, and the closely stacked gears, all of it gelled to deliver that unmistakeable Subaru DNA. Sure, the doors and boot clang emptily when you shut them, and this is a very easy car to stall when you combine first gear with steering lock, but the STI feels as usable on the daily grind as it does exciting and characterful. Urban pootling was never the plan.

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Community Guidelines. Motor Shows. Our STI's shifter, brakes and steering require no such asterisks, delivering lovely, direct feedback and control at all speeds I was able to explore on my pockmarked-pavement routes around Detroit. The Type UK comes with dark grey alloys as standard, but you can order gold wheels as a dealer option. It feels and sounds like a race car. PROS: All-season, all-weather fun. All Subaru. Review 5 Sep Gallery: Subaru Ascent. View all Subaru Impreza Reviews. James Ward.

No gold wheels, though. I love the Subaru brand: the quirkiness, the independence, the engineering; that badge, based on the Pleiades star cluster.

Advertise with us. Back to Subaru. I probably crested 90 mph a few times while passing, without even trying that hard. Electric Cars. Keep it in Auto for daily driving, or switch to Auto Plus to tighten up the limited slip differential, improving traction on slippery surfaces like snow or gravel. Drive TV. The STI is my weekend car, which was a fact that greatly influenced my purchasing decision. By Ben Barry. It's a stiff and harsh ride; great for the track, not so great for daily driving. I just hope I can hang on to my driving licence. Industry Sales. View all Subaru Reviews. Dealer Offers.