If you can ignore the controversial crossover-esque styling, there is a lot to like about the 2022 Subaru WRX.

Driving the new car is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine with an impressive 271 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. Customers can opt for either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT but regardless of which gearbox is chosen, drive is sent to the pavement through Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

In a straight line then, the Subaru WRX should have no problem out-accelerating a front-wheel drive Hyundai i30 N, right?

Watch Also: The 2022 Subaru WRX Proves It’s In A Class Of Its Own, But It’s Not Without Fault

To find out, Cars.co.za from South Africa pitted the two against each other. The WRX tested had the CVT while the i30 N was fitted with the available dual-clutch transmission and the two are quite well matched.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Subaru has the advantage off the line thanks to its all-wheel drive while the i30 N struggles to put all of its power to the ground, despite having a launch control system. For approximately half the race, it is the Subaru that remains ahead of the Hyundai but as the speeds start to build, the i30 N claws its way back and is able to overtake the WRX and claim a convincing victory.

The result doesn’t come as much of a surprise. After all, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder of the i30 N, despite lacking 400cc of displacement to the Subaru’s, is more powerful with 276 hp and 289 lb-ft (392 Nm) of torque. It also weighs less than the WRX and has less drivetrain loss because of the front-wheel drive layout.

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