It’s been four years since the STI went out of production, but the Subaru WRX carries on for 2025, now with a new tS trim level – with ‘tS’ standing for ‘Tuned by STI’. The tS badge has been used previously on the BRZ sports cars (and even vehicles like the Forester in Japan), but this is the first time buyers have been able to get those two letters on a WRX in the US market.
Subaru is not touting the WRX tS as a replacement for the legendary STI, but rather a “best hits” version of its current sports sedan, with features from last year’s TR (Tuner Ready) trim and the automatic-only GT. Will the tS trim level help deter buyers from more powerful competitors like the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf R? DrivingOnRoad traveled to Napa, California, to find out.
What’s New For 2025?
The 2025 WRX lineup mostly carries over, though the TR trim has essentially been replaced by the new tS. This new tS trim builds upon features that were added last year with the TR, including Brembo brakes with six-piston front calipers and two-piston rears and Active Torque Vectoring.
Subaru combines these performance upgrades from the TR, and adds the Drive Mode Select that was previously exclusive to the GT. The Drive Mode Select includes adaptive dampers, another feature that was locked to the automatic-only GT. Those dampers have been tuned by the STI department to be firmer than the ones in the GT. The tS is now the most enthusiast-focused WRX trim that’s currently available, with upgrades summarized as follows:
- Adaptable dampers with three settings
- Subaru’s first 12.3-inch LCD gauge cluster
- Recaro Ultrasuede front seats with blue accents
- Bespoke aesthetics, inside and out
- Drive Mode Select with three settings
- 19-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires
- High-performance Brembo braking with gold-painted calipers
Styling & Interior Changes
Very little has changed on the exterior, but the tS does get some small details that Subaru enthusiasts may notice. TR owners will recognize the same 19-inch satin gray wheels, which are now paired with gold Brembo brake calipers instead of red ones. The mirrors, antenna, and lip spoiler are all finished in Crystal Black Silica, and the rear taillights are revised to mimic “volcanic magma.” Finally, Subaru added a red WRX badge to the grille and ‘tS’ badging on the rear decklid, and there’s a new color called Galaxy Purple Pearl. Don’t worry, World Rally Blue (pictured) continues to be available.
The changes are more prominent inside, where the Recaro seats now include bold blue leather accents that really help the cabin pop. There are more blue accents on the doors, console, and steering wheel. The Recaro seats are a bit tight, but do an excellent job holding occupants during spirited driving. An 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system comes standard on the tS, but it’s now paired with an all-new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, the first of its size in a Subaru. The cluster’s graphics could be crisper, but it is easily legible and can show a full-color map, including Apple CarPlay.
Performance: No STI Power
STI owners will be dismayed to learn that the tS tuning treatment does not include any changes under the hood. That means the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four engine produces the same 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque found in other WRX variants. As before, power is sent to Symmetrical all-wheel-drive via a standard six-speed manual transmission on the tS or a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission on other trims. This should result in a 0-60 mph sprint in the mid-five-second range.
Fuel economy figures for the 2025 WRX have not been released by the EPA yet, but they should be similar to last year’s numbers, which comes to 19/26/22 MPG city/highway/combined with the manual or 18/25/21 with the CVT.
Driving Impressions: Combining GT & TR
The WRX tS seeks to take the improvements from the TR and enhance them even further with bits from the GT. This is now the first WRX with a manual transmission to get adaptive dampers, and they have more damping force than the GT in all three modes. Drivers can choose Comfort, Normal, or Sport settings for the suspension, each of which offers reduced pitch (55%) and roll (30%) compared to the TR’s non-adaptive springs.
On Napa’s less-then-perfect pavement, we found the Comfort setting to be ideal, as the Sport suspension caused the WRX tS to be bouncy and head shaking. Luckily, Subaru lets owners customize their car with Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Individual drive modes, the latter of which lets them pair the softest suspension setting with everything else set aggressively. Our ideal setup was Power Unit in Sport, Steering in Sport, EyeSight in Dynamic, and Suspension in Comfort.
Subaru also addressed complaints that the TR’s steering was too light and uncommunicative. In Comfort, the tS also feels effortless, though the Sport setting tightens it to more enjoyable levels. The steering is nicely direct, but still lacks feedback to the driver, which used to be an STI trademark.
Track Impressions: Driving In Easy Mode
Subaru rented Sonoma Raceway so we could further explore the tS upgrades at the limit. Here, the adaptive dampers felt perfect in their Sport setting, limiting body pitch and roll to a minimum around Sonoma’s steep elevation changes. We wished for a bit more power climbing up the track’s opening hill, but the WRX still feels plenty quick on the road. Perhaps owners will tune the boxer-four to produce more than 12 psi of boost pressure. The engine was also disappointingly quiet to the point where we banged the rev limiter several times on-track. A shift light in the digital gauge cluster or an aftermarket exhaust may rectify this issue.
The manual transmission has the same tall shifter with long throws that has become a staple in past WRX models, but we think the gear changes feel clicky and satisfying. Heel-toe-downshift came easy, which is important because the tS does not have automatic rev matching like some of its rivals. The Brembo brakes easily bring the car down from track speed, and the AWD grip makes it feel almost impossible to commit a mistake. With a quick journalist behind us on the track, we pushed the tS an inch beyond our limit and almost put the car off the curbing, but the brilliant AWD saved us in spectacular fashion. If you’re a novice looking to improve your driving skills and also be able to drive your car year-round, the WRX remains one of the best options.
Pricing & Verdict: Not Quite There
Subaru did not have any pricing for the 2025 WRX available for our drive, so it’s difficult to say exactly how this new tS trim compared to last year’s lineup. The 2024 WRX Base started at $32,735 before destination, and we expect that price to hold, possibly increasing slightly for 2025. This should also hold true for the Premium and Limited trims, which started at $34,635 and $39,015, respectively.
The TR, which started at $41,655, is now gone, replaced by the tS. Subaru hinted that the MSRP for the tS should be close to the GT, which was priced at $44,215 in 2024. For that money, there are other more powerful options, including the Civic Type R, Elantra N, GR Corolla, Golf GTI/R. Not all of these competitors offer AWD, which could push buyers towards the WRX, but most come in a hatchback body style, which could factor in purchasing decisions. We’d likely recommend the WRX tS over an equivalent GTI, but the Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota still feel slightly more exhilarating to drive. Subaru’s changes for the tS are a huge improvement, but it would take a proper STI to be a world-beater.