The Burden of HERITAGE

WHAT MAKES A PROPER PREMIUM SPORT SEDAN? TURBOS, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND REFINEMENT

- JONNY LIEBERMAN

The point behind these “Is Luxury Worth It?” tests, where we pit loaded mainstream-branded cars against fairly base-model luxury rides, reaches a strange plateau with this particular matchup. Odd couple? You betcha. Representing value (in a way) is the 2020 Subaru WRX STI Series. White. In the luxury corner is the 2020 BMW 228i xDrive Gran Coupe. And before we get to the differences, we ought to talk about what’s similar enough to throw these cars into the ring together.

Both machines are powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Both cars drive all four wheels, possess four doors, and seat five. The C-pillars, especially from a rear three-quarters view, look spookily similar. The BMW lacks its famed Hofmeister Kink—that small forward thrust down where the rear door or window frame meets the beltline. It’s meant to emphasize the rear-wheel drive that BMWs have had for more than 50 years—because with the Bimmer being front-drive-based, what’s the point?

Both cars started life as less expensive vehicles—an Impreza in the case of the Subaru and a Mini Cooper (it’s true!) if you’re talking BMW. The base price of the Subaru is $37,895, whereas the base price of the BMW is $38,495. That’s pretty dang close.

Here’s where the two differ. The STI has a flat boxer engine. Aside from sounding different, flat engines lower a car’s center of gravity. The BMW’s engine is smaller—2.0 liters compared to the Subie’s 2.5 liters—and produces much less power: 228 horsepower compared to 310 for the STI, and 258 lb-ft of torque compared to Subaru’s 290.