2024 Subaru WRX CVT EyeSight Review

Whenever we hear the words Subaru and WRX, we are instantly taken back to the time of rally legends like Colin Mcrae, Richard Burns, Peter Solberg, and Tommi Mäkinen. All of these rally greats at one point, have driven a Subaru rally car so it’s safe to say that rallying is embedded deep into the Subaru brand and of course, the WRX. 

Though it has been some time since the Subaru World Rally Team entered a World Rally Championship (WRC), the Impreza’s successor, the WRX rally car, has been entering competitions left and right across the globe. As for the road-going version though, Subaru says the new WRX is a rally-legend reborn and that it’s a car capable of being a daily driver, and being a focused, high-performance vehicle. In this review, we’re setting off to find out if Subaru is right about the WRX and see if there’s anything more about the WRX CVT EyeSight under all the plastic cladding.

Now that we’ve given you the preface of Subaru and the WRX, let’s start with an aspect of the car that we usually put at the end; the price. First, we’ve got the Subaru WRX 6MT which is priced at P2,608,000 followed by the WRX CVT EyeSight which is priced at P2,758,000. Yes, we admit that it’s a steep price for a four-door sedan. But, we urge you to read on to find out if the WRX can justify its price, especially when you consider that its closest rivals in the market are the Honda Civic Type R and the Toyota GR Yaris.

First and foremost, let’s start with the car’s styling. Up front, the WRX looks sleek and sporty with its angular LED headlights and the big scoop sitting on top of the hood. The looks are aggressive and sporty which is quite what you’d expect from a performance sedan. On the side, it’s also the same story with the cuts and creases adorning the doors and quarter panels. From the front to the sides, the WRX looks quite pretty, especially with its black 18-inch wheels. When it first launched, the WRX did divide people with its looks, but now, a few years later, we think it actually looks quite pretty.  When you get to the rear of the car though, things slightly turn sour.

At the rear is where the WRX starts to get busy. The top portion is dominated by the angular taillights and bar stretching across the trunk while the bottom portion is characterized by a chunky black lower bumper. There’s a lot to love about the WRX’s rear end like the quad exhaust tips but it’s let down badly by the black plastic bumper. Sort of like the final seasons of a famous HBO series that was good at the start and just starts falling off by the end.

The black plastic bumper continues onto the side skirts, wheel arches, and the lower front bumper. You could make the argument that it serves to push the message that the WRX has rally racing roots, but, overall, it just seems a bit too excessive. 

Starting with the cockpit, the WRX is a bit of a hit-or-miss. As for hits, we like the convenience of the power adjust seats, the tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and the smart EyeSight system which recognizes the driver and adjusts the cabin to his/her preferences. In addition, the seats feel well-bolstered but forgiving, meaning they provide sufficient support for the driver without letting them feel cramped or trapped in the seat. Plus, the material in the seats provides adequate cushioning and won’t break your back after a long drive.

Soft touch materials and faux carbon fiber are also inserted in parts of the interior which give the WRX a balance between a sporty and classy feel.

At the back, space is quite limited for the second row because of the high center tunnel, which means despite it being a five-seater sedan, you’re probably better off limiting the rear to two passengers for comfort. Despite this, legroom and headroom are decent enough for tall passengers to be seated comfortably. As for the seats, they are upholstered in decent-quality leather paired with suede on the top of the seats. This provides additional butt grip for when the driver wants to channel their inner Colin Mcrae.

In terms of space, the WRX is capable of holding 414 liters of cargo which translates roughly to one big luggage bag and two hand carry bags with ease. If you need to store longer items, the rear seats fold flat providing additional space. 

So as we said before, the WRX may be a hit or miss in some aspects, and in this case, it’s a bit of a miss because of the slightly underwhelming amount of tech for its price point. The next bit though, is a definite hit. 

The beating heart of the WRX is a  2.4-liter turbocharged flat boxer engine generating 271 hp and 350 Nm of torque. This potent engine can be mated with either a Sport Lineartronic CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The WRX is equipped with Subaru's renowned All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system as standard, along with the brand's SI-DRIVE system. This system offers various drive modes and maps, enabling dynamic changes to the engine's performance characteristics. The car we’re testing has a CVT which comes with paddles for added control.

The WRX can get up and go quite quickly thanks to the smooth delivery of its turbocharged boxer engine. If you like high-revving engines though, your fun might be cut short because the WRX’s boxer engine redlines at 6,000 rpm. Don’t be disappointed too badly though because there is still much joy to be had before you hit the redline. 

On twisty roads, the WRX feels planted thanks to its chassis and AWD system and when you add 350 Nm of torque to the mix, the WRX is exciting to throw around the bends. The steering feels light and compliant but a bit detached because there is no resistance when taking turns. To sum up the feeling, the WRX’s steering feels numb and lacks feedback from the road. This won’t be a problem during daily commutes but during a spirited drive, it might leave you wanting for more.

On the move, we were thoroughly impressed with the WRX’s CVT. Subaru has done well in simulating the feeling of changing gears with a CVT, plus, the CVT is also intelligent enough to keep you in the right powerband while you’re taking turns at speed. This means that whatever situation you are in, you never feel like you run out of power, quite the opposite actually, the WRX feels like you always have tons of power to spare. We think that in terms of other CVTs on the market, the one equipped on the WRX might be one if not the best CVTs out there.

Don’t get us wrong, if you want to have the most engaging drive with the WRX, the manual transmission is still the way to go. But, in the realm of CVTs, the WRX CVT still delivers an impressive amount of thrill. 

On normal, day-to-day driving, the WRX is also impressive. It doesn’t put a foot wrong on stop-start traffic and it is also comfortable at low speeds. Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) is also quite admirable with outside noises kept at a minimum. Tire noise does creep in at speed but it has more to do with the WRX’s skinny profile tires than the car itself. As a daily driver then, the WRX scores top marks in the comfort department with its comfy interior and soft suspension. If you’re buying the WRX in the hopes that it will be a hardcore weekend racer though, you might be left wanting for stiffer suspension. However, if you plan on using the WRX six days a week with one day allotted to just drive it to the ragged edge, it will not disappoint.

On the topic of fuel consumption, be prepared because if you’re planning to drive the WRX every day, you’re not gonna get spectacular economy figures. In the city, you’re looking to get 6.5 km/L while on the highway, you’re going to get 14 km/L.

For the price of P2,758,000 you’re going to get a great daily driver and a great weekend warrior car, but, is the steep price worth it? To see if the WRX is worth that much, we have to go back to the two rivals we mentioned earlier; the Toyota GR Yaris and the Honda Type R. 

The GR Yaris packs slightly more torque and is definitely more focused than the WRX, however, it only has two doors and the trunk space is a bit limited. As for the Honda Type R, the Type R has better looks, better performance, and roughly the same amount of interior space. However, the Type R costs P3,780,000 while the GR Yaris costs P2,940,000. Plus, you’d have to be very lucky to get one because both those cars come in limited quantities and they only come with a manual transmission, great for the track, but tedious in the real world.

On paper, the WRX might not be the bargain of the century and the looks are certainly divisive, but read between the lines and you’ll find that the WRX provides a great blend of comfort and excitement that can keep you hooked. 

If you're eyeing the Subaru WRX or any other vehicle for that matter, simply visit the Car Guide on AutoDeal.com.ph. Once you've found your desired model, just click "Get Quote," and agents from your chosen dealers will give you a quotation in mere minutes.