Subaru WRX Senko review: another dawn for old stager

A Subaru WRX Senko by any other name... could be a Club Spec Evo (Australia) or Series.Yellow (US). Subaru of New Zealand's latest limited-edition model is not as unique as it might first seem, and certainly not Kiwi-specific.

But hey, there are only 10 up for grabs here, and it is a bit special for a few reasons. This Sunrise Yellow paintjob is something the factory only rolls out occasionally, the Senko name ("flash of light") is just for NZ complete with kanji script on the bootlid, and it's only available in manual.

Oh, and if you buy a Senko Subaru NZ will give you a numbered keyring in a presentation box and a nice STI watch, presumably because the base car is a WRX tS ("tuned by STI). Or maybe there's just a big box of STI watches at the office going spare.

Limited-run WRXs are absolutely Subaru NZ modus operandi and a pretty good way of keeping a long-standing model that's now a bit niche simmering away. You might remember the Todoroki (2024), Aka (2023), STI Saigo (2021) and WRX Saigo (2020), and if you have a very long memory the Hyper Blue (2015), Blizzard and Nemesis (both 2013), or Crouching Tiger and Ace of Spaces (both 2012).

On the outside: what are the Subaru WRX Senko's main design features?

On the outside, the only bits that are truly exclusive to Senko within the current Kiwi lineup are the Sunrise Yellow colour (same as the BRZ Kiiro from last year) and special badge.

The Senko's Sunrise Yellow colour is awesome, and the main reason for buying this car. It's fun.

Subaru NZ also lists as features: the 19-inch matte black alloys and gold Brembo brakes, but they're also standard on the production WRX Spec B manual, which is currently available in NZ for $72,490. 

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Subaru WRX Senko cabin like?

Similar story here. The Senko has the Spec B interior that brings lovely Recaro seats and embedded sat-nav, but gains a bit of Senko sparkle with yellow stitching.

The cabin works in combining old-school WRX character (lots of buttons) with enough digital to make it seem modern (12.3-inch portrait screen).

Other than that, there's not as much to grab your attention on the inside as there is the outside. The WRX cabin was a massive improvement on previous on previous models when it was new, but it's now been left behind by the brand's new-gen interior design template showcased in the latest Outback.

Still, it works in combining old-school WRX character (lots of buttons, low-key architecture) with enough digital to make it seem modern (12.3-inch portrait touch-screen, for example).

It's all familiar and quite comforting if you remember WRXs past. The car does show is age in some areas, the most obvious being the reversing camera - the space allocated to it on the screen is tiny, and the image is grainy and distorted, fisheye-style.

On the plus side, the WRX also has Subaru's signature side camera display that gives you a view of the kerb for parking (or for off-roady things in other models).

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Subaru WRX Senko like to drive?

Again, Senko is a WRX, with all that entails... both good and bad. The biggest positive is driver involvement, with natural steering feel, a responsive chassis that feels brilliantly balanced over the trickiest backroads and a general sense of fun that's becoming rare in mainstream new cars these days.

You don't buy a manual WRX for any kind of speed, because the continuously variable automatic is both faster and more frugal.

The Senko also has the Spec B's drive-mode settings (including an individual menu to mix-and-match) and adaptive dampers, so there's a bit of extra nuance available if you want it. The Brembo brakes provide great stopping power.

The negatives? The ride is firm regardless of mode, but that's probably okay for a car like this. And the manual gearbox is as crunchy and vague as we've come to expect from a 3-pedal WRX, but it's all part of the fun, right?

You don't buy a manual WRX for sheer speed, because the continuously variable automatic is both faster and more frugal. But this is undeniably fun all the same.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Subaru WRX Senko warranty and servicing situation?

The vehicle is covered for 3 years/100,000km. Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km.

On the whole: what do we think of the Subaru WRX Senko?

The Senko's Sunrise Yellow colour is awesome, and the main reason for buying this car. It's fun. The rest of the package is fun too, and we approve of the chance to buy a manual-transmission car of any kind these days.

Senko has plenty of tech (safety and otherwise), but the WRX does still feel rather like something from another era now. We suspect that's a big part of the appeal, too.

Subaru WRX Senko FAQs

What kind of car is the Subaru WRX Senko?

A 4-door performance sedan.

Does the Subaru WRX Senko have hybrid or EV technology?

No, it's turbo-petrol.

What’s the fuel economy of the Subaru WRX Senko?

11.6l/100km (3P-WLTP).

Is the Subaru WRX Senko safe?

There's no ANCAP rating for the current WRX, but it gets 5 stars under NZ's VSRR system.

What safety and assistance features does the Subaru WRX Senko have?

What are the Subaru WRX Senko's main rivals?

• Honda Civic Type R ($77,000): Just as much heritage appeal as WRX, sublime manual gearbox.
• Toyota GR Corolla manual ($66,990): Rally-inspired character, fiesty 3-cylinder engine.
• Cupra Leon Sportstourer VZ ($84,900): Wagon not sedan, but AWD and even more powerful.
• Hyundai i20 N ($53,990): With the demise of the i30 N for NZ, tiny i20 N manual is Hyundai's closest rival.
• BMW 320i M Sport ($93,500): Low-end premium rather than high-end mainstream, but a sedan with old-school driver-centric values.