20 Years of WRX – Is This the Best One Yet?

If you’ve been into cars as long as I have, chances are the Subaru WRX holds a special place in your enthusiast memory bank.

Maybe it was the rally wins, the blue paint and gold wheels, or that first time you saw a bug-eyed Impreza launch off the line like it meant business. For me, it goes back to the early days—before the WRX was even sold in the U.S. I remember drooling over grey market imports, forums full of speculation, and finally, in the early 2000s, Subaru brought the WRX stateside.

Since then, I’ve driven just about every version of this car—from the raw, rally-bred early models to the more refined modern takes like the WRX TR I reviewed last year.

And now we’ve got this: the 2025 WRX tS. It’s STI-tuned, Brembo-equipped, and dialed in with electronically adjustable suspension—yet it still includes the comfort and tech that makes it livable day to day.

So after 20 years of WRX evolution… Is this the best one yet?

Familiar Face, Sharper Details

At a glance, the 2025 WRX tS keeps the design language of the current WRX generation intact. You still get the wide, muscular fenders, aggressive front end, and the controversial cladding that stirred up hot takes when it debuted. But there are key changes that quietly set the tS apart.

Start with the World Rally Blue Pearl paint—a color synonymous with Subaru’s rally roots. Add in satin gray 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/35R19 summer performance tires, and you’ve got a more planted, athletic stance. Subtle tS badging on the grille and trunk let the initiated know what this car is all about.

Notably, Subaru chose to delete the moonroof, which not only saves weight but lowers the center of gravity—a detail that performance-focused drivers will appreciate.

Trunk Space with Track Intentions

Sure, it’s a sport sedan, but it’s still a Subaru. Pop the trunk and you’re greeted with 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space. During my time with the car, I had no trouble loading up folding chairs, a backpack, and camera gear. The rear seats fold 60/40 if you need to carry longer items, adding flexibility without compromising performance credibility.

Pop the Hood, Meet the Heart

Under the hood sits Subaru’s 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine, putting out 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It’s the same output you’ll find in other WRX trims, but the experience in the tS is distinctly different thanks to the chassis tuning and suspension upgrades.

Paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and Subaru’s legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the powertrain offers strong, smooth acceleration. Turbo lag is minimal, and the engine feels well matched to the tS’s more refined performance.

Cabin Comfort for Real Drivers

Slide into the Recaro performance-design seats, and the performance intent of the WRX tS becomes immediately clear. The seats feature height- and tilt-adjustable headrests and are finished with blue stitching and tS branding. They’re snug—and as a bigger guy at 6’1″, I definitely noticed—but they offer excellent support once you’re settled in.

New for the tS trim is the 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, a major upgrade over the analog gauges in other WRX models. It’s clear, easy to read, and adds a high-tech polish to the cabin.

In the center stack, the 11.6-inch STARLINK infotainment system handles connectivity with ease. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work seamlessly. While the interface design isn’t groundbreaking, it’s functional and intuitive.

Cargo space and rear seat practicality remain solid for a compact sedan. Enough for kids, gear, or a grocery run. It’s not a hatch, but it’s still useful.

The Drive: Tamed and Tuned

On the road, the WRX tS delivers exactly what you’d want from a vehicle bearing the STI tuning badge. Acceleration is brisk, steering is precise, and the overall driving feel is both engaging and composed.

The standout here is the STI-tuned suspension with electronically adjustable dampers, offering three drive modes: Comfort, Normal, and Sport. In Comfort, the tS is surprisingly civil. Normal strikes a great daily balance. And in Sport, the car tightens up and feels completely locked in. Cornering is flat and confident, and Subaru’s AWD system ensures grip is never in short supply.

The Brembo brakes, with 6-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers, provide strong, progressive stopping power. They’re perfectly suited to the WRX’s performance envelope and give you total confidence when driving spiritedly.

Yes, there’s some road noise—this is a WRX after all—but it’s part of the raw, connected feeling that fans of the badge have always loved.

MPG and Money Talk

Fuel economy isn’t the main selling point here, but the tS holds its own. EPA estimates are 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, and my experience lined up with that. It’s decent for a turbo AWD sedan with this level of performance.

As for pricing, the 2025 WRX tS starts at $44,215, with a delivered MSRP of $45,360. That slots it just below the limited-run WRX TR but adds far more usability, comfort, and tech. It’s a premium WRX without pushing into luxury car territory.

Rivals in the Ring

How does it compare to the competition? Pretty well.

• Civic Type R is sharper on a track but harsher to live with.
  
• GR Corolla is rowdy fun but harder to find and less refined.
  
• Elantra N is a performance bargain, but lacks AWD.
  
• Golf R is more premium, but more expensive.
  
• Integra Type S is fantastic, but priced higher with a less playful vibe.
  

The WRX tS hits the sweet spot: AWD grip, daily comfort, real tuning pedigree, and a price that’s still reasonable in this segment.

Final Thoughts: Grown-Up WRX, Same Rally Soul

After 20 years of WRX fandom, this is the one that feels the most complete. The 2025 WRX tS doesn’t try to outgun everything on the road. It doesn’t need to. It just blends track-capable hardware with real-world livability in a way that no WRX before it has.

It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s daily-drivable. And at just over $45K, it’s one of the best-balanced sport sedans on sale today.

If you want more visuals and driving impressions, check out the full video review on the TXGarage YouTube channel.

Because this WRX isn’t just another sport sedan. This might be the best one yet.