5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

It's facelift time for the WRX and WRX STI, so we're taking a look at what's changed on the outside and inside
5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

1. New looks

5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

Starting with the relatively obvious, the WRX and WRX STI both get a redesigned front end. The bumper has been reshaped - removed of its foglights on the STI - while the upper grille is better integrated, and the lower grille enlarged significantly.

The STI gets new steering responsive headlights, plus a new 19-inch wheel design (the WRX gets a new set of 18-inch wheels, meanwhile). And don’t worry, the STI’s giant rear wing is still very much present. Good.

2. Suspension and diff tweaks

5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

Both the WRX and WRX STI get unspecified suspension tweaks for “improved steering stability and ride comfort”. The WRX’s electric power steering has been revised for “smoother, more natural feel,” while the STI’s center limited slip differential control is now electronic rather than mechanical. According to Subaru, that’ll make the four-wheel drive system more responsive.

3. A slightly nicer interior

5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

Our biggest complaint with the old WRX STI was always the drab, dated interior. It should at least be a little better for the facelifted version, as both the WRX and WRX STI have been festooned with upgraded interior materials, a new armrest in the back with cup holders (woo!), and have been given more sound insulation.

Eight-way adjustable electric Recaro seats come as part of the WRX Performance Package (which also gives you better brake pads, painted callipers and a moon roof delete because weight reduction bro), are standard on the STI Limited, and optional on the base STI. Oh, and you can now have a much larger 5.9-inch infotainment dispay as standard, upgradeable to a seven-inch screen.

4. Upgraded brakes for the WRX STI

5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

The STI’s brakes have been significantly beefed up, with the old four-piston front callipers swapped for six-piston Brembo jobbies. Painted yellow, obviously.

At the rear you’ll still find two-piston callipers, but all four of the STI’s rotors are now a little bigger. The pads are more fade resistant, too.

5. Safety stuff

5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

Perhaps a little less exciting than all the talk of beefier brakes and new suspension, but worth a mention.

The revised front end of the two cars not only looks different, it also has a new crash structure that’ll perform better in an accident.

The optional ‘EyeSight Driver Assist Technology’ on the WRX Limited displays various alerts within the driver’s eye line, and there’s also an upgraded Vehicle Hold system which works on flat surfaces as well as inclines, in case you’re lazy and don’t fancy keeping your foot on the brake when stopped at traffic lights.

What about performance?

5 New Things Found On The Refreshed Subaru WRX And WRX STI

Unchanged I’m afraid, with the WRX STI’s 2.5-litre turbo boxer engine putting out the same 305bhp as before, and the 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-banger in the WRX still good for 264bhp. The feel of the manual gear change has been improved though, so it should be more satisfying to row through the six speeds of each car.

Want one? Both will be in Subaru showrooms in North America this Spring. It’s not currently clear if the facelifted version of the STI will make its way to the UK shores.

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Comments

Conor Roberts
01/06/2017 - 10:44 |
406 | 8

*you mean pistons

01/06/2017 - 12:55 |
24 | 2

*ringlands

01/06/2017 - 14:29 |
24 | 0

Ej life

01/06/2017 - 18:43 |
10 | 0

*a new motor

01/08/2017 - 20:37 |
0 | 0

Gee mister, it’s just what I needed! Here’s my lunch money!

01/10/2017 - 03:13 |
0 | 0
Tomislav Celić

“NEW LOOKS”

01/06/2017 - 11:11 |
16 | 0

Sutble is good

01/08/2017 - 03:14 |
2 | 0
PN K

RIP Evo.

01/06/2017 - 11:16 |
48 | 2
Kyle Soler

In reply to by PN K

And soon Lancer as a whole.

01/07/2017 - 00:16 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Still has the dumb triangles in the front side windows and mirrors halfway back coming out of the door panels. No thanks Subaru…

01/06/2017 - 11:17 |
0 | 28
DL🏁

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well not everyone buys their cars based on side mirror placement

01/06/2017 - 11:39 |
8 | 0
The VW Beetle

And my Dad just got his keys to his brand new MY16 WRX on Tuesday… Great.

01/06/2017 - 11:19 |
44 | 2

Performance is the same, so no big deal..

01/06/2017 - 19:06 |
8 | 4

His will most likely be faster since the new ones has more sound dampening so it will weigh more at the same power level.

01/07/2017 - 12:56 |
4 | 0
DADDY

Subaru is turning into Toyota…
Not necessarily a bad thing, just a tired and depressing change.

01/06/2017 - 11:29 |
2 | 8
DL🏁

For those who want a new WRX in the UK there is now a substitute

01/06/2017 - 11:31 |
130 | 6

Definitely not a biased view 😂

01/06/2017 - 13:58 |
20 | 0

For that there is no substitute

01/06/2017 - 17:53 |
4 | 2

There is no substitute for a wrx mate lolol

01/06/2017 - 20:37 |
8 | 0

Isn’t it much more expensive tho?

01/07/2017 - 05:47 |
4 | 0

Rear seats ? :P

01/09/2017 - 17:19 |
0 | 0
ModernChaos

As someone who just bought a 2017 WRX a month and a half ago, I’m happy to see nothing really that significant has changed

01/06/2017 - 11:51 |
16 | 2

Amen : I did the same :)

01/09/2017 - 17:19 |
2 | 0
all4spinning

Guys the car change in 2020 so im hoping a new engine

01/06/2017 - 11:55 |
2 | 0
5:19.55

I through than the new aggresive bumper on the sti would mean “more power” but apparently they still don’t want to make faster car ( should have at least 350hp)

01/06/2017 - 12:34 |
10 | 0

There is a reason they don’t produce a car with more than 300-ish HP. The Japanese market (though it has been lifted since 04) had a power limit cap on road legal cars. Alot of the remnants of that system still remain and insurers ask rediculous amounts for standard size cars with that kind of power. If they produced a 350hp STI they are shooting themselves in the foot with their domestic market. Literally no one could afford to run one in Japan. That is the best logical reason STI’s have remained at 305hp. Why they havent tried achieving that power figure on a newer, lighter and more effecient motor is beyond me.

01/06/2017 - 18:17 |
14 | 0