Written by Marco Carvajal
It is a unique AWD sports car…the 2019 Subaru WRX Premium for drivers who enjoy performance, powered by a fast loud 2.0 Liter engine that produces 268 HorsePower.
The 2019 Subaru WRX is a car of worship, it is a sports racing car, but also can be your every day sedan. The WRX is an all-wheel, you can load it or invite all your friends onboard, there is enough power to haul everyone and everything.
The WRX has a nice medium size sedan, but If you need more cargo space inside, the 60/40-split fold-down rear seatback, together with the 12.0 cubic-foot trunk will be enough for big loads. However, just in case that is not enough and more car space is needed then Subaru includes standard roof rack brackets.
Pricing
There are 5 WRX trims available for the 2019 lineup. I am test driving the WRX Premium.
- WRX
- WRX Premium
- WRX Limited
- WRX STI
- WRX STI Limited
The 2019 Subaru WRX Premium has a MSRP of $29.496.
The other trims range from a starting price around $27,000 for the entry level WRX, up to around $41,000 for the top of the line, the WRX STI Limited.
For those who like to own a loud and fast car at good value ticket price, the WRX is a great choice, priced at less than $30K. Subaru continues producing beautiful and powerful stylish sports cars at a very affordable price. It will be difficult to find another AWD sedan with all these features at such value price like the WRX.
Highlights of the 2019 WRX Premium
- 268 HorsePower
- 2.0-liter direct injection turbocharged BOXER engine
- 258 pound-feet of torque from 2,000 to 5,200 RPM
- High Performance Brakes
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Active Torque Vectoring Standard
- 6-speed manual transmission Standard (automatic transmission optional)
- Rear vision camera
- SUBARU STARLINK 7.0” Multimedia Plus system with a 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen
- Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Aha™, Pandora® and STARLINK Cloud Apps; Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming
- AM/FM stereo; single-disc CD player; SiriusXM All Access Radio and Travel Link (subscriptions required)
- 18-inch Wheels standard on the WRX Premium
The 2019 Subaru WRX
The WRX is a great car providing good value for its price. The exterior and interior design are very attractive, but the core of this car is found on its engine and excellent performance.
Turbocharged SUBARU BOXER Engine
Direct-Injection Turbocharged SUBARU BOXER Engine is fast and powerful and it is included standard on all WRX models at no extra-charge. This strong engine has been developed over a period of 40 years, producing intelligent performance.
This original SUBARU BOXER engine has pistons that move side to side, canceling out each other’s vibrations so it can run smoother and more efficiently. The horizontal engine layout also offers better balance while delivering maximum power.
The 268-hp Direct-Injection Turbocharged engine features a twin-scroll turbocharger for near-instant boost response and maximum power across a wide power band. This boxer engine can deliver up to 258 pound-feet of torque from 2,000 to 5,200 RPM.
The WRX is full of standard performance features
The standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive provides an amazing well balanced drive on all conditions. The balanced design of the AWD produces great stability all around the WRX and delivers perfect distribution of power for maximum traction on the road. When you drive the WRX, you may speed up on corners on the track, kick up dirt on any back roads, and drive confidently on all type of roads and conditions.
Continuing with more standard features, Quick-Ratio Steering and Aluminum Front Lower Control Arms. Electric power steering with a quick 14.4:1 ratio creates a sharp turn-in and excellent on-center feel. Aluminum front lower control arms reduce unsprung weight and pivot on pillow ball bushings.
Also Standard on all WRX models, the Vehicle Dynamics Control with Active Torque Vectoring. Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) with Active Torque Vectoring sharpens cornering response for tighter lines through every turn. VDC actively reduces understeer so the apex of every corner is just an easy turn of the wheel away, making it easier to maneuver on difficult curves.
Ready to Race
Track-Tuned Suspension is Standard. The high-performance, track-tuned suspension on the WRX features aggressive spring and damper rates, large front and rear anti-roll bars, and wide summer tires for tremendous grip and control. A double-wishbone rear suspension with pillow ball bushings enables flat cornering while the rigid unibody with reinforced suspension mounting points creates a perfect platform.
With its 268-hp, 2.0-liter direct injection turbocharged BOXER engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Active Torque Vectoring, the WRX is a performance and value leader in the AWD sport-compact segment. The WRX comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and offers an optional performance automatic transmission, the Sport Lineartronic CVT with manual mode.
Connectivity
New for WRX in 2019 is the SUBARU STARLINK™ 6.5” Multimedia Plus system that includes a 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen; smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Aha™, Pandora® and STARLINK Cloud Apps; Bluetooth® hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming; AM/FM stereo; single-disc CD player; SiriusXM® All Access Radio and Travel Link® (subscription required); and rear vision camera.
WRX Premium
The 2019 WRX Premium the one I am test driving now comes standard with the STARLINK 7.0” Multimedia Plus system with a 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen; smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Aha, Pandora and STARLINK Cloud Apps; Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming; voice activated controls for phone; Near Field Communication; AM/FM stereo; single-disc CD player; SiriusXM All Access Radio and Travel Link (subscriptions required); and rear vision camera.
The WRX Premium also features 18-inch alloy wheels standard, all weather package that includes heated front seats and windshield wiper de-icer, fog lights and power moonroof. The WRX Premium is available with CVT transmission and SI-Drive engine performance management system along with steering wheel paddle shift controls. All WRX models with CVT come standard with the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology system.
An optional Performance Package for the model WRX Premium, features Recaro performance design seats, 8-way power front driver seat, red-painted front and rear brake calipers with upgraded JURID front brake pads and deletes the moonroof to reduce weight. The Performance Package is competitively price at $2,050 and offered exclusively on 6-speed manual transmission WRX Premium.
On a wishlist Subaru Starlink Multimedia still needs improvement, the quality and resolution of the screen is not the best. The apps respond slowly and the system is not very intuitive. But with more work this Subaru can be enhanced and please everyone. The sound quality of the radio is OK, not bad but not the best. You can add Harman Kardon Premium Audio on the WRX Limited and it is included on the WRX STI Limited, but is not an available option on the WRX Premium that I am test driving.
Is the WRX the right car for you?
The WRX is a winner when we go to performance, horse power, breaks, transmission. You can feel the power on the road. It is a fast and precise car. The design of the WRX helps the driver enjoy the feeling of racing on the track, it looks like a sports car, but also has design elements of a more proper sedan, what helps Subaru reach different type of markets, different type of drivers.
Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is standard on WRX Premium and Limited with CVT. Included with EyeSight are Auto Vehicle Hold (AVH), EyeSight Assist Monitor (EAM) and an electronic parking brake. The EAM uses dual LED indicators to display EyeSight status and alerts on the windshield. The AVH feature replaces the Hill Holder and Hill Start Assist functions and offers greater functionality, holding the vehicle on all road grades, not only inclines.
In addition to Keyless Access with Push Button Start, the Limited offers automatic LED headlight low and high beam height adjustment control as well as auto-on/off headlights linked with windshield wiper operation.
An optional Performance Package for the WRX Premium features Recaro® performance design seats, 8-way power front driver seat, red-painted front and rear brake calipers with upgraded JURID® front brake pads and deletes the moonroof to reduce weight. The Performance Package is competitively price at $2,050 and offered exclusively on 6-speed manual transmission WRX Premium
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States.
