If you ever want to know what a cult following looks like, look no further than the Subaru WRX and STI. Since the early 1990s, enthusiasts everywhere gravitated towards Subaru’s AWD beast for its success in rally racing; it also helps the WRX arrived in North America about a decade later, just as Fast and Furious took hold. But as Subaru shifted focus over the years to its mainstream offerings, enthusiasts felt left out in the cold; the WRX hatch was killed off in 2014, and the STI in 2021 felt like the final nail in the coffin. However, Subaru has a treat for its hardcore fans this year. It’s the 2025 Subaru WRX tS, offering a taste of what we used to know and love.

First impressions

The tS replaces the WRX RS, which was new last year. It carries over the same upgrades, like the big Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels, and lack of a sunroof, but because it’s now the top-trim model, it also receives a digital gauge cluster, adaptive dampers, and generally nicer interior trim. With a starting price of $47,995 as-tested, the WRX tS isn’t cheap, but a more basic WRX starts at a more reasonable $38,195 if the upgraded bits aren’t a requirement. The plastic cladding around the wheel wells still isn’t my cup of tea; body-coloured trim would go a long way to improve its looks. This ain’t a WRX Wilderness.

Jump behind the wheel of the WRX tS and the biggest upgrade will be the new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, also used in the Forester Hybrid. Doing away with the dated analog cluster modernizes the WRX among competitors like the Elantra N, and is a welcome update. Sadly, like in the Forester Hybrid, the 11.6-inch infotainment screen is sometimes slow to respond and prone to lagging and freezing. Beyond that, the materials are good-quality, everything is well withing reach, and the power-adjustable Recaro seats look great and hug you tight. The tS stands out from lesser WRX trims with blue accents and stitching, and lots of Alcantara.

Engine, powertrain, and driving impressions

The reason people buy a WRX is for performance. The tS improves the experience with upgraded brakes and adaptive dampers, but it does miss the mark in terms of extra power. It puts out 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque from its 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer four-cylinder engine; that’s the same as the rest of the lineup, and only three extra horsepower over a WRX from 10 years ago. This isn’t to say the WRX feels less-than; power delivery with the 2.4 feels much smoother, but when everyone else is pushing 300 horsepower, and with Subaru playing up the STI influence, some power more would’ve been nice.

With Subaru’s well-known all-wheel-drive system standard and a six-speed manual as your only transmission choice, the WRX tS does have the chops for spirited driving. The ride is composed and the chassis solid when taking on curves and winding roads. The suspension is tuned a little stiffer, even compared to the WRX GT and its adaptive dampers, but not to the point of knocking out your fillings. The manual transmission is fine; the shifter feels tight and precise enough, but the throws are long and the vague clutch feel makes it hard to consistently launch smoothly. I just couldn’t get it right; sometimes I’d get it right and jump ahead with ease, other times it’d bog down and feel lethargic. Frustrating to say the least.

Fuel economy is another area the WRX tS could improve. The official numbers are 12.4 L/100 kilometres in the city city, 9.0 on the highway, and 10.9 combined. I achieved 11.6 L/100 kilometres over my city-and-highway commute during the work week, but a weekend road trip to cottage country and back brought it down to 10.4 L/100 km. Premium-grade fuel is recommended—and we’ve squeezed better numbers out of the more powerful and also-AWD Golf R.

Final thoughts

While I had some beef with the 2025 Subaru WRX tS, that’s because the competition is much more fierce today, compared to when its only rival was Mitsubishi’s Evo. There’s lots to like about the WRX tS—it’s roomy, capable, and can be enjoyed year-round—but is it really what hardcore Subaru fans want?