2022 Subaru WRX price revealed for the US

Pricing and specifications for the 2022 Subaru WRX have been announced for the US market – providing our best clue yet about how the new performance sedan will be priced once Australian deliveries commence after April this year.

Four WRX variants will be available in the US – Base, Premium, Limited and GT – priced from $US29,105 ($AU40,500) before Subaru dealer delivery fees, a 5.8 per cent (or circa-$2200) increase over the previous model's $US27,495 ($AU38,250) base price.

While differences in standard features between the US and Australia make accurate price comparisons challenging, list prices in the US have increased by roughly five to six per cent across the range (once options are excluded).

That would suggest a starting price in Australia of approximately $43,000 before on-road costs for the base WRX manual, increasing to approximately $50,000 for the mid-spec WRX RS manual, and beyond $60,000 for the range-topping WRX tS (with a CVT automatic).

In previous-generation (2021) form, America's previous-generation WRX Limited (with all option boxes ticked) was specified similarly to Australia's WRX Premium, both with manual transmissions.

This variant (with a manual transmission) was priced from $US34,195 ($AU48,000) in the US, or $47,390 before on-road costs in Australia – a two per cent difference, after a currency conversion.

Applying this to the new US-market WRX Limited – priced from $US35,995 ($AU50,500), a 5.3 per cent price rise – would suggest a similarly-specified WRX 'RS' variant locally would cost approximately $50,000 before on-road costs locally.

Official pricing and specifications for Australia are not expected to be announced until closer to launch – however, government documents have revealed up to three variants will be available locally (base, RS and tS) across sedan and Sportswagon body styles

Standard features in the US include dual 7.0-inch infotainment displays, 17-inch wheels, cloth seat upholstery, LED headlights, a leather steering wheel, and automatic climate control.

The entry-level 'WRX' variant in Australia is likely to draw closer to the US-market Premium variant (using the outgoing model as a guide), including an 11.6-inch centre touchscreen, 18-inch wheels, and dual-zone climate control.

Exclusive to variants with the CVT automatic transmission in the US – badged the 'Subaru Performance Transmission' – is a full suite of active safety technology, including autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.

America's Limited variant adds an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, electric sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, blind-spot monitoring (optional on lower grades), and Ultrasuede seat upholstery with red stitching.

Sitting atop the US range is a new-for-2022 WRX GT flagship, priced from $US41,895 ($AU58,800) before delivery charges – $US50 ($AU70) less than the previous-generation WRX STI 'Limited', an equivalent variant to which was $59,440 before on-road costs in Australia.

Available with a CVT automatic only – and set to wear tS badging in Australia – this variant adds Recaro front seats with electric adjustment, adaptive dampers, and a series of customisable drive modes.

All models in the US are powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four 'boxer' engine, sending 202kW and 350Nm (down 25Nm on Japanese models) to all four wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, or a CVT transmission with eight simulated 'gear ratios'.

Alongside the sedan, Australian buyers will be able to opt for the WRX Sportswagon, set to offered in two variants (base and tS) – and if Japanese pricing is any guide, similar pricing and standard feature levels to the related four-door sedan.

The 2022 Subaru WRX range – across both sedan and wagon body styles – is due to arrive in Australian showrooms in the second quarter of 2022 (April to June).