With its buttoned-down chassis and all-wheel-drive traction, the STI is more athletic and enjoyable on twisty back roads than the workaday WRX.
Driven with full fury, however, the STI's controls sync together effectively.
Working its standard six-speed manual gearbox is a must to keep the car pulling strongly, including abusive, high-rpm clutch drops to achieve maximum acceleration from a standstill. Along with some initial lag from the big turbo spooling up, the engine's lack of low-end grunt manifests in a short, punchy power delivery that can be cumbersome around town. But this old engine is not as smooth or as hard-hitting as the smaller turbo fours powering the Subie's closest peers. The WRX STI's turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four is eager to rev and pumps out a characteristic flat-four burble from the car's quad exhaust pipes. It still comes with a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, and 19-inch wheels wrapped with summer tires. As a result, the rational half of our brain says go with the base version. It's hard to justify the extra cost of the Limited trim level versus the base WRX STI, because all the performance is standard on both models. The base model does now come standard with passive hands-free entry and push-button start. The 2021 WRX STI carries over with almost no changes. Sure, its noisy operation and other obsolete attributes will cause some shoppers to spurn it, but the car's rawness and rowdiness will fascinate masochists, er, purists.
While the STI lacks the cargo space of rival hi-po hatchbacks such as the Honda Civic Type R, it's better equipped to conquer terrain in all four seasons thanks to its all-wheel drive. And if the STI is too spicy for you, there's always the less edgy-albeit-still-raw WRX.
However, its tenacious all-wheel-drive system and manual-only transmission are notable hallmarks of the sporty Subaru sedan.
In fact, the STI's finicky turbocharged flat-four cylinder engine and firm suspension can startle even ardent driving enthusiasts. Inspired by Subaru's factory-backed FIA World Championship Rally series race cars and tuned for maximum performance, the 2021 Subaru WRX STI will overwhelm the faint of heart.