Used 2019 Subaru WRX STI Sedan Review

Come rain or shine — or even snow — the 2019 Subaru WRX and WRX STI deliver speedy acceleration and engaging handling. These compact sport sedans aren't as quiet or refined as their competitors, but you won't find sport sedans with more power and all-wheel drive for less money.

The distinctive configuration of the WRX comes from its rally racing origins, a motorsport that involves driving as quickly as possible down largely unknown country roads. All-wheel drive is a necessity for varying surfaces, from dirt and gravel to asphalt, and a small, yet powerful turbocharged engine ensures quick acceleration away from corners.

Today's WRX is a fast and legitimate family car with a large interior, good outward visibility and comfortable seats. The 268-horsepower WRX is a little more comfortable and therefore commuter-friendly — it's even available with a continuously variable automatic transmission and a suite of advanced driver safety aids. The 310-hp WRX STI is still streetable, but its stiff suspension and lack of an automatic mean it's for purists only.

We do recommend checking out some rivals. Competitors such as the Honda Civic Si and Type R, as well as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, have superior fuel economy and interiors that are quieter and better-looking. Hyundai's out with a new Veloster, too. For an affordable all-weather sport sedan, though, the 2019 WRX is hard to beat.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Subaru WRX as one of Edmunds' Best All-Wheel-Drive Sedans for this year.

The 2019 Subaru WRX is a five-passenger sedan offered in five standard trim levels (base, Premium, Limited, STI and STI Limited) and two limited-edition variants (Series.Gray and Series.Gray STI). The base model comes reasonably well-equipped, while the Premium and the Limited add more convenience and luxury-oriented features. The STI variants have more standard features plus a more powerful engine and upgraded brakes and suspension.

Base WRX models start with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (268 hp, 258 pound-feet of torque), a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, performance tires, hill start assist, heated side mirrors, automatic climate control, a height-adjustable driver's seat, cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rearview camera, and 60/40-split folding rear seats. Technology features consist of a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, Bluetooth, and satellite and HD radio.

Stepping up to the WRX Premium adds 18-inch wheels, foglights, a sunroof, heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icers, and a 7-inch touchscreen. Stand-alone options for the Premium include a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. When equipped with the CVT automatic, Premium WRXs come with Subaru's EyeSight system, which bundles adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning. EyeSight cannot be paired with the manual.

Optional with the manual only, however, is the Performance package that adds Recaro front seats (the driver's seat is eight-way power-adjustable), more durable brake pads, and red brake calipers. This package removes the sunroof in the interest of weight savings.

The limited-edition WRX Series.Gray, named after its special exterior paint, features the Performance package as standard and rides on black 18-inch wheels. It includes keyless ignition and entry, LED foglights, and automatic bi-LED headlights that also automatically adjust for height and turn in conjunction with the steering wheel.

The Limited comes equipped similarly to the Series.Gray, but instead of the Performance package and black wheels, it adds the eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar adjustment, leather upholstery and a navigation system. Opting for the CVT automatic on the Limited also adds EyeSight.

STI models come equipped like the WRX Premium, but with performance upgrades such as a turbo 2.5-liter engine (310 horsepower, 290 pound-feet of torque), 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, a driver-adjustable center differential, front and rear limited-slip differentials, and more aggressive suspension tuning. The bi-LED headlights and seat upholstery consisting of suede-like centers and leather bolsters are also included, while the sunroof is deleted. Options are Recaro sport seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and keyless ignition and entry.

Those features are standard on the limited-edition Series.Gray STI, which rides on black 19-inch wheels and an even stiffer suspension with Bilstein dampers.

The STI Limited is equipped with the same seats and keyless features as the Series.Gray. It also has a sunroof, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The lone option is a low-profile trunk lip spoiler.

Several dealer-installed options are available for the WRX and STI, including a performance exhaust (base WRX), an auto-dimming rearview mirror, short-throw shifter, carbon-fiber trim, unique shift knobs and interior lighting accents.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Subaru WRX (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 6-speed manual | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2015, the current WRX has received some revisions, including an updated entertainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support for 2019. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's WRX, however.