Are you in the market for a hot performance sedan that won't burn your wallet? The 2018 Subaru WRX could be just the ticket. We have a full inventory new Subaru models, including the 2018 WRX, in stock here at Belknap Subaru and ready for a road test. Stop by our showroom today in Tilton, NH and ask about our new specials. We're convenient to Concord, Manchester, Laconia and Plymouth, NH. 

 

Comparing the Subaru WRX and the Volkswagen Golf GTI The Rally-inspired Subaru WRX and the Volkswagen Golf GTI are two of the hottest performing, reasonably priced compact vehicles on the market. The Golf GTI has been around longer - it's now in its seventh generation - but the Subaru WRX is highly regarded for its standard symmetrical all-wheel drive. In fact, it's the only car in its class to offer standard AWD. Particularly if you live in area of the country that regularly endures rough winters - like northern New England - this can be an unbeatable advantage. How else do the two performance compacts compare?

• Performance and handling. The Subaru WRX gets a 268-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo connected to either a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic transmission. Yes, a CVT isn't an intuitive first choice for performance drivers, but it works extremely well in the WRX. The Golf GTI has a similar engine - the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 - but not quite as much power, making 210 horsepower. The standard AWD in the WRX is a competitive advantage here as well, giving the Subaru remarkable traction in all driving conditions.
• Safety.  Both the Outback and the Tucson offer their own versions of pre-collision warning and braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and lane departure warning. Exclusive to the Outback is which includes "rear cross traffic alert" (uses rear-facing radar to detect vehicles approaching from either side - e.g., when backing out of a parking space) and "pre-collision throttle management" (senses the presence of obstacles in front of the vehicle and will reduce available power to lessen or potentially avoid a collision).
• Styling and interior. The Volkswagen Golf GTI is a sharp, fast-looking hatchback that just looks ready to jump off the mark. The Subaru WRX has a distinctive look as well, with its scalloped hood intake, flared front and rear fenders and narrow windshield pillars that provide great visibility and better high-speed maneuverability. The GTI's interior is a touch more upscale in terms of materials, but the WRX's "sport seats" use high-grip fabric and aggressive leg and side bolstering to help keep the driver firmly in place.
  

The Subaru WRX and Ford Focus RS are two rally-inspired performance cars closely matched in nearly every way. While the Focus RS provides more horsepower through its all-wheel drive system, Subaru practically invented all-wheel drive and has had it as a standard feature on all its vehicles for years. Indeed, Subaru is the only automaker with an all-wheel drive system built from the ground-up, rather than integrated as an add-on. If you live in northern New England and are familiar with our winters, you'll want all-wheel drive that has been proven over decades. What other ways do the WRX and the Focus RS compare?

• Performance. The Ford Focus RS has a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline-4 engine that makes 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The Subaru WRX STI has a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 that makes 305 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. In both cases, the engines are paired with a six-speed manual transmission.  
• Safety.  Both the WRX and the Focus RS offer their own versions of pre-collision warning and braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and lane departure warning. Exclusive to the Outback is , which includes "rear cross traffic alert" (uses rear-facing radar to detect vehicles approaching from either side - e.g., when backing out of a parking space) and "pre-collision throttle management" (senses the presence of obstacles in front of the vehicle and will reduce available power to lessen or potentially avoid a collision).
• Styling and interior. The Ford Focus RS is a sharp, fast-looking hatchback that just looks ready to jump off the mark. The Subaru WRX has a distinctive look as well, with its scalloped hood intake, flared front and rear fenders and narrow windshield pillars that provide great visibility and better high-speed maneuverability. The Focus RS' interior is a touch more upscale in terms of materials, and Ford's new Sync 3 infotainment system has received great reviews, but the WRX's "sport seats" use high-grip fabric and aggressive leg and side bolstering to help keep the driver firmly in place.

 

 

The Kia Forte and the Subaru WRX are two of the best compact sedans on the market today, but both have notable differences, and the WRX stands out for its standard all-wheel drive. If you live in an area of the country like New England, with rough weather in the winter and challenging driving conditions that can present at any moment, standard AWD is practically a must-have. Let's take a look at other ways the two cars compare.

• Performance. The closest comparison to the Subaru WRX in the Kia Forte lineup is the Forte's 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. But it's really not a fair fight in this regard. The base engine in the Subaru WRX is 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer inline-4 that makes 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The WRX also has a standard six-speed manual on the WRX, with precise action, a positive-engaging clutch and short throws, making it ideal for sporty driving.
• Interior. The new Subaru WRX has a significantly upgraded interior, with soft-touch upper dash and door panels, a full-color driver information display between the gauges, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel and available 8-way power driver's seat. Standard seats in the WRX also feature high-grip fabric and aggressive leg and side bolstering to keep the driver in place and focused on driving.
• Safety. The Subaru WRX - indeed, all Subaru models - regularly receive top scores from the both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). The Forte's safety ratings are average compared to its peers.

We have full inventory of new Subaru models, including the 2018 WRX, in stock here at Belknap Subaru in Tilton, NH, which is convenient to Concord, Manchester, Laconia and Plymouth. Stop by today or call (603) 729-1300 to schedule a test drive.