2019 Subaru WRX and WRX STI Get A Boost In Equipment and Features

Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, has given its high performance sedans, the WRX and WRX STI, a boost in equipment and features for the 2019 model year.

Starting off with what new features are common for both cars, the WRX and WRX STI now feature Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system found in the brand’s range of newer Subarus such as the XV, Outback, Impreza, and upcoming Forester. This new infotainment system comes as standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, as well as a 6-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. A new front camera has been added to make parking and driving out of blind junctions much easier.

For the WRX, its new standout feature is EyeSight. The EyeSight driver assist and convenience feature, as we’ve touted in our first ever tech review, should make driving in Metro Manila much more hassle-free and convenient. In conjunction with EyeSight, an electronic parking brake has also been added, since these two features work in tandem when you activate the car’s Adaptive Cruise Control in stop-and-go traffic. Outside EyeSight, the electronic parking brake also comes with an auto hold feature, which activates the parking brake automatically when you are stopped in the middle of traffic.

The WRX STI, meanwhile, does not receive EyeSight since it uses a manual transmission. Nevertheless, the WRX STI still receives a host of upgrades, which include a sunroof and full leather seats. This time around, the WRX STI 2.5 MT With Wing makes a comeback.

All the changes that have been made are for its equipment and features. As such, the two cars remain the same underneath their skins. The WRX still uses the same FA20 DIT turbocharged boxer engine that produces 268 hp and 350 Nm of torque, mated to a Lineartronic CVT. Likewise, the WRX STI still uses the EJ25 turbocharged boxer engine with 300 hp and 407 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

The best part about these upgrades are its price. Their base MSRPs remain unchanged, with the WRX CVT still starting at P2,008,000. Adding EyeSight is a small P50,000 additional cost for a feature that can be essentially considered as both insurance and a convenience feature. The WRX STI 2.5 MT Premium Without Wing still costs P2,748,000, while the WRX STI 2.5 MT With Wing, which makes a comeback, offers a lower base price of P2,648,000.