What the new Subaru WRX will compete against in SA

The 2022 Subaru WRX was recently confirmed for South Africa, with this sporty sedan expected to reach local dealerships in “May/June 2022”.

The WRX features a 2.4-litre, turbo-petrol, boxer engine that generates 202kW and 350Nm – 5kW more than the current WRX – with power delivered to all four wheels via a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.

The motor connects to one of two transmissions in this Subaru – a six-speed manual with revised gear ratios, or a new Subaru Performance automatic with an eight-speed manual mode.

The company said this improved CVT transmission provides 30% faster upshifts and 50% faster downshifts between the second and third gears.

A more rigid frame and longer suspension stroke also increase stability and grip, while a new dual-pinion electric power steering system ensures quicker response to driver inputs, improved steering accuracy, and a more natural steering feel, said Subaru.

Additionally, the 2022 WRX’s rear stabilizer bar is now mounted directly to the body instead of the subframe to decrease body roll when compared to the outgoing generation.

Unfortunately, no official acceleration, top speed, or lap time figures for the 2022 Subaru WRX have been released.

The slowest model from the 2021 WRX range reaches 100km/h in 6.3 seconds, while the fastest finishes the sprint in 5.2 seconds. The 2022 WRX is expected to improve on these figures.

The market

Subaru has not revealed any pricing for the 2022 WRX, but it is expected to experience a decent uptick when compared to its older sibling.

The 2021 WRX currently begins at a South African price of R644,000 – with the range-topping WRX STi selling for R853,000.

With the 2022 WRX’s official power figures in mind, we found a selection of sedans that it will be competing against once it arrives – as detailed below.

Click on the underlined prices to visit TopAuto Car Prices for more information.

BMW 330i

• Price – R776,876
• Power – 190kW/400Nm
• 0-100km/h – 5.8 seconds

Audi S3 Sedan Quattro

• Price – R810,000 
• Power – 213kW/400Nm
• 0-100km/h – 4.9 seconds

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Veloce

• Price – R989,900
• Power – 206kW/400Nm
• 0-100km/h – 5.7 seconds

Mercedes-Benz E300 Coupe AMG Line

• Price – R1,139,280
• Power – 190kW/370Nm
• 0-100km/h – 6.4 seconds

Jaguar XF P250 R-Dynamic HSE

• Price – R1,172,742
• Power – 184kW/365Nm
• 0-100km/h – 6.9 seconds