The all-new 2022 Subaru WRX has finally arrived in the Philippines, and we’re the first country in Southeast Asia to receive the brand’s newest sports sedan. As a matter of fact, the Philippines will have priority when it comes to stocks for the all-new WRX (including the WRX Wagon). The Subaru WRX now finally migrates to the Subaru Global Platform, and it also now comes with a bigger, slightly more powerful engine compared to the model it replaces.
Three variants will be sold: WRX MT, WRX CVT, and WRX tS CVT (for indent order). Whichever variant you choose, you get a sports sedan that has drawn some controversy surrounding its sheer amounts of body cladding. Believe it or not, the hexagonal dimpled texture of those unpainted black cladding does serve an aerodynamic purpose. Whatever the case, all Subaru WRX models come with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 245/50 R18 tires, steering-responsive LED headlights with C-shaped LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, smart entry with push-button start, just to name a few.
The adoption of the Subaru Global Platform (SGP) delivers a substantial upgrade in ride and handling performance thanks to increased chassis stiffness and lower center of gravity. SGP delivers a 28 percent increase in overall torsional rigidity and a 75 percent increase in suspension mounting point rigidity. A longer suspension stroke increases vehicle stability and lateral grip on uneven surfaces. The rear stabilizer bar, now mounted directly to the body (vs. the subframe), operates more efficiently and contributes to a roll rate reduction when cornering.
As for the interior, this is the most technologically-advanced and luxurious interior for a WRX to date. Dominating the interior is an 11.6-inch Subaru Starlink portrait touch screen, and this expectedly comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The manual WRX comes with fabric sports seats, while the CVT models come with leather seats with power adjustment for the front seats.
For the first time ever, a tS (tuned by STI) variant will be sold in the Philippines. Available via indent order, this variant adds a host of aesthetic and equipment enhancements ranging from STI badging on its exterior, STI emblem on the steering wheel, as well a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.
Powering the 2022 Subaru WRX is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine from the Evoltis. In this case, it produces 271 hp and 350 Nm, of torque. Despite the bigger engine, this represents a mere 3 hp gain over the previous 2.0-liter turbo engine, while torque remains the same. Subaru did say that the bigger engine has a meatier torque curve, and this results in a 0-100 kph time of 6.0 seconds if equipped with the six-speed manual or 6.1 seconds with the new sports CVT–marketed as the Subaru Performance Transmission. Of course, since this is a Subaru, this sports sedan comes with Symmetrical AWD as standard.
If you splurge for the WRX tS, you will also benefit from adaptive dampers, which constantly monitor road conditions as well as adjust the firmness of the suspension depending on the drive mode.
CVT variants of the 2022 Subaru WRX also benefit from the brand’s latest EyeSight 4.0 suite of advanced driver-assistance tech. Just like in the Outback, the WRX CVT is equipped with the following features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering Function
- Pre-Collision Braking with Autonomous Emergency Steering
- Pre-Collision Throttle Management
- Lane Departure Warning with Lane Departure Prevention
- Lane Sway Warning
- Lead Vehicle Start Alert
In addition, the WRX CVT also comes with a Driver Monitoring System (DMS), which is both a safety and a convenience feature. Through an infrared sensor, DMS is able to remember your vehicle settings based on your face, but more importantly, it will warn you if you look away from the road or use your phone while driving.
The 2022 Subaru WRX is now available at all dealers nationwide at the following prices:
- WRX MT: P2,508,000
- WRX CVT: P2,658,000
- WRX tS CVT: P2,808,000
