You can read our pricing and specification breakdown here.
The price reduction widened eyes when it was announced, given the potency of the WRX STI. For the first time, buyers of this model can order an STI without the rear wing. Some love it, some hate it, but if you’re in the latter camp, you can now have your STI with a smaller serving of ponce. Funnily enough, from our own observations we haven’t seen too many running around without the wing.
The Subaru WRX STI Premium we have here starts from $55,390 plus on road costs. Our test vehicle has no options apart from floor mats. In short, you’re going to get a lot of performance potential for the money, whichever way you slice the numbers. The 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine is a powerhouse, delivering a rock solid 221kW at 6000rpm and 407Nm at 4000rpm, pushing the STI from 0-100km/h in 5.2-seconds. With a kerb weight of 1537kg, the STI is positioned right where it needs to be.
The six speed manual gearbox is paired to a meaty clutch that takes a little getting used to if you’ve been cruising round in the laziness that comes with a modern auto. But if you’ve ever driven a WRX or STI before though, the weight of the clutch pedal is exactly what you expect.
This model’s cabin is a step forward from previous versions. It retains the signature STI rally-bred sense of occasion, but still suffers a little from what we think is not enough differentiation from the WRX. Perhaps it’s the lift in the WRX cabin that has brought it closer to the STI, but we’d like to see the STI looking and feeling a little more premium than the model below it on the Subaru food chain.
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