It seemed to be somewhat down on power to a degree that forced us to attempt our acceleration tests with three different drivers. When testing the previous STI, we experienced wheel slippage during hard launches, but that wasn’t the case with this car. It all comes together better when you’re moving at full chat, but it becomes a chore that demands more attention than it ought to when you’re simply trying not to upset passengers. The engagement point on this test car was high in the pedal travel, making it tough to engage without lurching, and the shifter itself doesn’t really aid in making smooth progress in traffic. The clutch-pedal effort feels like resistance-band training. Putting the engine to work requires an active right arm and accepting that every day is leg day in STI-land. Basically, each step up the ladder delivers more torque for a given movement of the accelerator pedal.
When switched into Sport or Sport Sharp, a torque curve is displayed in the center screen. Using a center-console dial, drivers can pick among Intelligent, Sport, and Sport Sharp, depending on whether throttle response or fuel efficiency is more important. It also comes equipped with SI-Drive (or Subaru Intelligent Drive), essentially a driving-mode selector that affects only the engine’s power delivery. (Even the RA special edition coming early next calendar year is rated at only 310 horsepower.)
It makes the same 305 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm as last year’s model, which is only five ponies more than the 2004 STI had on tap. While the standard WRX has a 268-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four, the STI has a turbo 2.5-liter that is not used in any other Subaru. The mid-cycle update for the WRX STI sadly did not bring any changes to the aging powertrain. Subaru also upgraded the brakes, using yellow-painted monoblock Brembo calipers-six pistons up front and two in the rear-as well as larger cross-drilled vented discs, 13.4 inches in front and 12.8 inches in the back. Subaru calls it the Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD), and it’s intended to improve the car’s already great handling. Whereas the center differential in the 2017 STI was controlled via mechanical and electronic methods, the 2018 has gone full digital. The big news, though, is that Subaru fiddled with the all-wheel-drive system. It also gets a new STI Sport Design instrument cluster with a color LCD display, heated exterior mirrors, red seatbelts, a folding rear center armrest with cupholders, and a more capable security system. In addition to a cleaner, more aggressive front fascia, the STI adds adaptive LED headlights, brackets for a roof rack, and dark-gray 19-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 245/35R-19 Yokohama Advan Sport V105 tires. Mild updates for the 2018 model year alter how the WRX STI looks and how it drives.
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