What is it?
In the late 1990s, I became obsessed with the Subaru WRX, but my time behind the wheel was limited to virtual roads in Gran Turismo and other video games. Enthusiasts like myself pined away for a chance to drive the real deal, and in 2002, the Subaru WRX finally came to actual American roads. More than twenty years later, the WRX continues to bring that same excitement both on and off the pavement in a sport sedan that’s easily used every day. And with its powerful engine, all-wheel drive, and manual gearbox, the Subaru WRX lets regular drivers pretend they’re rally racers – myself included.

Model Lineup
Subaru offers the 2025 WRX in four trim levels: Premium, Limited, GT, and tS. All come exclusively as a four-door sedan – the 5-door hatchback is no longer offered – and all-wheel drive is standard.

What I Drove
For this review, Subaru provided me with the sportiest offering, a 2025 WRX tS, painted in the new Galaxy Purple Pearl. No options are offered on the WRX tS (including no automatic transmission), but it stands out from the rest of the lineup with exclusive features like quicker-ratio steering, STI-tuned independent suspension with electronically controlled dampers, Brembo performance brakes, and 19-inch satin gray aluminum-alloy wheels shod with high-performance summer tires. The total manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of my test vehicle was $49,270, including the $1,170 destination charge.

Standout Styling
The WRX looks the part of a performance sedan, featuring an aggressive stance and a wide air scoop in the hood. Stylish LED headlights wrap around the corners as if stretched away from the classic hexagonal grille. LED fog lights and running lights give the WRX a unique look at night.

Rear View
The powerful design continues at the back, where the LED taillights frame the corners, while the trunk features a subtle lip spoiler. Quad exhaust outlets complete the look.

Brakes and Tires
Flared wheel arches further emphasize the performance aspect of the WRX. They surround the exclusive 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels finished in satin gray shod with Bridgestone Potenza S007 summer performance tires. Brembo brakes, featuring 6-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers, provide excellent braking performance, and the gold calipers are a nice touch.

Sporty Interior
The special treatment for the WRX tS continues into the cabin, where you’ll find Recaro Performance Design seats that not only look good but also offer excellent support for both daily cruising and enthusiast driving. Seats are trimmed in soft Ultrasuede and feature the WRX tS logo on the headrest. Blue accents are featured throughout the cabin, highlighting the seat bolsters, door panels, and center console, as well as blue stitching on the steering wheel and dashboard. The red STI start button adds to the sporty look.

High Tech
An all-new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster comes standard on the WRX tS, providing a clear representation of the classic round gauges. The central section is configurable to show pertinent driver information, including the navigation map display with driving directions. Adding to the high-tech vibe is the 11.6-inch central infotainment touchscreen display, nicely integrated into the dashboard. Icons are large and easy to use, but I especially like that Subaru has kept the physical knobs for volume and tuning.

EyeSight
Like other Subaru models, the WRX comes standard with the latest version of EyeSight, the brand’s advanced driver-assist system. This included adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure prevention. The WRX also gets the new DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System, which warns the driver if they appear fatigued or distracted.

Rear Seat
Like its Impreza sibling, the WRX offers decent legroom and headroom for adult rear-seat passengers. The seats are comfortable and get a similar style treatment to the front seats. However, with the hump in the middle of the floor and stiff padding, the middle seat can work in a pinch, but it’s not very comfortable.

Trunk
Adding to its everyday usability, the WRX has a reasonable 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space that can easily handle a few pieces of luggage or a party’s worth of groceries.

Under the Hood
All 2025 Subaru WRX trims feature the same 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER 4-cylinder engine, putting out 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, all versions except the GT come standard with a 6-speed manual gearbox. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is optional on the Premium and Limited models but not available on the tS. Of course, all-wheel drive comes standard.

Fuel Economy
The WRX delivers reasonably good fuel economy, given its performance focus. The EPA reports that the WRX with the 6-speed manual gearbox achieves an estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. According to the trip computer, I averaged 20.6 mpg during my time with the WRX.

On the Road
Starting my drive through the small town of Dexter, Michigan, the WRX was easy to drive, with a manageable throttle, a predictable clutch, and a manual shifter that moved smoothly from gear to gear. The Subaru’s small size makes it easy to maneuver through traffic, and parking is a breeze. But the real fun began when I headed out of town to some of my favorite winding back roads.

Excellent Handling
With plenty of power on tap and the grip of all-wheel drive, the WRX accelerates quickly from a stop, and shifting through the gears quickly, accompanied by a pleasing exhaust note, is immensely satisfying. Steering is precise, with excellent feedback, and the WRX handles curves with confidence. There is a bit of body lean, but the Subaru remains stable, even when pushed hard through the turns. Braking is strong with a linear feel, smoothly pulling the speed down before a hard turn.

In the Dirt
Many roads in Southeast Michigan are unpaved and covered with gravel and dirt. When the snow starts to melt, those dirt roads become a slick, muddy mess – or the ideal playground for a Subaru WRX. The WRX’s all-wheel drive with torque vectoring made the Subaru easy to control on the sloppy dirt roads, even when taking corners at a quick enough pace to let the rear of the car slide out a bit. It was ideal conditions to play rally car driver, and the WRX certainly played its part well. However, I did need to stop at the car wash before heading home to return the Subaru to its original Galaxy Purple color.

Rating: 9.0
The Subaru WRX delivers precisely what you’d want from a sports sedan that comes from a company with a rally racing heritage. It features a design that showcases its sporty nature without being obnoxious, while the interior brings a nice mix of performance styling, high-tech features, and comfort. Not only is the WRX tS an ideal all-season daily driver, but its powerful turbocharged engine, manual gearbox, STI-tuned suspension, and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive make that daily drive something to look forward to.