Isn’t it frustrating when an automaker simply doesn’t offer a variant of a car with everything you want? Maybe some features are siloed in one option package that isn’t compatible with another one you want, forcing you to choose between, say, adaptive dampers and big brakes. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just bowl with the bumpers down? Enter the 2025 Subaru WRX tS, which finally unlocks the full menu of available performance options on a manual WRX.
When the VB WRX launched for 2022, intriguing performance goodies like adaptive dampers and Recaro seats came locked behind the gate of a continuously variable transmission. Why would Subaru do such a thing? As strange as it sounds, I have a theory, and it’s just good business sense.
Performance cars often suffer from first-year hype, where everyone bandwagons on the first model year, leading to dwindling sales throughout the model’s lifecycle because most people who want one already have one by year three. To combat this, it makes some sense to roll out desired improvements and trim levels incrementally, so that there’s always something fresh attracting customers to showrooms.
For 2024, that fresh thing is the WRX TR, a manual-only variant with Brembo brakes, eight-way Recaro front seats, Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, and retuned steering. Consider it nine-tenths of the way to a manual WRX GT, just with fixed dampers in place of the adaptive units and the addition of Brembo brakes. However, the 2025 Subaru WRX tS goes all the way.
With the trim name standing for “tuned by STI,” the WRX tS takes the formula of the TR and adds adaptive dampers, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, some new trim pieces, and that’s about it. Same tires, same six-piston front calipers, same seats, same powertrain. While a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four making 271 horsepower is nothing to sneeze at, it’s hard not to feel that the WRX tS trades mostly on its dampers and brand cachet.
As it stands, pricing hasn’t been announced for the 2025 Subaru WRX tS, but it’s not hard to make an educated guess on what bracket it might end up in. The 2024 WRX TR stickers for $42,775 including freight, so expect the incoming tS model to likely cost a bit more than that. Considering the competition, that sort of pricing would put the WRX tS amid stiff competition.
For instance, $41,415 buys a Toyota GR Corolla Premium, a tiny manual all-wheel-drive hot hatch that’s able to send up to 70 percent of engine torque to its rear axle. We found the Circuit Edition to be brilliant fun on loose surfaces, and the standard model should drive about the same. Alternatively, if you want more straight-line pace and an astonishing rear differential, you can get into a Volkswagen Golf R for $46,890.
Then again, pricing likely won’t matter to a devoted fanbase. The 2025 Subaru WRX tS is likely as close as we’re getting to a new STI, and with the current WRX being a promising platform with plenty of tuning potential, a handful of dedicated fans will likely step up to the tS plate. For a low-volume trim level like this, that’ll likely be enough.
(Photo credits: Subaru)
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I feel like Toyota listened to enthusiasts, and that includes Subaru enthusiasts like myself.
Subaru unfortunately did not.
Maybe if Toyota added some rugged plastic side cladding to the fenders on the GR Corolla, they could pull some Outback customers. Huge missed opportunity there.
Hot Take: 271hp is simply not enough power for a “performance” car like the WRX, and it’s insane at this price point.
TIL there is no current STi
If you want all the go-fast stuff just buy the STI- oh wait
“Finally: The 2025 Subaru WRX tS Gives You All The Go-Fast Stuff”
“While a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four making 271 horsepower is nothing to sneeze at, it’s hard not to feel that the WRX tS trades mostly on its dampers and brand cachet.”
So…it doesn’t, in fact, give you any of the go-fast stuff?
They never made the WRX with the flat 6, and I think they’ve fully given up on the Legacy altogether… If they brought it back for the WRX, I would rob banks and defraud defense contractors who employ killers to be able to afford one.
So sad that once the Evo went away the WRX/STI simply stopped trying and went weak.
I wish Mitsubishi was still making Evos because Subaru is giving us nothing better than cars they made 20 years ago when they were light to use the power.
the 2 tragedies that happened to Subaru:
I don’t mind the black body cladding, but those headlights, the rear fender flares and the rear bumper are ….. ARGHHH!!!!!
I fee like the devoted fan base may be shrinking. The styling of the latest model is not handsome, even for a Subaru, and regardless of real world performance it doesn’t crank up the power from the prior model. I personally hate the vertical tablet in this car, but don’t know how the market feels about this particular feature.
Add the fact that instead of an Sti variant, they flipped off the enthusiasts by locking some features to the CVT-only GT trim and I feel like Subaru may have over-estimated the unconditional love they have banked.
Recent blowout deals on WRXs this early into a new model’s life cycle aren’t a good indicator.
I don’t care what they call it, but if they put the turbo engine and a manual in the Crosstrek I’d buy one tomorrow.
Agreed on the Crosstrek WRX or whatever, I’ve been wanting them to do this for years.
This one is tempting but again, at $40k+ it’s hard to justify over its competition. The only upside is that it might actually be on lots without dealer markup.
Until they get rid of that black trim around the wheel wells, I don’t really care what else it can do. This WRX looks terrible.
Apparently others agree, because these things seem to be rotting on dealer lots.
Put the drivetrain in an Impreza Sport hatchback!
I agree. The “off-road” black fender treatment needs to go.
When I worked at a Subaru dealer, we had a customer buy a red one and wrap the black to match his body color. It really did look significantly better and he said because it was so little wrap that it wasn’t expensive.
We could still barely keep WRXs on the lot though, they sell well here in Ohio.
Reminds me of the Acura “beak”. I saw a couple TLs with it wrapped to body color and looked so much better.
I like it. Just can’t afford it. “Cheap” enthusiast cars are dying because of inflation, high interest rates, and low wages.
Digital dashes wouldn’t be quite so bad if they “gauges” didn’t all look like they were designed by the same person that designed car CD players in the late ’90s, smh
The thing the STI had over the WRX wasn’t easy add on stuff like struts and seats, but the 6 speed manual with the fancy center diff. Does this still have the ancient 5 speed with the open over viscous center?
The WRX has had a 6 speed for a long time.
Yeah but it’s not the real 6 speed of the sti. It was basically a 5 speed with an extra gear.
The cheap Subaru manuals kind of suck ass too. I drove a Crosstrek with one and it was so rubbery and vague…
I don’t mean to be a smartass, but “basically a 5 speed with an extra gear” seems to perfectly describe every 6 speed ever built.
I assume they mean something like the 6-speed on the wrx had the same ratios for 1-5 and 6th is just extra high for highway mpg, vs a closer-ratio 6-speed on the STI that makes it easier to stay in the power band. But that’s a weird way to phrase it for sure.
According to the Subaru website, the WRX TR has “Revised suspension with stiffer springs and retuned dampers.” So the TR does have upgraded damping and higher-rate springs, it’s just not adjustable.
I cannot fathom paying the same price for any trim WRX as a Golf R. I’ve owned both and loved them both, but the charm of the WRX is fun for the money and a pleasingly uncouth manner, whereas the Golf R gives you a posh car for grown-ups. Guess which one i drove when i was 30 and which one i now drive at 42.
I had a GTI as a spotty youth. Now I’m 54 with a WRX. Next I’m wanting something even more antisocial if I can ever decide what to get…
GR Corolla and CTR have entered the chat.
And the Elantra N. Nothing says hoon quite like an exhaust that rips ass.
Antisocial? Perhaps a used Nissan with a hole in the exhaust.
All I want is the haaaaaatch!
Since none of the other Subaru fanatics here have said it yet, I will:
WRX hatchback
My work here is done.
seconded
I have a blast with my ’19 WRX, but I’m not really in love with it. Looking for something else that’s as much fun but not getting very far. I can live with fugly but hate the plastic cladding and the price is silly.
Glad these cars exist, surprised how much it costs however.
Seeing a few on the streets, the origami plastic fender cladding is just so cringe worthy. They even have fake vents or slashes in them. The older generations look great with just a normal cladding – free fender. Maybe I’m getting too old – IDK.
Until next year when they finally, actually give people what they want and quit teasing them with a parade of “almosts”?
I thought this car was in the 30’s max.
Sorry, but the vape boys don’t have that dough, they better have some creative financing if they want this to sell.
I would have a hard time spending almost 50k on a real car, to do it on this is just a step beyond what anyone who has deductive reasoning skills would do. Now there are plenty out there without a brain in their head, and I guess that’s who they are looking for as a customer.
Question that wasn’t touched–What’s the weight of this thing that has 280hp? Is it under 3k where it would be fast and maybbbbbbe worth it? Or is it 3500-4k lbs and a total slog?
I mean the vape crowd still lines up to buy CTRs at over MSRP so there’s clearly some way they can afford them…my guess is the same as yours-they there must be some creative financing afoot.
The only person I know around here with a CTR is the president of my company’s son. To my knowledge he does literally nothing but sit around playing video games. Sooooo, yeah, small sample size but based on my experience I can draw some conclusions about how some of these cars are afforded.
There is a lot of 2023 WRX inventory still sitting on lots – around here there are dozens, starting around $32K and currently offering 0% interest financing.
dang, even then they aren’t moving? That’s got to be a legit problem for the dealers, and I bet Subaru is hearing it, but seems like they aren’t listening based on this new ones price.
Truecar says there are more than 50 2023 WRX’s in Southern California sitting on lots with 0% interest financing available. Maybe if they threw in a flat brim snapback and a gallon of cotton candy vape juice they could sell them faster.
Oh, and they weigh around 3500 pounds.
That’s more than my Kona N, which is marketed as a CUV, weighs. It’s also way more than a GRC or CTR.
Must be a regional thing. Cars.com says 60 for Ohio but if you look at the listings, half of them aren’t even on the lots yet.
It sure is. No matter how much I complain, no one will make a V10-powered sedan for me.
Don’t be a coward
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/f67bc2bf-3c95-4dfc-b012-c668c540a1c0/
Oh damn, and a stick at that!
SMG BAD. Stick GOOD.
That price is objectively insane; I would not be able to trade my Holden straight up for a car 8 years older with more miles that’s not really faster or bigger and costs 5x as much to repair.
But I can’t deny I’ve looked at them before.
My response is simply:
V10 go brrrrrrrr
No more horsepower means no more love. Subaru hates us. The GR Corolla is the car they should have built.
The GR Corolla absolutely killed this car. I cannot even begin to fathom choosing a VB WRX over one. It’s a more useful package that’s more powerful, more efficient, better looking, more capable, and likely more reliable as well. Which is why they needed an STI yesterday…
These will sell primarily because there will be crap loads of them available on dealer lots vs the bullshit “shortages” Toyota creates for the GR Corolla. Otherwise they are totally unremarkable.
GR Corollas actually aren’t that hard to get anymore. If I recall correctly Toyota upped production on them once they realized the demand. There are a ton of them on lots near me in DC and some are even listed at under MSRP.
They also just developed a performance automatic for the GR Yaris that the GRC will likely get for the 2025 model year…which will add insult to injury. Even though it’s a godforsaken CVT having an auto option has always been a reason for some folks to buy a WRX.
Agreed, I saw some on the lot at both dealers I went to this week looking at Crowns with my dad. They look pretty good in person.
Oh they’re great looking in person. Maybe a wee bit juvenile, but they’re cars for your inner child anyway. I think the proportions are great, they’re the right size (i.e. actually small), and they have just the right amount of edge without winding up looking like the FK9 Civic Type R, which no self respecting adult wants to be seen behind the wheel of.
Sadly, GRCs are still marked up in my neck of the woods. Then again, I’m not in the market for one anyway. I’d actually like one, as I miss having a hot hatch to play around in, but the it’s the misses’ turn for a new car next. If I buy a Toyota, it will probably be a Highlander or Sienna.
Lol same. I was on the list for a GRC back in 2022 but backed out once I realized what a hassle it would be. I wound up buying my Kona N instead. It was cheaper, I got a good deal on it, I’d rather daily an auto since I live in DC/the wife can’t drive stick anyway and was thrilled when I told her I’d get an “SUV” instead of another tiny hatch, etc. The stars aligned.
Do I regret it? No, I’m about to hit two years in the Kona and it’s been great/trouble free. But do I sometimes wonder what may have been? Duh. Don’t we all?
But anyway, my wife is due next and we’re getting her a hybrid Highlander. I won’t be in the market again for a long time, and by the time I am I’m sure something else will have caught my attention.
Where’s the decladding option?
You just hide the cladding in a large vape cloud.
I knew I’d work that stereotype in somehow.
Just make a fucking STI already, you cowards. As soon as the GR Corolla came out the VB WRX was dead in the water…and the Ns haven’t helped either. Plus by the time you add all the good stuff to one of these it’s $42,000 anyway. Last I checked you can get a GRC with the differentials for like 38, an Elantra N for around 36, or a CTR for 45 if you’re willing to be patient.
There needs to be an STI variant for this car to remain competitive. As is it just doesn’t add up unless you’re getting a discount on one of the lower trims. The fact that it’s ugly and bloated doesn’t help either.
I just don’t get the pricing anymore. Ten years ago you could get a WRX for reasonable money and there wasn’t really any direct competition to it at that price point, and only when you stepped up to the STi did it start pairing up with stuff like the Golf R. Now the WRX is getting ever closer to the Golf R in price, and there is legit competition that makes the WRX seem not only overpriced but uncompetitive. Sadly, I fear if they drop an STi variant it would be priced well above $50k, which I think Subaru knows wouldn’t be tenable.
I actually think they’ve willfully half assed the VB generation so they have an excuse to kill it. I also wonder if Toyota pulled some strings behind the scenes since they own part of Subaru and essentially made the best WRX ever.
I had considered their desire to kill the WRX, but I could see that being a potential motive. Subaru hasn’t been shy about wanting to target new demographics, and they don’t need to rely on the good will of the WRX like they needed to twenty years ago when the Crosstrek sells like mad.
Yeah, but I’d say a solid third of the “Subaru Families” I know started with a WRX….
That used to be the case for me as well, with me being one of them, but I don’t know a single person with a WRX anymore. They either moved to a Forester XT, Crosstrek, or Outback. Then again, almost everyone I associate with is 35+ with kids, so the WRX loses in practicality points. But also, if you look at the 2023 sales numbers, the Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback each outsells the WRX 6:1.
If only they’d make a hot wagon. Hell, they offer the same engine in the Outback already. Give it a manual and the performance bits off this TS and it’ll be the ultimate upper middle class dad mobile.
Yes! My brother-in-law just picked up an Outback and his only complaint is that the ground clearance that helps him in the snowy winter months kills the handling in the summer dry months. If they offered a more sporty model like you suggest he’d definitely have picked it up. If they offered a three row Outback with a stick my wife would be in heaven.
Then lower it and lose the cladding. Maybe call it the Legacy GT Wagon.
I have also had this thought, basically every generation since the original 1 or 2 have felt like Subaru was seeing how little they effort they could put it in, and this generation is especially egregious. And when they only offered the premium trim with a CVT I thought for sure this was them all but saying out loud that they didn’t want to make the WRX anymore. But now with this TS coming out I”m confused.
They even gave the tS a WRX badge painted and placed exactly like the old STI badge. I would have sworn today is April 1st just looking at this car. I test drove a mid-trim stick WRX in 2022, and honestly didn’t care for it one bit. It was so disappointing I basically gave up on a sporty sedan in my price range, and ended up in my CX-30 turbo instead. More comfortable, infinitely better interior, better use of space, more torque, cheaper new price, and much, much better looking and likely to be more reliable.
Test drove a CX30 Turbo recently, what a great car!