There aren’t a lot of cars that offer genuine performance with everyday usability.

Sure, we have sports cars like the Mazda MX-5, the Toyota GR86, and hot hatches like the Toyota GR Yaris and the GR Corolla. But try to drive it (or just get inside it) on a daily basis, and you’ll find out the compromises that manufacturers have made in the name of performance.

There’s just one car I could think of that doesn’t compromise too much in either role, and that’s the Subaru WRX.

Ever since the Lancer Evo and Impreza rivalry existed in the 90s, the WRX has always been the softer and more civilized brother of the STI. But when the STI ceased to be offered to enthusiasts when the current-generation first arrived in 2022, the WRX took on the mantle as Subaru’s hottest sports sedan.

Four years later, the formula remains largely unchanged. The turbocharged boxer engine is still there, all-wheel drive is still standard, and it continues to promise that dual character for a sports sedan. But is it aging as gracefully as some of its newer rivals?

Let's get this out of the way: Subaru has never really been winning beauty pageants. That’s not to say the WRX is ugly, but it certainly is not the kind of car that turns heads, nor the kind that makes you stop and admire it every time you park.

The aggressive bumpers, hood scoop, and widened stance somehow give hints of the performance hiding underneath, but I really can’t move forward without mentioning the WRX’s black plastic body cladding.

It’s been four years since I first saw this generation of the WRX, but to this day I still can't figure out why Subaru loves body cladding this much. It works on crossovers and SUVs, but on a sports sedan? Maybe not. The wagon version with less cladding shows that the cleaner approach would have been better for a low-riding Subaru sedan. Thankfully, Subaru got the proportions right.

Step inside, though, and the WRX starts to show its age more than the exterior does. When your eyes drift to the instrument cluster, you’ll see analog gauges. In 2026, that's beginning to feel dated.

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The WRX sticks with old-school analog dials and a small information screen in between, but newer performance-oriented cars have largely moved to configurable digital instrument clusters with dedicated performance pages, customizable layouts, lap timers, boost displays, and graphics that change depending on drive mode. 

Some enthusiasts will appreciate the simplicity and the color theme. But compared to newer performance cars, it feels like Subaru's technology package hasn't kept pace with the competition. Couple that with Apple CarPlay that needs to be wired, and you’ll definitely feel the WRX getting up there in years.

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That said, the layout is still functional, visibility is fantastic, and the sports seats provide plenty of support when tackling corners at speed, or even just crawling through traffic. The black and red combination gives the interior its sporty appearance, and the material quality is still decent.

Interior space is also great for this sports sedan, and the large boot allows you to store things up to 96 cm long, 107 cm wide, and 50 cm tall. This would not have a problem carrying four full-size track tires with the rear seats folded whenever you’re taking the WRX to a track day.

Underneath the hood, you’ll find the FA24F – a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine with direct injection and an intercooler turbo. This makes 275 PS and 350 Nm of torque, routed to a Lineartronic CVT that sends power to all four wheels with Subaru’s patented symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.

And immediately, the moment you start driving is where the WRX reminds you why it remains relevant. You leave everything in its default setting, and it's surprisingly civilized for a car packing all those horses underneath.

Though I would have preferred a 6-speed manual transmission, the CVT simply makes the WRX feel far easier to live with every day than many of its competitors. It's easy to forget you're driving something with nearly 300 PS. Pair that with a suspension setup that's noticeably softer than what you'd find in more hardcore hot hatches, and you get a sports sedan that's comfortable enough to do daily errands.

Fuel efficiency for the 2.4-liter boxer four turbo is also surprisingly decent at 7.8 km/l, as the bigger engine has an easier time carrying the 1600 kg curb weight of the WRX. That even stretches out to 13 km/l on the highway, as the CVT keeps the revs down at cruising speeds.

Then everything changes once you change the drive mode to Sport# (Sport sharp). Suddenly, the WRX becomes a completely different car.

Throttle response sharpens dramatically, the transmission abandons its typical CVT behavior and begins simulating fixed gear changes, while the paddle shifters become genuinely satisfying to use. Instead of the familiar rubber-band sensation associated with CVTs, it starts behaving much like a quick dual-clutch automatic, delivering crisp, well-timed shifts that make spirited driving far more engaging.

With the boxer engine giving a low center of gravity, and paired to the AWD system, the WRX inspires confidence in going through corners at speed. Grip is immense, the torque vectoring is very much felt in helping the car rotate, while body control remains composed despite the softer-tuned suspension.

As I dial it back to intelligent mode after that quick fun, I start to realize that this balance remains the greatest strength of the WRX – its dual character. It effortlessly switches between being a comfortable sedan and a rally car for the road with the touch of a button.

At PHP 2,888,000, the WRX finds itself at the price point of newer and much stronger competition. Cars like the Hyundai Elantra N offer a more modern cabin, a proper dual-clutch transmission, and a more focused performance experience for less money. 

Then there’s the MX-5 and the GR86, which are proper sports cars, but the WRX counters with something they don't quite replicate – more power and genuine everyday comfort. It's easier to live with, more forgiving over rough roads, and still delivers plenty of thrills when you want them. 

Still, after four years in the market, it's difficult to ignore that the WRX is beginning to show its age. While the fundamentals remain excellent, the features and cabin are holding it down. Somehow, I also can't help but wonder what could have been had Subaru built a full-fat STI version of this generation to bring the challenge to the Civic Type R and the GR Corolla.

Better yet, I hope the next evolution doesn't just bring back the badge, but I also hope it arrives with the kind of modern interior and digital features that the WRX now deserves. Because underneath its aging skin, the WRX is still one of the most enjoyable all-weather performance cars in the market today.