From Subaru Technica International…With Love

A Victory & Reseda review of the 2025 Subaru WRX tS

This is not the WRX STi you were hoping Subaru would deliver on.

That train might still be back in the Subaru Technica International skunk works. Therefore, we will have to do with the 2025 WRX tS instead. 

It is not a bad thing. It is still a performance compact that you always knew Subaru would produce for the enthusiast crowd. 

A little context is in order. The trim level called tS means “tuned by STi.” In order words, it was a development of Subaru Technica International. In essence, it would be a stretch to call it an STi, but you would avoid falling for the trap of it being a rally-inspired high-performance Subaru sedan. 

Yes, it’s got STi-tuned adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, 19-inch wheels, and a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s got a turbocharged BOXER engine. Sounds like a new WRX STi to us…

However, it is not quite one. Let’s dive in, shall we?

First off, let’s talk about the exterior. It’s blue…very blue. A darker shade of its signature STi blue color that won rally stages and championships. Instead of bronze or gold trim, it’s black. The 19-inch alloy wheels are finished in black. 

This generation of the WRX is solely available in a sedan. Not the current Impreza sedan, but it is built on the Subaru Global Platform nonetheless. Some may argue that it should not be a sedan. Lest we forget that the original rally cars were Impreza sedans. With that historic fact, this works for the modern performance compact crowd in this form. 

All of the Subaru exterior cues are there. The grille sports a small red WRX badge, in-between two LED headlamp units. The rear follows brand design trends with a bit of aggression. A small black spoiler sits on top of the trunk lid. These are indicators that it has evolved apart from the Impreza with its own intent and pupose. 

Interior-wise, there is a new-to-Subaru 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. New-to-us, that is. It looks exactly like the brand’s analog-digital layout, which helps in familiarity. The chunky flat-bottom steering wheel and manual shifter are familiar.

Also familiar is the 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment touchscreen. We just wish that the processor driving this system was more responsive. If you get it to do phone operations, it’s fine. Everything else felt laggy. We hope that the next batch of Subarus will benefit from a more robust infotainment system that will not disappoint everyone. 

The tS trim also gets the 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. It emits solid sound throughout the cabin. 

Enthusiasts will appreciate the Recaro seats done up in black and blue trim with Ultrasuede inserts. They lock you in with more than bolstering, yet they actually feel fine for our bodies. Rear seat room is OK, but better for children and average-sized adults. There is only 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space. The 60/40 rear seatbacks do fold down for longer items 

The WRX tS is powered by a 271-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine. It also has 258 pound-feet of torque. Our tester came with a six-speed manual gearbox sending power through the Symmetrical all-wheel drive system with continuous power transfer and active torque vectoring. 

It also has SI-DRIVE, which is their engine performance management system. It offers three different modes that help fine tune the WRX tS’s performance mapping and response. 

Yet, we felt that we’re missing something. The “tuned by Subaru Technical International” bit. To us, an STi is full of power and drama. Since this engine is shared with all WRX trim levels, it seems to be running at 8/10ths. An STi is supposed to put down somewhere over 300 horsepower, sounding and feeling like a rocket ship that wants to carve canyons, break necks and steal hearts. 

If we take that out of the equation, the WRX tS puts down plenty of power when you need it. The shifter is notchy with a direct feel and response. As for fuel economy, we averaged 26.8 MPG in our care.

Driving dynamics are exactly what you expect in a WRX. Flat cornering, a firmer ride, and just a well-tuned chassis. Sport mode firms up the dampers a bit, which still gives it a touring-style driving feel. 

Steering feels direct. It is a nice balance of weight at the wheel and the resulting response. You can adjust the weight through the selectable drive modes. The ratio was good, and the turning radius felt reasonable. In all, this system is tossable and playful. 

The brakes are as advertised with the Brembo set-up yielding superb stops in normal, panic, and wet conditions. Pedal feel was very good with the right amount of bit with good grip at the calipers. 

There are four trim levels available in the 2025 Subaru WRX lineup, with prices starting at $37,750. Our tS tester came with a sticker price of $49,429. 

When George and I were shooting our long-form video on this 2025 WRX tS, we did some comparison between its rivals. Some of which we’ll reserve for when that video comes out. However, we were puzzled about the sticker price of our vehicle and the “value” it offers for it. 

I go back to one of my points: This is not the STi you asked Subaru to deliver upon. If you really want a WRX STi, you can go to a tuner or order parts from one of them to ratchet it up to over 300 horsepower or more. You can swap out the exhaust and firm up the suspension if you want. 

One should ask whether the 2025 WRX is a relevant vehicle for today’s sports compact crowd. It still is. Just think of it as a canvas for building you value the most in a performance sedan. The tS, as it is, still honors the work Subaru Technical International crafted over the years for rallies and autocrosses. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Subaru of America, Inc. 

All photos by George Torline and Randy Stern