The Subaru WRX tS is a sports sedan with a cult following built on agility, tenacious grip and the rare ability to be fun without giving up day-to-day livability. I’d never driven the model, so I approached it with anticipation and skepticism.

Subaru loaned the WRX tS for a week, and I used it the way most owners do: commuting, running errands and carving up backroads whenever. My mindset was simple — an all-wheel-drive sports sedan has always seemed unnecessary. But I’ve never encountered the kind of inclement weather where AWD traction would have been a clear advantage, so I’m still not fully convinced it’s a requirement.

First Impression

Within 10 minutes of first driving the WRX tS, I started getting “thumbs-ups.” All week, people came over to look and shared their WRX stories. No one appreciated it more than my nephew, a WRX enthusiast and owner of a 2015 model. Driving his car back-to-back with the 2025 tS reminded me the core appeal remains—turbo punch, AWD confidence and a chassis that loves backroads.

Driving Impressions

The car is a lot of fun with satisfying power. Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-liter intercooled boxer four makes 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, delivered across a wide rpm range.  

The tS uses STI-tuned, electronically adjustable dampers with multiple ride modes—Comfort, Normal, and Sport—allowing quick adaptation from daily driving to spirited backroad use.

In Sport and Sport+ modes, the car tightens with crispness usually reserved for more expensive sports cars. Body control is tight. There’s no roll. “Handling on rails” is a tired phrase, but it applies. The tS tears up the pavement, feeling physically attached to the road.

Push it to the limit, and the tS exhibits predictable understeer. It doesn’t want to rotate—Subaru keeps the WRX’s attitude on the safe side, especially with the weight and traction of all-wheel drive. That’s the compromise: the WRX provided driving confidence and point-and-shoot traction, but it won’t play like a rear-wheel driver without motivation.

Then there’s the manual transmission. Thank you, Subaru, for still offering a new car with power, strong handling and a manual gearbox. The clutch is buttery smooth. The shifter, however, has a long throw and feels notchy. My first upgrade would be a short-throw shifter.

I drove the tS on backroads wherever possible just to throw it around. I still averaged 25.4 miles per gallon. That’s economical entertainment.

Under the Hood

The WRX’s flat-four turbo sits low, lowering the center of gravity. Symmetrical all-wheel drive boosts cornering traction and stability in all weather, but the tradeoff is added weight, complexity and friction losses. I remain skeptical. 

The WRX is inherently tunable. Forced induction engines respond well to intake, fueling and boost tweaks—especially with a huge aftermarket for the WRX. It’s not just buying a sedan, it’s joining a community.

Comfort and Convenience

Inside, the WRX tS is sporty, handsome and inviting. The Recaro sport seats stand out—upholstered in Alcantara with contrasting leather bolsters. But like racing seats, they’re firm and the bolsters dig in. I appreciated the heated front seats while driving in the Sierra Nevadas in winter. Alcantara also extends to the dash, giving the cabin an upscale feel.

The driver’s seat is six-way power; the passenger seat is manual. Rear seats match. The sedan begs to be driven aggressively, but it’s still a four-door sedan. Bring three friends and there’s still a spacious trunk for gear.

Annoyances

My test car developed a persistent, distracting dashboard rattle. However, my primary issue was the EyeSight driver assistance system. It frequently intervened with inconsistent or excessive warnings and actions during normal driving.

EyeSight is overly aggressive in its interventions, regularly producing false hazard warnings and anti-distraction alerts. Even with my hands on the wheel and attention on the road, the system persisted in instructing me to take control. It had the opposite effect of its purpose by creating a distraction rather than preventing it.

More worryingly, EyeSight sometimes braked unexpectedly—once on a steep hill, once when I changed lanes near another car. The sudden moves felt less like added safety and more like abrupt surprises. While the adaptive cruise control worked well, the lane-keeping assist was less smooth and less accurate than others I’ve used.

Pricing and Affordability

The WRX tS has an MSRP of $47,705 and is competitively priced just below the U.S. average new car price of $50,326. But the WRX’s core audience skews younger—Millennials and Gen Zers who grew up on rally races and games like Gran Turismo. It was a recipe for cult status. The WRX is recognizable, mod-friendly, attainable and popular — until now.

Subaru’s recent WRX sales stats reflect a steep decline to 10,930 units in 2025, down about 41 percent from 18,587 sold in 2024.

Subaru’s 2026 response is a less expensive entry-level trim at $33,690—over $5,000 less than the 2024 entry-level WRX.

The Tuner Ecosystem and Sleeper Appeal

The WRX’s styling has never been exotic. The 2025 tS looks like a basic Japanese sedan but with an aggressive stance and the right stuff under the hood. It’s not avant-garde and it’s not generic. That’s what makes it a sleeper. It looks unassuming, but those in the know recognize its capabilities.

The aftermarket is massive, offering countless ways to enhance power, handling and style. Examples include ECU tuners, cooling and turbo upgrades, suspension kits and performance brakes. The WRX is versatile. It can be a quick grocery-getter to a track car.

The Verdict

The 2025 Subaru WRX tS is a fun sports sedan—practical and playful. It’s a four-door commuter that tears up backroads. The chassis is outstanding: solid body control, steering accuracy, and strong brakes. The manual transmission connects the driver to the machine.

Subaru’s EyeSight system remains intrusive, but the WRX tS stands out as the Swiss Army knife of sports sedans. It’s a practical, engaging sedan with character. It’s fun and represents behind-the-wheel satisfaction for enthusiasts and daily drivers. 

Visit: https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/wrx/2025.html

_{Cover photo: 2025 Subaru WRX tS with the General Dynamics EF-111A Raven – Photo copyright © John Berg 2026}