Insurance Group: 40
MPG: 26.9
CO2: 243
0-62 Mph: 5.2 secs
BHP: 296 BHP
Range: 355 miles
PROS: With a sophisticated four wheel drive system it feels magnetized to the road while its turbocharged engine makes it about as quick as any family car out there.
CONS: The price of owning such a rapid car is high. Running costs aren't any better. The quality of the interior is a big disappointment and the boot space isn’t as large as some of its rivals.
The flat-four cylinder 2.5 litre turbo engine offers neck-wrenching levels of performance. With 296bhp at 6000rpm and 300 lb-ft at 4000rpm this Subaru really flies. A 0-62 mph time of 5.2 seconds is right up there in supercar territory. The warbling soundtrack of the flat-four engine brings to mind the rallying pedigree of the car’s past.
Considering the car’s low centre of gravity and stiffened suspension setup the comfort of the ride is surprisingly supple. However, any steering inputs are immediately followed by the nose changing direction, the car gripping through corners with dizzying ability.
The driver’s seat has two-way adjustment as does the steering wheel so getting comfortable shouldn’t be a problem. The mirrors are heated and fold in and the windows are electric. The dashboard is generally well laid out but it is starting to look a little dated. It also looks and feels rather cheap which is a shame.
The Subaru WRX STI 2.5 TYPE UK 4dr has an aggressive, thuggish appearance. Its road-hugging stance, bonnet scoop and bulging wheel-arches leave you in no doubt that this car can perform. But it doesn’t look over-the-top; some may even describe it as handsome. However its interior is a disappointment. Clearly laid out and practical it may be but it’s far from cutting edge while the materials used for the surfaces and switchgear feel cheap.
There’s no lack of equipment though and it includes leather Recaros, climate control, folding mirrors, CD, Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity, cruise control and satellite navigation all as standard. It also comes with alloy wheels, stability control, alarm and immobiliser and front fog lights.
Metallic paint is a £460 option.
The car has plenty of rear seat legroom and headroom for a pair of six-footers. However, the boot space is limited, being rather shallow and the rear wheel arches intrude somewhat to give a modest volume of 420 litres.
With only a four star Euro NCAP rating, the Subaru trails behind similarly sized competitors but otherwise it comes with plenty of kit. Along with driver and passenger air bags the WRX is fitted with side and curtain airbags, there is ABS, stability control and traction control to aid the already sure-footedness of its four wheel drive.
The car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty. Fuel economy is not the WRX’s strong point nor is its carbon footprint of 243 g/km but then you probably wouldn’t buy this car if those statistics were your main concern.
The Subaru WRX STI 2.5 Type UK 4dr is not cheap at £32,995. It is however, blisteringly quick when you want it to be, comfortable enough inside for long and short trips alike and has enough space for a couple of overnight cases. Its build quality is good and it has a decent reputation for reliability.
A combined cycle of 26.9mpg is by no means great but give the car plenty of welly and you’ll be lucky to return double figures. Combine that with a CO2 emissions figure of 243g/km and high insurance premiums and you’ll see why this is not a cheap car to run.
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