I just got the Wheels magazine, had a quick look and can say that the article is useless.
They don't say in the text that the GT-B is a 5 speed auto. But in the specs list, it has it as a 5sp auto. I'm not sure but I was under the impression that the GT-B was 6MT only. So to get the car they tested, it would have been a GT + 18 inch wheels + bilstein dampers (+ what else?).
I think Subaru should have made sure that Wheels got the full fat GT-B for a fair comparison. But then again the Wheels journos drive like grannies anyway.
-- Edited for clarity