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. The base car still comes with a 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, 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 is very hard to justify the Limited's $4700 premium versus the base STI because all the performance is standard at any trim level. For 2020, it adds keyless access with push-button start and dresses up the 19-inch dark-gray wheels with a machine finish. The regular STI carries on mostly unchanged. Keep in mind that one person's 'too firm' is another's 'just perfect.' What's New for 2020? The rally-bred performance comes with a few drawbacks, including a noisy cabin and a ride that some find to be too firm. These hatchbacks, however, offer a little more practicality than the sedan-only STI offers. The engine may be nearly the same as it was in 2004 when it launched, but the STI's 310 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque remain competitive within its class: the grippy Honda Civic Type R and the swaddling Volkswagen Golf R. All-wheel drive, complete with an electronically controlled center differential and a six-speed manual, harnesses a lag-prone turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four. If there is any car that started the proto-rally movement, it's the Subaru WRX-and the WRX STI is the WRX's more powerful, more high-tech, and more expensive older brother.

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