Car Reviews > Subaru > WRX > Subaru WRX STi 320R Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £32,995
Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder boxer turbo
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, 4-wheel drive
Power/torque: 316 bhp/ 450 Nm
0-62 mph: 4.9 seconds
Top Speed: 158 miles per hour
Economy: 26.9 miles per gallon
Emissions: 243g per kilometre
Equipment: Keyless entry, cruise control, hill-start assist, remote locking, climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather Recaro seats
On Sale: Now

The WRX STi tries to turn up the heat with this new special edition, but there is no doubt the rally-bred saloon is really starting to show its age.

Once upon a time, a brand new Impreza seemed like it would be released practically every other week, but that is just not the case these days. Not only do less and less people actually want them, but also Subaru has even taken to dropping the name from its 4-wheel drive, rally-derived vehicle.

All of this therefore means that the current WRX STi has a bit of a problem on its hands. To try to boost sales, the company has elected to offer a free GPS system and extra power in the new model, which has been badged the 320R.

The name is a reference to the power output level of the 2.5-litre turbo boxer engine, although technically the bhp figure is actually 316, 20 bhp more than is offered in the standard vehicle. Torque has also been increased, with as much as 450 Nm now available. This makes for a much quicker WRX STi, as the 4.9 second 0-62 miles per hour figure clearly indicates, three tenths faster than the standard car.

On the road, this difference is marginal, though the increases do give a little more in the way of flexibility. The mid-range also has increased punch thanks to the peak torque power output being delivered 600 revs per minute lower than before, at just 3400 revs per minute.

Drivers can exploit the additional performance effectively thanks to the 4-wheel drive system, meaning that the Impreza’s eye-opening ability cross-country is retained by the WRX STi. Suspension is supple enough to be able to just shrug off rough roads while keeping good control and the grip is also good.

On the downside, the steering is a little on the vague side, which leaves you wondering what the front wheels are up to sometimes. Similarly, the gearshift could do with being a bit faster across its gate, particularly given the very engine demanding nature of all the frequent changes.

Overall then, the driving experience remains old school Subaru-style, even though the firm has been able to resist the temptation to add on its famous gold alloy wheels and noisy exhausts. The usual numbered plaques for the interior of the vehicle are conspicuous by their absence as well. Indeed, from the driver’s seat there is little indication of the extra performance that is offered by the 320R, with the GPS the only noticeable difference from the standard vehicle.

The big issues of the WRX, however, pertain mainly to cost. The fuel consumption figure hovers near the 20 miles per gallon mark even with moderate driving, with the price looking steep. Even with the GPS and that extra power, for a car that costs more than £30,000 that very low-rent interior is inexcusable, and only weakens any case that might conceivably be made for the 320R.

This is all set to change when the Impreza gets replaced next year, something which it would seem cannot happen soon enough, but until then the 320R will be there for the ever-dwindling amount of customers for a performance car of this type.

by Autoweb