The latest iteration of Subaru’s rally-bred WRX sports sedan has finally reached the Philippines, and it is not alone. Accompanying it is the wagon version that replaces the first-generation Levorg in our market.
The fifth-generation Subaru WRX brings both sedan and wagon variants to the Philippines
This gives customers two choices when it comes to picking out a daily driver with a potent heritage of performance. We dive deeper into Subaru’s twin offerings under the WRX nameplate and what sets them apart from each other, apart from their distinctive body styles.
Subaru WRX Sedan vs. Wagon: Exterior
The standard WRX Sedan stands 4,670mm long, 1,825mm wide, and 1,465mm wide on a 2,675mm wheelbase. Meanwhile, the wagon measures 85mm longer, 30mm narrower, and 35mm higher, with the wheelbase that’s shorter by a negligible 5mm.
A sporty vibe defines the WRX Sedan
Both styles have a nearly identical countenance, sporting a prominent intake on the hood and auto-levelling LED headlamps with integrated daytime running lights flanking the hexagonal grille. The lower fascia on the WRX Wagon differs slightly from its three-box sibling, with a more compact housing surrounding the former’s LED fog lamps.
Along the sides, the WRX Sedan sports copious amounts of body cladding, almost giving it a crossover-like vibe. While the wagon sports a larger greenhouse, both of them come standard with UV protection glass, while a power-sliding sunroof come standard on the sedan’s mid-range and top-spec trims as well as on the wagon’s flagship variant.
The WRX Wagon was designed as an exciting family hauler
At the rear, the sedan features a trunk spoiler, while the wagon comes with a roof-mounted spoiler. A more angular set of LED tail lamps are evident on the WRX Sedan, hovering over an aggressive rear diffuser with quad exhaust tips. In contrast, the wagon features a more subdued apron, but still with dual tailpipes. Both WRX models come with 18-inch alloy wheels in varying finishes.
Subaru WRX Sedan vs. Wagon: Interior
An upscale interior that carries more than just hints of sportiness awaits customers, whichever model they choose. While both offer enough seating for up to five occupants, the WRX Wagon further emphasizes cargo by offering 492 liters of luggage space by default, against 414 liters on the WRX Sedan.
Common to both body styles is a cabin with ample room for five occupants
The wagon also places a premium on flexibility, offering a second-row bench that folds 40:20:40 to expand available cargo space up to 1,430 liters. For the sedan, 60:40 split-fold rear seats give passengers pass-through access to the trunk. Common to both models is a leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel with audio controls, featuring the WRX badge on the bottom spoke.
Subaru WRX Sedan vs. Wagon: Tech & Safety
For both models, onboard entertainment comes in the form of an 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen display on the center console. The display centralizes various functions such as infotainment, climate control, and vehicle settings. Connectivity options include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and voice commands.
The sedan offers 414 liters of trunk space
Subaru EyeSight 4 comes standard across most of the WRX lineup (save for the base manual variant), offering features such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering Function, Pre-Collision Braking with Autonomous Emergency Steering, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, and Lane Sway Warning.
There's more space offered on the WRX Wagon
A new Driver Monitoring System sounds an alarm when it detects the driver being distracted or inattentive behind the wheel, apart from using facial recognition to recall personalized settings such as seat position and climate control settings. All these are in addition to 10 airbags, Steering Responsive Headlamps, Rear Vehicle Detection, and Reverse Automatic Braking.
Subaru WRX Sedan vs. Wagon: Engine & Drivetrain
Under the hood, both WRX Sedan and Wagon models are powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine rated at 271 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Only the base variant comes equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox, with the rest of the range using the continuously variable Subaru Performance Transmission.
Power comes in the form of a 2.4-liter turbo Boxer engine
The manual uses a center differential and viscous coupling, while the rest offers all-wheel-drive with variable torque distribution. Drivers of the wagon benefit from the addition of paddle shifters. Acceleration from zero to 100 kilometers per hour for the manual takes six seconds, with the CVT versions a fraction of a second slower.
Subaru WRX Sedan vs. Wagon: Conclusion
Being underpinned by the Subaru Global Platform, it would be safe to say that both the WRX Sedan and WRX Wagon share the same pedigree. The former carries on the tradition of the nameplate’s traditional silhouette along with its sporty exterior elements, but the two-box version is admittedly more eye-catching despite being a more family-oriented model.
Take your pick of Subaru's latest twin releases
Think of the WRX Wagon as the slightly more practical choice over the sedan, but only as far as cargo capacity is concerned. The difference in price for their respective tS variants is also notable, with the wagon priced Php 100,000 cheaper. And then of course, there’s the two-box model’s more visually appealing silhouette, although the sedan looks the part of a sporty ride to liven up your daily commutes.
Subaru WRX Sedan vs. Wagon: Pricing
| SUBARU WRX variant | Price |
|---|---|
| WRX Sedan M/T | Php 2,508,000 |
| WRX Sedan CVT | Php 2,658,000 |
| WRX Sedan tS CVT | Php 2,808,000 |
| WRX Wagon CVT | Php 2,558,000 |
| WRX Wagon tS CVT | Php 2,708,000 |
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