Subaru WRX Club Spec review: analog experience is one to savour

This turbocharged sports sedan has built an incredibly loyal following from driving enthusiasts, delivering old-school thrills with modern luxuries.

This special-edition Subaru WRX is one for loyal fans of the brand.

This is the most appealing Subaru WRX in years

The Subaru WRX Club Spec shapes up as a greatest hits album for a modern classic. It has the same 202kW and 350Nm engine as the regular Rex, but adds a handful of extras to Subaru’s turbocharged sedan.

Those items include an enormous rear spoiler and 19-inch alloys with better tyres than the standard car.

Brembo brakes for the front and rear improve stopping power, and Recaro sports seats hold you in place while testing the limits of retuned suspension.

Only available with a six-speed manual transmission, the WRX Club Spec is one for fans of the brand.

The WRX Club Spec is one for the purists. Picture: Supplied.

The price is right

Those additional features only add $5000 to the price of a standard WRX (about $52,500 drive-away), which is why all 150 examples of the Club Spec sold out quickly.

That’s not a bad price for a modern performance car.

This year’s WRX also benefits from running changes including the addition of upgraded safety features such as auto emergency braking and active cruise control. Subaru should be applauded for its effort to improve the WRX’s interior, which feels well-built and reasonably modern, with an iPad-like touchscreen in the dashboard.

The interior has been given a long overdue tweak. Picture: Supplied

There are few cars like it

Performance cars with three pedals are an endangered species. Great models such as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Ford Focus RS and manual VW Golf R are no longer on sale.

Sure, you can get a VW Golf GTI ($59,990 drive-away), Hyundai i30 N Sedan (about $57,000 drive-away) or Skoda Octavia RS ($56,990 drive-away) but none combine a turbocharged engine, all-wheel-drive traction and manual transmission in the Subaru tradition.

Folks sizing up the Club Spec might consider the classifieds in search of a tasty classic example of their favourite Subaru. Be mindful that an early Rex won’t have a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and that it is likely to have been thrashed by a previous owner.

The WRX delivers an engaging, analog driving experience. Picture: Supplied.

It’s a throwback to drive

For better or worse, the latest Rex drives just like its predecessors. Forget about sophisticated dual-clutch auto transmissions, lag-free turbo motors or variable drive modes – this is a fairly analog machine. We reckon that’s a good thing, as it offers a relatively raw driving experience that represents a breath of fresh air in 2024. While there is no electronically assisted launch control or drift mode, you’re free to do it yourself in the right circumstances.

Getting the most out of its punchy motor, powerful brakes and sticky tyres will leave sweat on your brow and a smile on your face, even if it isn’t the quickest car in town.

The Club Sport’s tauter suspension is stiffer than many people would like, but it’s important to remember that this isn’t a car for everyone.

Winging it: The WRX is hard to miss on the road. Picture: Supplied.

But it’s not a WRX STI

Subaru’s high-performance arm was not allowed to turn its talents to the current “VB generation” WRX, as the brand is focusing on its electrified future. That’s a shame, as the car has immense potential – the old STI’s limited-slip diffs and more powerful motor would have helped Subaru take the fight to emerging rivals such as Toyota’s GR Yaris and Corolla.

Second-hand values for the last WRX STI are rock solid, though this Club Spec isn’t a bad substitute. It will be interesting to see what Subaru and STI can conjure up in the future – hopefully there will be a wild all-wheel-drive electric performance car similar to Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N.

Originally published as Subaru WRX Club Spec review: analog experience is one to savour