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SUBARU
WRX
STI 209,
LEGACY,
OUTBACK
Finally, America gets
something Japan can’t have.
We’re talking about the 2019
Subaru WRX STI S209,
a U.S.-exclusive road rocket
that celebrates 30 years of
the STI brand. We drove
a camouflaged example at
Japan’s Fuji Short Track and
found it to have unbelievable
levels of grip thanks to wide
tires and a flexible tower brace.
As the most powerful Subaru
STI street model and the first
S model to ever be sold on
our shores, the S209’s 2.5-liter
turbo-four cranks out 341 hp.
The S209 comes with a bevy of
other performance equipment,
such as a low-restriction
exhaust, a redesigned intake
system, and a lighter flywheel.
It’ll put down a 0-60 time of
less than 5 seconds.
An intercooler water-spray
system is also part of the
package. Drivers can give
a steering wheel-mounted
paddle a tug to quickly lower
the engine intake temperatures
and temporarily boost power.
Six-piston Brembo front brakes
and two-piston rears take care
of deceleration. Subaru will
only produce 200 units of the
S209, making it even more
desirable for fans of the brand.
Subaru knows better than
to mess with what works,ON SALE:
WRX STI S209: Late 2019
Legacy: Fall 2019
Outback: Fall 2019
BASE PRICE:
WRX STI S209: $55,000 (est)
Legacy: $23,000 (est)
Outback: $27,000 (est)and as such its latest debuts
have been gradual, well-
executed evolutions of two of
its core models. That’s right,
during the 2019 Chicago Auto
Show, the 2020 Subaru
Legacy crossed the stage. The
seventh-generation midsize
sedan will ride on Subaru’s
new architecture, dubbed the
Subaru Global Platform.
The 2020 Legacy receives
some premium standard
equipment, such as torque-
vectoring all-wheel drive,
Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist
safety technology, and a huge
11.6-inch infotainment screen.
Power comes from a 2.5-liter
inline-four producing 182 hp
and 176 lb-ft of torque in the
base, Premium, Sport, and
Limited models. The top-of-the-
line Limited XT and Touring
XT models receive a much
more enticing powerplant, a
2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four
that churns out 260 hp and 277
lb-ft of torque.
This is all wrapped in fairlyordinary bodywork. The Legacy’s
styling is staid compared to
competitors like the Honda
Accord and Toyota Camry.
Subaru equipped the sedan with
active grille shutters to help
with fuel economy on the base
engine, resulting in a relatively
impressive 27/35 mpg city/
highway EPA rating.
Subaru is also staying true to
lovers of lifted wagons with its
new 2020 Subaru Outback.
Although the body panels are all-
new, the Outback retains similar
styling to the outgoing model.Additionally, chassis updates
promise better handling.
There’s more tech to go
around in the new Outback.
Like the Legacy, a whopping
11.6-inch touchscreen dominates
the dash in every model except
the base car. However, Android
Auto and Apple CarPlay are
standard across the lineup, as is
EyeSight. It’s also available with
up to four USB ports and two
standard 12-volt power outlets.
The tall wagon is built for
road trips, especially when
equipped with the 2.5-liter
engine. Subaru says the
Outback can journey 600
miles on a single tank in this
powertrain configuration. When
optioned with the 2.4-liter turbo
engine, it can tow up to 3,500
pounds. Engines produce the
same power and torque figures
as they do in the Legacy. Subaru
seems to be making updates in
all the right ways with these
latest offerings, both arriving at
dealerships this fall.OutbackLegacyWRX STI S 209