Review: Subaru WRX 2.0 CVT

The last thing anybody expected was Jerrica Leong to jump behind the wheel of a performance car like the Subaru WRX but this is not the most extreme WRX yet.

This is one car that you would not miss coming down the road. Most of the time, people would expect it to be the STi manual version but the STi is busy reporting for duty at Russ Swift’s shows until October so we had the pleasure of the 2.0 CVT for company during the week. While ultimate drivers will scorn the installation of an automatic gearbox is this brilliant example of a driver’s car, we suspect that Subaru had strong reasoning in mind when they made to do so.

No better way to find out then to live with the Subaru WRX with a CVT to know.

Exterior (Score: 5/5)

I have lost count of how many stereotypical stares I received whenever I jumped out of the WRX. One of them actually had their mouths hanging open. Well I guess I should forgive them since I was wearing a pink floral skirt and jumping out of a sporty and aggressive looking car like the WRX.

Subaru wasn’t kidding when they added the tagline “reinvented” for the WRX, there’s no denying that the WRX has made a comeback looking very aggressive and attractive indeed. From the large lip spoiler to the twin dual tail muffler in the back with Gunmetallic 17-inch wheel rims, I am not surprised that I have received more stares and dropped-jaws then when I was testing out expensive cars like the Volvo XC60 and BMW X4!

Interior (Score: 3/5)

I’ve read somewhere that the interior was described as drab and dated, well, I find myself agreeing to that statement. While the leather seats with red-stitching are sporty and a leather-wrap steering wheel with carbon-fibre pattern to cover the centre console add a little life into the interior, it did not stop the interior from looking like it came straight from a car from the 90s.

But it’s comfortable, which led me to suspect that the WRX’s interior was built for function and not looks. And please allow me to add how I love that the Subaru is built to be originally a right hand drive car so the handbrake level and other settings aren't arranged at odd angles.

Power and Handling (Score: 5/5)

Forget about the fact that this car is a WRX with a rallying background, this car fits in with every scenario and excels at it. I suspect that the idea behind fitting the WRX with a CVT gearbox is so the car would still be a brilliant driver’s companion in the ever congested cities of almost every country. Even the handling of the WRX is surprisingly nimble so you will need to make those trips to the gym if you want muscles.

The downside to having a CVT is the reaction of the car. While allowing the gearbox its head returns a smooth drive most of the time, but asking too much at once from the car makes the CVT hesitates big time causing the car to jerk and whine in protest as if you were dragging a screaming child to bed.

Tech and Safety (Score: 3/5)

First off, the collapsing boxer engine in the WRX is already a big winner with almost every safety test in the world. It also comes standard with seven airbags and reinforcement beams on the doors. And yes, even a driver’s car build for driving fun like the WRX comes with Isofix child seats further proving that the CVT might be intended to play a watered down version of the STi.

When it comes to tech, you get a not-so-helpful keyless access and push start system, cruise control (I’m sure this is going the least used function in the car), Bluetooth compatible hands-free system and paddle shifters. In other words, the basics you can get in any other car but the WRX comes with a multi-function display that shows you information about how much power you are dispensing and a four-wheel drive monitor very much like BMW’s Efficientdrive. Score 1 for the WRX!

Summary

While the WRX 2.0 CVT shares most of its looks with the STi, there is no doubt that the 2.0 CVT is the tamer of the two variants as Subaru had designed it to be. I’ve come to think that while the STi is the ultimate driver’s car, the 2.0 CVT is the watered down version of the rally car that is fit for everyday driving. Truth be told, setting the car in D provides enough fun than you can ask from many other cars, there was barely any need to set the SI-Drive to Sport let alone Sport#. So if you’re looking for the ultimate driver’s car to blend with a daily drive look here, if you’re looking for a wild rally car to tame look upwards.

Overall score: 16/20

Specifications

On sale

Now

Price

RM239,604.80 with GST

Engine

1998cc, DOHC 16-Valve, Horizontally-Opposed, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, Turbocharged, petrol engine, 265bhp @ 5600rpm, 350Nm @ 2400-5200rpm

Transmission

Lineartronic CVT, Symmetrical All-wheel drive

Length/ width/ height/ wheelbase (mm)

4595/ 1795/ 1475/ 2650mm

Weight

1529kg