斯巴鲁WRX 1st Generation 2015-2021 (VA) Review

The 1st-generation Subaru WRX was facelifted for 2018 and it was a subtle rework. Not that we mind, as we prefer the 1st generation's chunky styling over the mundane 3rd-gen WRX.

斯巴鲁kept the same design for the headlights. The bumper is new and incorporates more aggressive slots on either side for the fog lights and turn signals¹, and the lower air intake is now completely blacked out right down to spoiler level, whereas the lower lip was previously color-keyed to the body². The grille loses its fussy three-tier design and is now simply a honeycomb mesh with a single horizontal black bar in the middle³.

The rear was carried over, but that's fine. It already looked intense thanks to dual exhausts on either side, an integrated diffuser, and a subtle spoiler.

Apart from the new alloy wheel designs¹, the side profile remained the same. However, you can see the new front fog light and turn signal slots from the side².

The WRX received a big upgrade in 2016, but it's worth noting that lower-trim first-year models did not have the touchscreen interface. Subaru only made it standard on all models from 2016.

In 2018, Subaru made more interior changes, removing the separate climate-control readout from the dashtop so that the color display screen situated there - now with totally redesigned graphics - can be made bigger¹. The gauge cluster's numerals and main graduation marks are changed from red to white and the pointers from white to red². Subaru added its Eyesight Driver Assistance package to models equipped with the CVT transmission. The system was optional on all but the top-end model but became standard fitment in 2020.

的年代tandard WRX uses the basic hot hatch recipe known to all automotive enthusiasts. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine delivering 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The STI model uses a more traditional 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 305 hp and 290 lb-ft. These engines do share one commonality that you won't find on any other hot hatch. They're equipped with 4-cylinder boxer engines, giving them an extremely unique soundtrack. In the WRX it's muted, but the STI uses it to great effect. Another unique feature is Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel-drive, standard on all models. It's the main reason why both cars are so effective at covering ground at high speed. The AWD system inspires huge amounts of confidence, even in the hands of a novice driver.

的年代trangest thing about the VA WRX is the gearbox options. Naturally, Subaru includes a six-speed manual as standard on both the WRX and the WRX STI, but a CVT transmission is also available. Performance and CVTs aren't words meant to be used in the same sentence, but Subaru gave up on old-school torque converter automatics a while ago. In all seriousness, it's not all bad. The CVT does make the WRX more appealing to a broader audience, and the gearbox allows for more advanced safety features to be equipped to the car. The 2.0-liter turbo's maximum torque is also available from just 2,000 rpm. CVTs generally work better when bolted to engines with a high torque output, and the WRX's powertrain certainly qualifies.

根据EPA标准手册WRX是the most efficient of the bunch. Yet another reason not to get the CVT. As expected, the STI decimates a tank of fuel when driven hard. In real-world conditions where people obey the speed limit, it's not that bad. The gas tank size is 15.9 gallons. Treat it gently, and you should get over 370 miles between refills.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

2015 to 2017 models have a basic line-up of traditional active and passive safety features. These include traction and stability control, ABS brakes, a backup camera, tire-pressure monitoring, and seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag. The Limited has automatic headlights with LEDs for the low beams; LED headlights are standard on all three STI trims, with the STI Limited getting auto headlights as standard. For 2016, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assist are added to the STI Limited; these are optionally available on the WRX Limited. The EyeSight frontal-collision mitigation system is optional only on the WRX Limited with the CVT, because it cannot be paired to the manual transmission; it includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, cornering fog lights, and lane-keep assist. For 2017, automatic headlights are made standard across the board. The optional EyeSight package, still only offered on WRX Limited CVT, gains reverse automatic braking.

的blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert becomes optionally available on the base STI as well, but only for 2017; it disappears from 2018. The EyeSight driver-assistance suite is standard on both the 2019 WRX Premium and Limited trims with the CVT.

From 2015 to 2019 the NHTSA never had the opportunity to test the WRX. It went over for a visit in 2020, equipped with the EyeSight driver assistance systems as standard. The WRX did exceptionally well, scoring the full five stars in every category.

There are five trims in the range. The standard WRX is available in base, Premium, and Limited trims. The more hardcore STI is only available in base and top-spec Limited trim. We list the trims in chronological order, and every following trim has all the equipment of the preceding model unless otherwise noted. Some annual changes are applied to all trims in the line-up, such as the addition of the Starlink infotainment system for the 2016 model year, with a 6.2-inch touchscreen display in the center stack, smartphone app integration, and the addition of automatic headlights and auto-up front electric windows for 2017.

Along with the 2018 facelift, Subaru addressed complaints about noise levels by adding more insulation to dampen road noise, as well as fitting thicker glass and better rubber seals. The suspension was revised to improve both ride comfort and handling. In 2019, the Starlink touchscreens got bigger all round and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard.

There were a few special editions as well:

• 2015 STI Launch Edition. For 2015 only, there was an STI Launch Edition based on the base STI; on the outside, it is differentiated from the base car by its WR Blue Pearl paint and gold-finish 18-inch BBS alloys. It has the same seats as the base STI, but with blue accents, as well as an STI short-throw shifter, blue leather inserts on the doors, STI floor mats, a black Alcantara console lid, and keyless entry and start.
• 2016 STI Series.Hyperblue. This is a limited-edition version of the STI in Hyper Blue paint. It comes with black STI badging, side mirrors, 18-inch BBS alloy wheels, and black Alcantara-and-leather seats with Hyper Blue stitching. Only 700 were made.
• 2018 STI Type RA. In reference to the modified Type RA NBR race car that Subaru developed to set records on world-famous racing circuits, a limited-run of only 500 STI RA ("Record Attempt") cars were made for the 2018 model year. The manual transmission's third gear is given a shorter ratio, connected to a new short-throw shifter, while inverted Bilstein shock absorbers are used as part of the RA's track-optimized suspension. It gets a carbon-fiber roof and rear wing, lightweight 19-inch BBS alloy wheels with 245-series Yokohama Advan rubber, a new front splitter, and red accents on the grille and the rear bumper. Inside, it gets a numbered plaque and more red detailing.
• 2019 Series.Gray. Based on the base WRX and STI, the Series.Gray special edition is painted gray, has black 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, automatic, self-leveling, and cornering bi-LED headlights, LED fog lights, and comes with the Performance Package as standard, which includes Recaro front seats (with eight-way power adjustment for the driver), red brake calipers, and more durable brake pads. The sunroof is deleted to save weight. Only 1,000 were made - 750 WRXs and 250 STIs.
• 2019 STI S209. For 2019, the STI S209 limited edition is introduced with 341 hp. Only 209 were allocated to the US - it's very rare. It has special Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, Dunlop high-performance tires, Bilstein shock absorbers, and a carbon-fiber roof.
• 2020 WRX and WRX STI Series.White. The 2020 Series.White cars are available with Ceramic White paint only, with matte-bronze 18-inch alloys on the WRX. The WRX STI Series.White inherits the matte-bronze 19-inch alloys used on the 2019 STI S209. The WRX Series.White is based on the WRX Premium but with the Performance Package fitted as standard, which includes Recaro seats, red caliper Brembo brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers, along with matte-black badging and LED headlights and fog lights. The WRX STI Series.White is based on the Base STI and adds heavy-duty steering-rack mounts, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, mono-block Brembo brake calipers, a mesh grille, and Cherry Red exterior accents.

While the WRX, and especially the STI may be racers for the road, they are surprisingly practical thanks to four doors, four seats, and a large trunk. Some interior trim is below par, but for the most part, it's a nice place to spend time. We just wish Subaru spent more time making it feel special. Apart from the contrast red stitching and the racy shifter in the six-speed manual model, there's not much to tell it apart from one of Subaru's generic crossovers. Ergonomically, it's fine. All of the major controls are easily within reach, and the climate control buttons are separate from the touchscreen interface. In early models, the touchscreen interface is a bit dimwitted, but the unit in later models runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without any lag.

Space is generous in the front and rear, though it's not the five-seater Subaru claims it is. The middle seat is simply too narrow, and there's a drivetrain tunnel where the passenger's feet are supposed to go. The total trunk capacity is 12 cubic feet, but the seats can be folded forward in a 60/40 split to increase the space on those odd occasions you need it. Otherwise, 12 cubes are enough for the weekly grocery shop, or a weekend away for a family of four.

Like most cars, a WRX oil and oil filter change costs in the region of $150. The cost of annual maintenance varies depending on what needs to be done. Routine service and health checks are around $300 while replacing all the belts, spark plugs, flushing the coolant, and inspecting all of the major components can cost up to $1,500. For a car like the WRX and WRX STI, it might be smart to look at a third-party maintenance plan. Turbo and complete engine failure are not uncommon, and in that situation, you can expect to pay between $2,000 to $3,000 for a complete overhaul.

请记住,WRX STI引擎退出e different; the former has a maintenance-free chain drive but its valves are prone to carbon build-up due to its direct injection, while the latter has traditional indirect injection and no carbon problems, but it does have a cambelt that must be changed every 105,000 miles according to the manufacturer. On a performance car like this, we would never leave the belt for that long and 60,000-mile intervals provide more peace of mind. The oil should be replaced at 7,500 miles, but we recommend doing it at 5,000 miles instead, as these are performance cars. Stick to the lower interval anyway if you operate your vehicle in freezing or dusty temperatures, if it idles for prolonged periods of time, or if you occasionally track it. We list a few common service items below; for more information on anything ranging from the wiper-blade or oil drain-plug size to replacement light bulbs, your local Subaru dealer or auto-spares shop can help you out.

Here is the tire size for each WRX model:

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

2015-2021 Subaru WRX recalls are mostly minor. The most well-known is the Takata airbag recall, which also affected several other manufacturers and millions of cars. The airbag problems include missing rivets, incorrect installment, and propellant degradation.

Other common problems and recalls include incorrect seatbelt stitching and improperly tightened left and right front damper brackets. There are a few known engine recalls, though the first is more related to the fueling system. The vent shut float valve in the fuel tank did not meet specifications, and Subaru recalled around 9,000 WRXs because of the possible fire risk. The second engine recall was for premature piston wear due to the incorrect heat treatment during the manufacturing of the pistons. It's also sometimes known as the Subaru WRX misfire recall. Subaru picked up on the problem quickly and, as a result, only 270 cars had to be recalled.

In 2015 the WRX was recalled twice. The first time was for a subwoofer wire that may overheat and cause a fire, while the second was for a crack in the turbo intake duct. The latter problem carried over to 2016 models. 2016 models equipped with Eyesight were recalled for a collision-mitigation braking system that may malfunction. As it was only available on top trim models, this is a WRX Limited problem only. The 2018 and 2019 Subaru WRX fuel-pump recall was for a failing fuel pump that may cause the engine to stall.

Here are a few relatively common OBDII error codes to be on the lookout for:

• The Subaru WRX P0000 error code indicates a general misfire condition. P0300 codes are all misfire codes, with the last digit indicating the number of the misfiring cylinder, so on a 2015-2021 Subaru WRX, P0302 would indicate that cylinder number two is misfiring.
• On a 2015-2021 Subaru WRX, P000A, P000D, P0017, and P0024 indicate a camshaft-position issue that may be caused by any number of reasons.
• The P0107 Subaru WRX error code indicates a problem with the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor.
• 在2015 - 2021年斯巴鲁WRX 2.0, P0137或P0420有限公司de would indicate a bad oxygen sensor.
• The Subaru WRX P0171 and P0172 error codes most often indicate the presence of vacuum leaks, leading to anomalous readings from the oxygen or MAP sensors.
• The P0327 code on Subaru WRX 2015-2021 models indicates that a knock sensor is not working properly.
• On a 2015-2021 Subaru WRX, code P0606 most likely means the engine or powertrain control module has failed.
• P0852 and P113A on a 2015-2021 Subaru WRX are transmission error codes. P0852 indicates that there is a problem with the Park/Neutral safety switch and P113A indicates that
• The P113A Subaru WRX 2015-2021 error code indicates a faulty exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensor.
• On any Subaru WRX, the P1604 code indicates a non-starting condition, usually due to a lack of fuel supply.

The most common thing customers like to complain about in terms of 2015-2021 Subaru WRX CVT automatic transmission problems has to do with the character of the transmission. The gearbox is not as responsive as the owners were hoping, but we think it's just buyer's remorse. Subaru made a valiant effort to make the WRX more user-friendly, but perhaps it just wasn't meant to be.

Some owners complained about battery problems. One owner complained about a factory-fitted battery failing after two years. This is the only known battery problem we could find related to the WRX and WRX STI. Another owner had issues about an AC belt being noisy at startup, but other than that, there were few HVAC problems, with the odd owner suffering a leaky condenser and others experiencing minor problems.

Other lesser issues include 2015-2021 Subaru WRX Bluetooth problems. Earlier versions of the touchscreen infotainment weren't very good and sometimes refused to work at all. Other times the screen lagged, or the Bluetooth wouldn't automatically connect. On the other hand, there were hardly any 2015-2021 Subaru WRX traction-control problems or any others related to the driveline of well-maintained cars.

Given the clutch problems, we'd avoid early models. The number of complaints steadily dropped each year, with 2015 and 2016 being the worst model years. We'd also avoid all models equipped with a CVT transmission, as there are better sporty sedans with more conventional automatic transmissions out there.

Any model built after 2016 with a manual transmission is good. Note that only 2019 models and later come as standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which makes the infotainment system much easier to operate. Since you can navigate using third-party apps, you don't need standard navigation. The base model has everything you need if you want a driver's car. The higher trims add frivolities you don't actually need. If you are reading this, you're most likely an enthusiast wanting to know if the STI is worth it. The answer is yes. There's nothing else quite like it, even though there are faster, more comfortable, and more practical performance crossovers available. But an STI makes a statement, and if you want one, nothing else will do the job half as well.

2015-2021 Subaru WRX models are good cars. Previous versions of Subaru's performance sedan struggled with turbo failure and head gasket problems, but apart from the known clutch issue, the WRX and WRX STI seem to do just fine over a period of time - as long as they remain stock, were not abused, and were maintained according to the book. Be wary of modified cars and take an expert along to check the car out. The potential engine problems can be a deal-breaker, but the criticism does not necessarily reflect on quality, as these performance cars are often driven hard, and the buyer must be aware of this. They do feel outdated in the performance crossover world, however. There are much faster cars at more-or-less the same price, but the WRX caters to a very tiny segment that believes the rally-bred sedan is still the king. It has been surpassed, but the WRX and STI offer a very unique driving experience that you either get or don't.