Đánh giá subaru impreza wrx sti 2023 năm 2024

The Subaru WRX wagon is back, in name at least... but is the new car a proper reboot of a fan-favourite classic, or just a ho-hum sequel to the Levorg?

What we love

• Fast when given space to run
• Rides well in town and out
• Great on gravel, just like a WRX should be

What we don’t

• No emotional WRX connection, just like the Levorg
• Infotainment fiddly and low-res
• CVT and regular drive modes are a bit dull

2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon GT

Everything old is new again.

The WRX wagon, a practical version of the turbocharged rally-bred Subaru Impreza, burst onto the scene in 1994 and provided a unique mix of form and function that earned it a passionate fanbase.

With a big bonnet scoop and thumping EJ20 boxer at one end and a family-friendly, load-loving hatchback at the other, the hatch was the thinking driver's WRX. It dulled down the rally-racer attitude of the Ikea bookshelf on the boot, and suggested that lifestyle pursuits (including rally racing) were at least as important as performance.

Sadly, the WRX wagon was discontinued in 2007 when the Impreza entered its third generation, but the format re-emerged in 2016 as the Subaru Levorg. And no, no one really loved the name.

But now, for the new VB-generation WRX, Subaru has gone full circle and given the updated Levorg the name it deserved all along, the WRX Sportswagon. Great news for fans, but we we can't help but wonder if the new wagon is WRX enough?

The 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon is essentially a Levorg-evolved, and in contrast to the cladding-heavy WRX sedan, presets as a far more conservative and conventionally designed machine. In the white of our test car (one of seven choices, all at no cost premium), it looks smart, but almost underdone. Sure there's a scoop on the bonnet.. but not much else.

The Impreza name was dropped when the WRX jumped to the VA generation in 2014, but the wagon doesn't need the badge. It looks like an Impreza.

To be clear, this isn't a bad thing. It's stylish and resolved and has thankfully addressed the strange missing trim component of the rear quarter window on the Levorg, and in isolation does look pretty slick... but it's not pumped or muscular. It's mature. Tame. Sensible even.

Great if you're looking for a funky performance wagon, but perhaps a bit lacking if you want a WRX.

How much does the Subaru WRX Sportswagon GT cost in Australia

Subaru offers three regular variants of the WRX wagon, all powered by the same 202kW/350Nm 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 'boxer' petrol engine, and all turning all-four-wheels via an eight-speed 'Lineartronic' CVT (constantly variable transmission) automatic. Our GT sits in the middle.

Priced from $56,490 before on-road costs, you need to step up $2500 to the bigger wheels and Ultrasuede seats of the $58,990 tS, or save $5500 and ditch leather trim, the sunroof and sat-nav for the entry-level $50,990 WRX Sportswagon.

It's worth noting that to celebrate the brand's 50th birthday, there is also a limited-edition $52,190 50 Years Edition WRX Sportswagon that throws a bunch of goodies (powered Ultrasuede seats and special badging) onto the entry-level car to celebrate Subaru's 50th anniversary in Australia. It would be our pick.

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Regardless, the WRX wagon is priced well under the departing Volkswagen Golf R wagon ($71,990) and the punchy Mini Clubman JCW ($69,200), and while similarly positioned to the $57,490 Skoda Octavia RS, it outranks the 180kW/370Nm front-wheel drive Czech under the bonnet.

How much space does the Subaru WRX Sportswagon have inside?

If the outside doesn't impress you, then the interior of the WRX Sportswagon might.

This mid-range specification, with heated leather seats in both rows (power adjustable up front) feels very well appointed and upmarket, in a sporty-Japanese-compact way. By this I mean there are lots of plastic trim elements, but they are well-made and well put together.

The buttons feel good and the central media screen interface and black-glass panel looks slick and modern.

Plus, and perhaps more importantly, it's really comfortable.

Storage up front is good, with a pair of cup holders, a couple of places to put your phone, a central-cubby, good door bins and a reasonably sized glovebox. Rear passengers have a central armrest with cup holders and a reclining backrest but that's about it.

The junior-wagon styling of the Sportswagon affords a 492-litre boot that expands with 40:20:40 split seats to 1430 litres. There's a retractable blind to shelter your cargo, remote seat releases and a space-saver spare tyre under the floor too.

2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon GTSeatsFiveBoot volume492L seats up 1430L seats foldedLength4755mmWidth1795mmHeight1500mmWheelbase2670mm

Does the Subaru WRX have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Before you start using it, the WRX's portrait-orientation 11.6-inch touchscreen looks really slick. There's a cool information display at the top and climate control information down the bottom. The sound-system has six-speakers.

Everything looks bright and juicy, and there is native support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus DAB digital radio and integrated satellite navigation, but it's more style than substance in the usability stakes.

The big screen isn't high-resolution, so all the fonts and icons are quite large. Not such a bad thing for the older WRX fanbase, but just not as modern as you would expect when you first see it. Further, once you explore the functions, there's not a lot of depth to the capability beyond the basics. It looks good, don't get me wrong, but you can't adjust vehicle settings or configure preferences... just view information.

Information isn't that easy to find (the DAB tuner a particular standout), it can be slow to react, and even having the heated seats and other climate functions behind the screen can be annoying.

But, there is a CD-player and for those feeling nostalgic, this is a definite win.

I don't want to seem overly harsh on the system, as once you're driving and doing things it works well enough, it's just that for such a prominent display in a well-styled bezel, I want the software to work as well as it looks.

Display aside, for those in the front row, there are two USB-A ports plus a minijack input, and there are a further two USB-A ports in the back. There's no wireless charge pad, which I feel is an opportunity missed by Subaru, but it's not a deal breaker.

Is the Subaru WRX Sportswagon a safe car?

The new Subaru WRX, in both sedan and wagon form, has not been tested by ANCAP or its European equivalent, Euro NCAP.

2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon GTANCAP ratingUntested

What safety technology does the Subaru WRX Sportswagon have?

Subaru's Eyesight driver assistance technology suite, with Vision Assist technology and Driver Monitoring System is very well-featured and well-integrated into the car. Plus, it's pretty clever.

If you're stopped at lights and the car in front of you moves off, the car lets you know. If the car thinks you aren't paying attention on the road, you get a warning. If you log in as a user, the car recognises you and will adjust the cabin and mirror settings to suit.

For all the shortcomings of the infotainment system, the Subaru's collective safety suite makes up for it.

Every acronym-based modern safety-assistance feature is present in the GT including autonomous emergency braking, autonomous emergency steering, lane departure warning and lane centring, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, rear cross traffic alert, reverse AEB, high beam assist and more. Plus like all Subarus, you have the predictable nature of constant all-wheel drive.

In short, Eyesight is incredibly well-featured and very to use. It's not intrusive, although the pre-collision braking can be a little aggressive at times.

How much does the Subaru WRX Sportswagon cost to maintain?

The Subaru WRX Sportswagon GT has 15,000km or 12-month service intervals and is supported by capped price servicing for the first five years. Each second-year service is significantly higher than odd-numbered years, with an average cost of $507.27 per year.

Year one costs $378.33, two is $517.96, three $453.19, the fourth year is the highest at $792.10 and the fifth returns to $394.78.

The days of WRX insurance being out of reach for mere mortals seems to have passed, as the Sportswagon is quoted at $1833 for annual comprehensive insurance cover through NRMA, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver, living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

At a glance2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon GTWarrantyFive years / unlimited kmService intervals12 months or 15,000kmServicing costs$1349.48 (3 years) $2536.36 (5 years)

Is the Subaru WRX Sportswagon fuel efficient?

The WRX leans into its sporty positioning, and therefor doesn't prioritise outright efficiency.

Subaru claims 8.5L/100km for a combined cycle and up to 11.2L/100km when running around town. After a week of driving we settled to an average of 11.8L/100km. That's pretty high.

On the upside, it's less than the 15L/100km that Tom saw in the WRX sedan, but in the same way that watching a horror movie will give you jump-scares, buying a WRX will not be an economical choice.

Fuel Useage Fuel Stats Fuel cons. (claimed) 8.5L/100km Fuel cons. (on test) 11.8L/100km Fuel type 95-octane premium unleaded Fuel tank size 63L

What is the Subaru WRX Sportswagon GT like to drive?

I'll start this by asking (rhetorically, of course) how do you want a WRX wagon to drive?

Do you have memories of a relatively light (1300kg) and nimble sports-hatch leaping away from the lights, with the burbling boxer buzzing to around 5000rpm, as the rush of the turbo brought a smile to your face, time and time again? Well, this isn't like that... not always anyway.

If like me, you've matured somewhat from the first-run WRX days of the late 1990s, and the WRX has matured in kind.

The new car may offer 26 per cent more power than the original GC8 hatch (202kW vs 160kW), but the 307kg extra heft (1607kg) actually means the old WRX wagon had a marginally higher power-to-weight ratio (125.7kW/t vs 126kW/t). I'm not suggesting you can measure the difference, but you can feel it, around town at least.

In an urban setting, the 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon isn't the lively hooligan of old.

It rides very well, and is impressively comfortable on suburban streets, but almost feels laggy off the mark, in a way that makes you feel that perhaps the WRX has matured too much.

The Lineartronic transmission may sound fancy, but it is simply a CVT with eight preset ratios to play with in manual mode. Around town, this goes about its work without fuss or bother, but also without much drama or excitement. Here, you may as well be in an Impreza with a spoiler, the RX of old, the one that looked the part but was actually insurable (the late '90s struggle was real).

But, and there's always a but, you don't buy a WRX to simply potter to the shops.

Show this thing a B-road, and it will discover the fountain of youth.

Pick up some pace and drive the car like you mean it, and the WRX remembers its roots. Keep the motor spinning above 2500rpm, and you have a usable 350Nm torque band all the way to the peak power zone beyond 5000rpm. The transmission in any of its settings (which is not called 'Sport Hashtag' despite my teen daughter's insistence, but rather Sport Sharp – as taken from sheet music) may not have the visceral feel of the five-speed of yore, but it's fast enough to switch between virtual cog-sets in an imperfect way that almost adds character to the WRX.

At speed, the ride is still comfortable and compliant, but the car feels solid and planted, and turns in accurately every time, urging you to push just that little bit more than you thought it would. The grip is there, the predictability is there. It may not communicate like it used to, but there's some very impressive capability left within the Subaru's chassis.

Make no mistake, the WRX is still a fast car. It's still a thrilling car.

Throw it onto some unsealed roads and it's still a fun car. Even on a loose surface, you get the sense that the car is managing better than its muted exterior and sedate urban performance would suggest. It may have lost its big fog lamps and some of its peak-period street cred, but the WRX wagon can still hustle when you push it.

It's just that, you need to push it to know this, and that the rest of the time it reverts to the demeanour of a retired athlete.

Capable, but not bothered.

Key details2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon GTEngine2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrolPower202kW @ 5600rpmTorque350Nm @ 2000-5200rpmDrive typeAll-wheel driveTransmissionCVT automaticPower to weight ratio125.7kW/tWeight (tare)1607kgTurning circle11.0m

Should I buy the Subaru WRX Sportswagon GT?

The big question here is whether the 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon is a 'real' WRX by nature more than just the badge.

Is it a bonafide return to form, or just a branded follow-up that promises more than it delivers?

To be fair, it's a little of both.

For a new generation, the 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon GT offers the same appeal as the GC8 Impreza WRX Hatch did all those years ago; it is a punchy, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive, rally-bred sports sedan hiding under the practical and stylistic framework of a wagon.

If this is your first experience, then providing you drive the car and get used to the infotainment, it will be a good one.

But for more nostalgic buyers, who remember what they think a WRX wagon should do and be all the time, the new one falls a little short of the mark.

Think of it as a Hollywood remake. The live-action Aladdin movie that entertained today's fresh audience but wasn't a pinch on the Robin Williams animated original. Sure, it wears a WRX badge, but in keeping with the cinematic analogy this is like the fan-service surprises and plot points we've seen film-makers weave into new Spiderman films, something that those who remember what came before will be excited or impressed by, but that wont distract the fresh eyes from what newness they seek to bring.

In reality, this car could have been called the Subaru Impreza Turbo Sportswagon and it wouldn't have changed it one bit.

The WRX monicker simply a fan-service treat for those who remember the original, but not distracting fresh eyes from what newness it seeks to bring.

It's not muscular to look at, it is smart and modern. It's not raw and exciting on every drive, it is refined and comfortable. This is the performance sports wagon for a 2023 buyer, not a 1994 one... and therein lies the rub.

I'd wager the same people complaining that the new WRX Sportswagon isn't as good as the original, are the same people who complained that the Levorg should have just been called the WRX Sportswagon to begin with, and will swear the Hong Kong production of Infernal Affairs is better than Scorsese's The Departed, even with subtitles turned on. I know, because I'm one of them.

Your heart may want a more original WRX Wagon, but it's not going to get one. The connection to that three-lettered badge is a limited and emotional one, and shouldn't be used to judge this car with the lens of today. The intangible measure of what was against what is doesn't make the new car better or worse, it just makes you nostalgic for having been there.

For a new era of buyers, the 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon offers plenty of fun, tech and practicality (plus a CD-player) underpinned by a capable and potent chassis. Driven with enjoyment in mind, the WRX can still entertain like it used to.

It will never replace what you had, but that's what memories are for.

How do I buy a Subaru WRX Sportswagon – next steps?

If the time feels right for you to lean into motoring nostalgia, and buy a new WRX wagon, then the timing couldn't be better.

As noted in the introduction, Subaru is celebrating half-a-century in the motoring game, and the 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon 50th Anniversary edition is one of the limited run vehicles on offer at the moment.

Priced from $52,190 before on-road costs, it scores the powered, Ultrasuede seats from the range-topping tS, as well as some unique badging and other trim elements. Unless you desperately want a sunroof, it represents the best value in the range and would be our pick right now.

Plus, you can order it in Subaru's iconic WR Blue Pearl paint, but sadly without any gold wheels.

You can, however, spend an extra $4170.41 on a six-piece styling package, and $3210.54 for some gunmetal-grey 18-inch Enkei STI alloy wheels, which, given the nostalgic approach, we'd find pretty hard to go past.

Ratings Breakdown

2023 Subaru WRX GT Sportswagon

7.5/ 10

Infotainment & Connectivity

Interior Comfort & Packaging

With over 20 years of experience in digital publishing, James Ward has worked within the automotive landscape since 2007 and brings experience from the publishing, manufacturer and lifestyle side of the industry together to spearhead Drive's multi-media content direction.