In a conversation about motorsport dynasties or legacies if you will (see what I did there), Subaru is a name that will always get a mention. The brand has had success in the rallying world for years and it used that experience to develop cars for the road. In fact, its STi or ‘Subaru Tecnica International’ arm was born in 1988 to improve the brand’s competitiveness in the world of motorsport. The early 90s saw the birth of the Impreza WRX STi which was a nameplate that ran for decades until it was finally laid to rest in 2014.
However, with motorsport so ingrained in its DNA, Subaru could not continue without having a sporty vehicle or two in their lineup. Yes, SUVs sell units but it is through the enthusiast geared stuff where a brand truly gains its character. Now, some markets received an all new WRX model which dropped the Impreza STi name but retained its inherent hooliganism. New Zealand was one of those countries and in its latest iteration, we are one of the fewer still to receive a souped up WRX wagon! It’s a brand with whom we historically share a strong bond through Possum Bourne, arguably the nation’s greatest rally driver whose connection with Subaru continues to this day thanks to a range of aftermarket performance products.
While there is plenty more to say about Subaru’s rallying history and their various performance arms, you are undoubtedly here to read a review of the vehicle pictured above rather than receive a history lesson. The car in question is officially called the ‘Subaru WRX GT tS Wagon’ where WRX of course refers to ‘World Rally Experimental’ while tS stands for ‘tuned by STi’. And although this might look like an unassuming family wagon from afar, it is most definitely rooted in Subaru’s rich motorsport history, making it a proper blue blooded performance vehicle.
While there is a prominent set of badges on the rear to denote the significance of this model, the other dead giveaway of its credentials come in the form of the iconic bonnet scoop, something my Dad though was rather “funny looking”. The scoop has been a staple of Subaru’s performance vehicles for as long as anyone can remember and so it’s only fitting that it finds its way onto this wagon. That aside, in keeping with the performance wagon theme, it is actually functional too.
Yes, while the WRX GT tS Wagon is what this vehicle is called in our market, the chrome highlighted windows and shiny wheels resemble a Levorg, understandably so because the two do share a lot. However, a stroll around the rear will set this particular car apart thanks to its badges as well as large dual exhausts. Couple this with the ‘WR Blue Pearl’ colourway and you definitely have a sporty wagon that looks the part but doesn’t disappoint where practicality is concerned either. Measuring in at 4.75m long, 1.5m tall and 1.795m wide, the dimensions are well calculated to deliver a sleek roofline while still maintaining interior space. A 492L boot can expand out to 1430L with the rear seats folded down, impressive indeed.
Going back to the colours, this review model was specified in ‘Asteroid Grey Pearl’, one of 8 colours available on the wagon. The aforementioned ‘WR Blue Pearl’ as well as ‘Sapphire Blue Pearl’ would be my picks of the bunch. However, neither of these can hold a candle to the Spec B exclusive ‘Galaxy Purple Pearl’, now that’s a proper colour! Even without that spectacular shade, there’s plenty going on with the exterior to suit most people’s liking.
Same story goes for its interior which offers plenty. Just like the tailgate, there’s a fair few badges in here too, note the STi one in particular which appears on the bottom of the steering wheel, in the gauge cluster and is embossed into the headrests as well. The seats though are unmistakably Recaro both in their signature bucket shape as well as the text that is emblazoned across the seatback. Worth noting though that while they do a good job at keeping you firmly nestled in place, the heating feature coupled with the Ultrasuede fabric can leave you feeling a tad sweaty so keep a bottle of colonge/perfume handy for summer because you will need it. We’re not done with the badges just yet though as the car also comes with a Harman Kardon audio system that can be tuned to your liking.
Aside from that, the cabin feels old school Subaru, a good and bad thing. The plastics are a little rough and tough in places with some of the switchgear feeling dated now, a fact highlighted by a CD player hiding under the armrest. No complaints about that specifically though as it was a welcome opportunity for me to dust off my album collection, a treat to listen to through that premium audio system. Positively though, if you are jumping in this after owning a Crosstrek, Outback or even an Impreza for that matter, you will feel right at home in an instant.
For those who know the brand well, the familiarities continue with the inclusion of Subaru’s portrait oriented Starlink infotainment system which offers an easy to use interface, particularly when it came to turning off the auto start-stop function as well as operating the air condition controls. It also has NFC connectivity as well as Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While that bright red spot in the photo above is courtesy of EyeSight, making sure that the driver remains focused on the road whether in ‘S’ or ‘I’ mode. Unlike many driver monitoring systems, I’ve found Subaru’s to be generally reliable, making sure to alert the driver if their gaze has been diverted from the road, only in the setting sun do you get some phantom warnings from time to time.
As made clear above, the interior features several elements that have become synonymous across the Subaru range and there’s nothing quite like the engine powertrain combination on this WRX to highlight that.
Open the bonnet and you might be forgiven for thinking it is 2006 again as this sight has seen little change through the years. On one hand, you can argue no end about its age but on the other, Subaru has had so much success with their boxer engines so why reinvent the wheel? A 2.4 litre turbocharged four cylinder boxer or ‘horizontally opposed’ engine is what you will find under the bonnet, power is sent through a ‘Lineartronic’ CVT gearbox to all four wheels via Subaru’s tried and tested ‘Symmetrical AWD’ system. Once again, the brand have stuck to their guns but who can blame them when this recipe has endeared it to an enthusiast base for decades now.
To the numbers, 202kW of power and 350Nm of torque is what you will find with an 8.5L/100km efficiency figure promised. My review period with the car returned an average of 9.8L/100km with a mix of city traffic, motorway and the odd dash of enthusiasm mixed in.
For the most part, the WRX GT will trundle along compliantly, it has enough of power to get you up to motorway speeds and the ability to keep you there rather comfortably without breaking a sweat. The sound system is decent, it handles well but its party trick comes in the ride. It features a suspension set up that is probably one of the best I’ve ever seen when it comes to dealing with the variety of surfaces that New Zealand roads have to offer. Whether on a smooth motorway or a coarse open pore surface, this wagon deals with both equally well, not to mention its grip in the wet. Poke the pedal and all of a sudden the sizable turbocharger comes to the party, awakening the beast inside and sending the car flying forward. It has a real duality of character depending on how heavy your right foot is, meaning that within an instant you go from a corporate commuter to hurtling hoon. Not an ounce of acceleration is wasted either as that AWD system will ensure it all gets to the road, rain or shine, encouraging you to keep pushing on which it does well but also makes sure you are kept from finding the limit. Then within an instant, it can calm right back down again and resume its familial duties.
The Verdict
So who is this car for then, a question I asked myself throughout that week. It’s for a person who has perhaps outgrown their youth physically but not mentally. A person whose corporate job means that they can no longer turn up to work in a rally inspired sedan with a hysterical wing on the back, a person who need accessible back seats and a boot for the odd family getaway. While on the face of it all, it seems that this individual’s life has been consumed by mundanity but somewhere deep inside still lies a rebellious spirit that occasionally wants to be let out.
Yes, the plastics are scratchy, the seats will leave you sweaty and it can be a little thirsty where petrol is concerned but at $69,990, the WRX GT tS is plenty of practical performance for the money!
2025 Subaru WRX GT tS Wagon: 5/5
Thanks for reading! For more Subaru news and reviews, visit Tarmac Life.
Vehicle courtesy of Inchcape and Subaru New Zealand. Words and photos by Matthew D’Souza.
