The Subaru WRX STI has been a mainstay in the sport-compact scene for years, but the mid-cycle revisions that the current iteration received for 2018 bear witness to its more gradual evolution versus newer, more radical hot hatches on the market. Available only in a three-box-sedan body style?which it shares with the lesser but nearly as capable and less expensive Subaru WRX?the latest STI is a familiar and properly rapid road rocket with standard all-wheel drive, a six-speed manual transmission, and a 305-hp turbocharged flat-four engine. Within its competitive set, however, this Subie lacks the Honda Civic Type R?s flypaper-like grip, the Ford Focus RS?s heady thrust, and the Volkswagen Golf R?s near-luxury refinement. For all its heightened responsiveness and rally-bred chutzpah, the STI can feel stiff on the road, its engine is susceptible to lethargic turbo lag, and its hefty asking price does not include as many modern conveniences as you might expect. READ MORE ??
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