Reviewed: The Subaru WRX tS – An STI Without the Oomph

by Greg Karpinski

As a millennial reared in the time of Gran Turismo, the WRX holds a special place in my heart – here, in this video game, those of us in the United States got to see a vehicle that was unobtainium on our shores.  The magnificent 22B won many virtual races with yours truly behind the controller, but even if I could’ve scraped together enough cash to buy a base WRX, I couldn’t.  Between antiquated import laws and Subaru thinking the only thing Americans would buy was the Plain Jane Impreza, those of us in freedomland were denied the fire-breathing WRX until 2002.

Since gracing our shores with the glorious Bugeye and following that up with the hotter STI (Subaru Technica International) variant with the Blobeye in 2004, that big-winged sedan (and later hatchback) earned a place in my heart and became the trim to have.  So naturally, Subaru did away with it with the VB-generation WRX, released to our shores for the 2022 model year, exactly 20 years after that magnificent little Bugeye.  Despite the cries of enthusiasts and journalists, Subaru says they have no plans to give us a full-fat STI variant again, but instead have chosen to give us a few special editions.  First was the TR for 2024, which was a new top trim with better brakes, sunroof delete (because weight savings) and a revised suspension.  For 2025, Subaru has given us the tS, which means “tuned by STI” and it comes with… better brakes and a revised suspension, but maybe this one lives up to the name of its tuning house?

The Fine Print: Subaru wanted us to try out the WRX tS so badly that they had it dropped off with a full tank of gas and let us bomb around our favorite back roads for a week.

Our 2025 WRX tS tester arrived finished in Ceramic White paint which, when paired with the black trim, leans very hard into the Storm Trooper vibe.  The tS also adds black mirror caps, a black lip spoiler, some excellent 19” wheels finished in satin grey and the Brembos off the WRX TR, except here they’re finished in gold.  Unfortunately, the black cladding around the wheel arches that was introduced with this WRX generation in 2022 still remains, and offering this as a body-matched trim would have been a nice opportunity to further differentiate the tS from other WRX models and move it a bit more upscale.  Aside from all of that, the WRX tS is essentially your bog standard WRX – same 183.8-inch length, 71.9-inch width, 57.7-inch height and 5.4 inches of ground clearance. 

The Ceramic White of our tester was fine, but the great thing about the WRX is that Subaru actually offers some colors on it – for 2025, you can spec Sapphire Blue Pearl, Ignition Red or the always-awesome World Rally Blue Pearl.  While great colors, those are all the wrong choice.  This year, for a meager $395, Subaru is offering Galaxy Purple Pearl which is an absolutely outstanding color.  I fell in love with it when we spotted a BRZ at the New York International Auto Show finished in this glorious shade.  It’s a rich, deep purple with a metallic flake that shifts the color a bit depending on lighting and is absolutely how I would spec my tS, BRZ or even a Trapper Keeper.

Inside, the WRX grew up quite a bit with the changes for 2022 and the tS takes that even further with a few worthwhile additions.  The first thing that grabs you is the Recaro seats – black Ultrasuede inserts, blue bolsters and cool blue contrast stitching pretty much everywhere.  These thrones aren’t just for show either – they do a great job of keeping you planted while still being comfortable enough for daily driving.  Both front seats are heated, but only the driver gets 8-way power adjustment.  The blue theme continues through the rest of the cabin – door panels, the steering wheel, the shift boot – all of it helps separate the tS and make it feel a bit more special than your neighbor’s kid’s base WRX.  Materials aren’t exceptional but aren’t overly plasticky either.  While the WRX is no longer directly based on the budget-friendly Impreza, the WRX didn’t magically move upmarket with the refresh.  It’s certainly no penalty box, but you aren’t going to mistake it for a luxury car either.  A big windshield and large windows help the cabin feel light and airy, especially since the tS isn’t available with a sunroof, keeping that center of gravity low.

On the tech front, the big 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen makes an appearance here, running the same dated interface we roundly abused when testing the Outback XT.  Simply put, it’s not good and Subaru is aware and working on new software.  Fortunately, it does include both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so once you connect your phone and get your system and climate settings dialed in you basically never have to interact with it again.  On the plus side, the tS comes standard with automatic dual zone climate control and a solid Harman Kardon sound system, capable of filling the 98.9 cubic foot interior with rich sound.  Also, Subaru upgraded the gauge cluster to a 12.3-inch fully digital configurable display, complete with an STI logo to remind you that you’re not in a STI. 

Also reminding you that you’re not in a STI is the horsepower, specifically the lack thereof.  The tS comes with the same FA24 2.4L turbocharged flat four, producing the same 271hp and 258 lbft of torque as the standard WRX.  Peak torque hits early at around 2000rpms, which gives it the rally-bred punch to pull out of a corner without dropping a gear, but when you’re in something that is crying out for more shove, you notice.  The FA24 is noticeably smoother than the old FA20 – less lag, highly-responsive and more refined.  It's not a rocketship, but it’s still quick – 0-60mph takes only five seconds if you abuse the clutch and you can trip the lights in the quarter mile in 14 seconds at 98mph if you’re quick on your shifts.

Speaking of shifts, the six-speed manual gearbox is the only transmission option on the tS, so fortunately the gearheads at STI know to keep that godawful CVT away from their top dog WRX.  The six-speed box has a great mechanical feel with positive engagement and the clutch is a bit light, but responsive and easy to modulate.  Connecting that power to the ground is Subaru’s trademark Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system, which remains a key part of the WRX formula.  It’s been the best on the market for decades and provides unrivaled traction in any weather or on any surface, giving you that confident planted feel without having to wait for a computer to make a decision on where to send power.

While we dinged Subaru for skimping on the power a bit, they didn’t skimp on the handling at all, and maybe the purpose of the tS isn’t as much about power as it is about control, akin to the Corvette Grand Sport.  Subaru went all-in on the suspension with the tS – it’s got the adaptive dampers off the GT, but tuned by STI and, when paired with the 245 section width Bridgestones on those cool 19” wheels, it makes a noticeable difference to how the car handles.  Sport mode tightens everything up, keeping body roll in check without letting any harshness penetrate the cabin.  Subaru includes a Drive Mode Select button, letting drivers toggle between Eco, Normal and Sport, each of which tweaks the steering weight, throttle response, suspension damping and the behavior of that Symmetrical All Wheel Drive. 

Grip is impressive – the tS pulls nearly 0.96g on the skidpad, which puts it right in the midst of competition like the GR Corolla and Civic Type R.  Braking is another area where the tS earns its keep – Subaru plucked the Brembos off the WRX TR, painted them gold and installed them here.  The six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes offer serious stopping power and minimal fade during our time bombing around some of our favorite backroads.  Pedal feel is solid and progressive, with stops from 60mph only taking 105 feet.

The performance of the WRX tS is very approachable – tenacious grip, solid handles, brakes that’ll suck your face off and just enough power to keep things entertaining while staying on the right side of the law.  While we love the slick-shifting six-speed manual paired with the rumbly FA24 and Subaru’s outstanding Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system, the WRX tS left us wanting.  Starting at over $47,000, the tS is a fancy WRX at a full fat STI price, and we think it deserves the full STI treatment: body-color flared fenders in place of the black cladding, punch the power of that FA24 up to over 320hp and give us some 255s on forged wheels at every corner.  That’s a car tuned by STI that I would want to own and drive.

Oh, and don’t forget the big wing.