Subaru WRX Wagon 2.4 CVT Review

With the pressure of a growing SUV market pushing in on one side, and evergreen budget and eco-minded models not relenting on the other, one would expect the idea of a souped up wagon to have been squeezed out by 2024. 

Nevertheless, a tiny squadron of fighters is still mounting a valiant resistance. And among them, one particular name has returned after a hiatus with a formula that's become uniquely synonymous with its parent: The Subaru WRX Wagon. 

Coolly approachable

The mere mention of the three letters 'WRX' are enough to conjure up images of aggression: Flared wheel arches, busy bodywork, and of course, a bonnet scoop tall enough to swallow a skyscraper (we kid).

Step up to the latest WRX Wagon, however, and you might be surprised at its relative tameness.

To be clear, it's not that the car doesn't have any whiff of aggression to it. In a lighter colour, the black cladding on its front bumper would certainly stand out more - while the enduring presence of its trademark scoop and the twin exhausts at the rear send a clear signal that this car means business.

We think the the WRX Wagon's styling is rather subdued on first glance given its name - but the presence of its ever-lovely bonnet scoop and twin exhausts are clear indications that the car means business 

Still, the WRX Wagon feels like a far more grown-up iteration of the Rexes of old, especially when decked out in this more subdued grey.

It's worth noting that till now, the WRX Wagon hadn't officially existed in Singapore for a couple of generations - but those paying closer attention should know that in the recently-reshuffled world of Subaru nomenclature, this actually succeeds what we knew as the Levorg. Over its predecessor, its thinner headlights, sleeker sheet metal, and slimmer hexagonal grille also make its Subie-identity clear even while marking a tasteful and modernised evolution. 

An addiction to symmetry: The WRX Wagon boasts a clean-looking and appropriately-modern dash

Driver-focused comfort 

The interior experience is surprisingly balanced too when you climb aboard.

Here, the aluminium pedals, red stitching across the dashboard and seats, carbon fibre-like plastic panels, and of course, the 'WRX' letters on the steering wheel make the car's sporting ambitions clear again.

Racier bits in the cabin include aluminium pedals, red stitching, and plastic trim designed to mimic carbon fibre

But it's ultimately comfort that the cabin slants towards amidst these racier bits. The most immediate examples are the front (non-sport) seats, which are electronically adjustable and even offer memory functions for the driver. Supremely supportive, yet also walking the line perfectly between being firm yet cushy, these would feel perfectly at home on a family car.

Still, passenger-ferrying is exactly what the WRX Wagon excels at. Despite the central transmission tunnel (this is an all-wheel-drive car after all), the rear middle passenger will not be severely punished thanks to the large footwells. Meanwhile, the car's width and flat roofline ensures that headroom and shoulder room are great for all on the rear bench.

Elsewhere, the cabin is typical Subaru-fare, meaning a thorough sense of robustness all over. On other cars, the lack of a fully digital instrument cluster might be a sore point - but the twin analogue gauges flanking the 4.2-inch display feel more driver-focused, and are thus delightfully welcome in the WRX Wagon. 

The retention of twin analogue gauges actually feels befitting of the WRX Wagon's identity, while its 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen is easy to navigate, even if its graphics are not the sharpest on the market 

Taking centre stage on the car's dashboard, however, is a 11.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which has wired support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It's not the most dazzling unit when it comes to graphics and colours, but its angled positioning, outright height and tile-like layout makes operation on the go fairly intuitive. Best of all, buttons and dials have been rightfully positioned where they're supposed to be - for adjusting temperature for the dual-zone A/C, and for controlling the volume. Subaru's addiction to symmetry isn't just limited to the car's powertrain itself, it seems. 

For the family-oriented enthusiasts: Space in the rear is great despite the transmission tunnel, while the car's boot isn't just cavernous, but versatile too, with its second row's 40:20:40 split

It would be remiss not to mention the WRX Wagon's calling card given its shape: A large boot. By default, its 492-litre capacity and large, boxy shape is already highly useful, but equally handy is its versatility. A multitude of configurations is possible with the second row's 40:20:40 split, and with all the seats folded away, the space expands to an uninterrupted 1,430 litres.

User-friendly, family-friendly firecracker

It is perhaps all of that immense sensibility - specific to hot wagons - that stokes amusement on the basis of how disconnected it might seem at first from the power awaiting beneath the surface.

The undeniable headline act of all the WRX Wagon's action is a newly-developed engine: A turbocharged, 2.4-litre flat-four putting out an impressive 271bhp and 350Nm of torque, the latter of which already arrives from 2,000rpm.

A newly-developed 2.4-litre turbo-boxer engine puts out 271bhp and 350Nm of torque, helping the WRX Wagon complete the century sprint in 6.1 seconds

Subaru says this allows the car to zip from zero to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds, and this feels directly commensurate to the experience behind the wheel. The width of your grin increases in step with every additional press of the 'Mode' button on the steering wheel, and by the time you're in 'S#' (Sport Sharp, in Subaru speak), the WRX Wagon is on high alert; its gearbox holding the revs higher, and doggedly insistent on clinging onto lower 'gears'.

On that note, some have bemoaned Subaru's decision to fit an ostensibly driver-oriented machine with a CVT - but for what it's worth, the programmed set points of the Sport Lineartronic transmission, matched to paddle shifters, are convincing (and entertaining) enough in their emulation of an actual eight-speed gearbox.

Equipped with all-wheel drive, the WRX Wagon is immensely confidence-inspiring from behind the wheel - although its steering could do with a bit more directness in its feel 

Besides, the undeniable upshot is that an automatic will always be better suited to Singapore's built-up environment.

Still, the WRX Wagon isn't just about straight-line performance. Unpretentiously lower-slung than performance crossovers, its combination of firepower, planted-ness, and grip gives it delightful fluidity around sweeping bends. At the same time, the car remains tighter than initially expected around narrower curves. Subaru says the adoption of the Subaru Global Platform has also increased chassis stiffness, and indeed, the WRX Wagon rides very well across all manner of road surfaces, deftly balancing suppleness and stiffness.

On the flip side, however, those wanting a bit more drama from the car may be left slightly hanging. Its flat-four, for starters, isn’t the most boisterous unit, while meatier and more direct steering would have nicely sealed the deal.

The same DNA - just made more mature

Whether Subaru intended for the WRX nameplate to develop 'boy racer' associations is unclear, but the fact remains that the connection will always linger.

On this count, the WRX Wagon may come across as a bit too polished, and a bit too tame for longtime fans who expect theatrics and aggression aplenty from the car. And as things stand, this is also as 'hardcore' as the model will come from the factory; Subaru had already shot down plans for STI variants for this generation when it was launched, citing the lack of viability amidst prevailing market conditions.  

While the WRX Wagon may beg the question of what buyers expect from its storied name, its mixture of power, space and day-to-day usability is a compelling package that feels endlessly satisfying

Contrarily, what the car may lack in drama, it more than makes up for in its well-roundedness.

In Wagon form especially (the Sedan is no longer listed for sale), the WRX is well-suited to play the role of a daily driver, offering spades of practicality while retaining its ability to give some far more expensive cars a run for their money. Some of the most accomplished stars on the planet, after all, are the ones that have managed to mature alongside their audiences. We think the WRX Wagon follows that tack exactly.

Here are a couple of other driver-oriented wagons we've enjoyed in recent memory!

The 330i Touring is no M3, but it offers an excellent balance of practicality, dynamism, and has a conventional front end that appeals to the masses

The Skoda Octavia Combi RS is a compelling estate with space, flexibility and practicality, plus a dollop of sublime performance for good measure