Subaru has had a weird year with the WRX. The brand’s all-wheel drive, turbocharged performance sedan had its base trim axed at the end of 2024, leading to a huge increase in MSRP. For the past 12 months, the WRX—which is, at this point, a fairly outdated vehicle compared to its competition—was priced from $38,920 including destination—more than the Volkswagen GTI or the Hyundai Elantra N.
Coincidentally, the WRX had a pretty bad 2025, with sales falling over 41 percent year over year. Not terribly surprising, seeing as how you could get a whole Toyota GR Corolla—a much newer, more exciting vehicle to drive—for just $1,500 more.
Now, the base trim is back, which means the WRX is more than $5,000 cheaper than it was before. It’s priced more closely with the Civic Si, a car with fewer driven wheels and less horsepower. The WRX is a true value once again, and all feels right with the world.
Why Did The Base Trim Go Away In The First Place?
Subaru revealed in December 2024 that it would be dropping the base WRX because buyers were, for the most part, buying the more expensive trims anyway. Here’s what Subaru of America Car Line Planning Manager William Stokes had to say at the time:
Few buyers opted for the base trim level last year, while nearly half of all WRX buyers opt for features found on the Premium trim level, which is why it’s the entry point this year.
The WRX Premium, for those unfamiliar, is the next-highest trim level above the base car (and for all intents and purposes, was the base car for 2025). Notable features over the standard trim include heated front seats and exterior mirrors, LED fog lights, premium cloth upholstery, and a rear spoiler on the trunk.
Those extra features couldn’t help WRX sales from tumbling last year, from 18,587 cars in 2024 to just 10,930 cars in 2025—a decrease of 41.2%. For what it’s worth, Subaru claims the dip in sales was not due to slowing demand, but due to changes at the factory that lowered supply (at least in May and June). Here’s what the company told CarBuzz back in July:
Sales of the Subaru WRX were significantly lower in May and June compared with sales in March and April. The primary reason for this is a significant reduction in production and very low inventory levels. There are fewer than 500 units of WRX on the ground at the moment. The shift was made to increase Forester and Forester Hybrid production to meet demand for that carline, which currently has only a 25-day supply.
It’s also possible sales of the WRX have fallen because it’s just… kinda old. The current model is a significant refresh of the last-gen car, which came out all the way back in 2014. While the looks have changed and displacement from the turbocharged boxer-four has grown from 2.0 liters to 2.4, horsepower and performance have remained relatively consistent over the years.
When asked why the base WRX is making a return, a represenative told me via email that affordability is now front-of-mind for more buyers:
Consumer interest for more affordable vehicle choices has increased considerably in the past year, across the industry. We are listening to shoppers and aiming to offer competitively priced vehicles that reflect their preference for good values in the market.
The New Base WRX Is Actually Cheaper Than The Last Base WRX
In a world where even cheap cars are getting upsettingly expensive, the base WRX and its $33,690 starting price are deeply refreshing. Amazingly, despite the woes of inflation, the 2026 WRX is actually $165 cheaper than the 2024 model, despite having more features.
Specifically, the base WRX now gets push-button start and a dual-zone automatic climate control system as standard, two things that were previously unavailable on the base trim. The cheapest WRX also gets 18-inch alloys, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, LED headlights, and that gigantic 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are cloth seats with red contrast stitching, which I actually prefer over leather.
My point is, this isn’t some featureless, stripped-out car. You still get a lot of useful stuff in the base WRX, and it represents an incredible value compared to the competition. Like every WRX, the base car gets a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four making 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual is rightly the only available transmission in this trim. To get into a WRX with a continuously variable automatic transmission, you’ll have to jump all the way to the $41,190 Limited model. All-wheel drive is, of course, standard across the board.
If You Absolutely Need To Drop A Bunch Of Dough On A WRX, You Still Can
There are now six different WRX trims to choose from, with the upper end of the range on the pricey side. The GT model, which is only available with the CVT, starts at $46,190 and gets things like Recaro seats, a digital gauge cluster, and adaptive dampers. The tS takes things one step further, using STI-tuned adaptive dampers and adding drive modes, bigger brakes from Brembo, and 19-inch alloys wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 summer tires. The tS is only available with a proper six-speed, and it’s priced identically to the GT.
If those shiny gold-painted Brembo calipers aren’t flashy enough for you, there’s also the $47,190 WRX Series.Yellow (yes, with a period in the middle). It’s basically a WRX tS underneath, except with a bright Sunrise Yellow paint job, matte black wheels, black badging, and a few yellow-themed interior touches.
While all of that sounds nice, if it were my money, I’d definitely stick with the base trim. Deliveries for the 2026 WRX start this spring, so if you’re in the market, keep an eye on dealer lots.
Top image: Subaru
buyer’s don’t “opt” for shit. dealers order everything.
As a Subaru lover, I personally don’t like the new WRX. However, I think this new base trim is a pretty solid value for the performance/cost factor. These FA24’s also like to make pretty reliable and respectable power with simple mods if you are of the tinkering variety.
My biggest complaints are the abysmal plastic flares, and the lack of hatch. I truly don’t understand that decision, and it is the only reason one of these isn’t currently in my garage. The take-rate of hatchbacks was always equal to, and often exceeded the the rate of sedans sold (when both body-styles were available from 08-14. Wagons were a lower take-rate than sedans from 02-07)
These do look acceptable once the flares are painted, and the stock wheels are replaced, but do you really want to own a car that requires a few grand in immediate mods to look half-way decent? I don’t..
The plastic cladding makes the WRX look like it is wearing a soggy diaper and it no longer comes in a hatchback or a wagon. This and the awful laggy CVT in my daughter’s Forester made me not want to purchase any more Subaru products and I had purchased several.
Current WRX styling looks lame compared to previous Gen. They neutered the butch look for something generic. Not a fan anymore.
It’s good to see Subaru walking back a mistake, but man…
I owned two WRXs: a 2002 wagon and a 2009 hatch. That 2002 is still one of my favorite cars ever and I regret selling it. There was something magical about that car that they haven’t been able to replicate since the 2007’s went away.
The 2009 was pretty awful, and for me, the beginning of Subaru’s race to the bottom, where they got away from what made them great. It had all the numbers on paper, but was built cheaply and engineered terribly. I got out of it quickly once things started going south.
I also spent some time with the last-gen car; a friend picked up a 2018 Limited, and he got out of it fairly quickly. The car felt like a chore to drive to get any enjoyment out of it, and although it was built better than my wretched 2009, it had really dumb problems, like an infotainment system that would reset itself every time you connected your phone, and then randomly start scanning inputs and radio stations, which the dealer couldn’t replicate or solve. It was maddening.
This current gen car just seems like it was designed to be an also-ran in a world where the GR Corolla, the GTI, and the Hyundai N-cars exist. If they could just make some small changes, like bring the Levorg body style over here, offer better infotainment that doesn’t suck, and offer a DCT instead of the wretched CVT, they would have something closer to a winner.
Selling my 04 WRX wagon is a mistake that I will never fully recover from. I LOVED that car. It brought me far more joy than my STi ever did. So simple and analog.
I traded my 2002 in on the 2009 because I thought I heard “piston slap” one morning, so off it went. What really spooked me is my friend’s 2002 sedan with the same power mods and the same exact tune spinning all the bearings during a particularly hot day at the local drag strip. Figured mine was on borrowed time.
Looking back, I really should have kept it. It was modded perfectly and drove so well, and I didn’t really know at the time that short blocks are pretty much considered wear items on Subarus. I miss that car.
I totally get it. Mine always had piston slap until the engine warmed up, but stayed super reliable for me up to 195k miles when I sold it. I had a vf34 on it with 650cc dw injectors, STi intercooler, and a walbro 255. I drove it pretty conservatively, but that thing MOVED.
What was done to yours? Even stage 2 on those EJ205’s was such a fun level of power!
The 11.6″ tablet infotainment is not a selling point. The system is hot garbage and every review of every Subaru that has it says so. They’d have been much better off just dropping in the unit from the BRZ instead.
I just signed for my third (used) WRX yesterday, picking it up Friday. One of the things I’ve noticed is that there are always lots of “gently used” units on offer, my take is that some people buy them and soon realize that they aren’t keen enough to constantly row that (box ‘o rocks) gearbox, especially in commuter traffic. I was surprised at the sales numbers mentioned in the article, the car may be more popular here in the Great White North for reasons which should be all too obvious. I was never a fan of the cladding but do not mind it on this unit as the previous plastic was easy to damage, I badly scuffed the rocker panel with my clumsiness getting into the thing. That they are easy to find here 1-3 model years old, often with less than 20K (~12,000 miles), may indicate some are bought by those who always want to try something different. Agree that the current base model is a real stripper by modern standard.
Have a ’22 currently that I picked up in 23 with ~5k on it. Always wondered a bit about why there were so many low-mileage ones available.
After a couple years with it, well, I can see it. The infotainment system is awful, and honestly, as a daily, it is a bit crude. There are times when it is exactly the car I want to drive… get to work through the gearbox on the twisties, that very firm suspension has me feeling very certain through the curves, all that. And then there are days when I just need to run to the store and I can’t go hooning through a residential neighborhood and the suspension is just too stiff and passes on too much road feel over any kinda crappy surface.
Oh, and being a McBeerface from the historic clan McBeerface, I could use slightly more space between the seat bolsters.
I’m glad to see sanity prevail and the WRX can once again be cross shopped against the Civic Si, Jetta GLI, and Elantra N, where it offers some competitive distinction. The Base and Premium trims are where the WRX makes sense. The various almost-an-STI-but-not-quite editions were “ambitiously” priced money grabs that placed the WRX in a bracket where it was completely outgunned.
Also, the VB generation gets a bad rap. It’s a notable upgrade from the VA in tuning, drivability, and refinement and it’s really fun to hustle down a back road. As time has moved on since its introduction I’ve also grown to accept the unpainted exterior trim. The only knock I have is the shifter feel, which is crunchy and vague. But overall it’s a great sport sedan option.
I don’t get marketing wonks sometimes “nearly half of all WRX buyers opt for features found on the Premium”, so that means we want to cut our sales in half!?
Subaru has already lost the market, I am afraid.
If they released a NEW WRX with a reasonable base model, then sure. But they aren’t doing anything other than competing with slightly used WRXs at this point. They aren’t even willing to do one of the most basic of basic changes to the car to get a little more interest from consumers – paint the damn fenders. For Subaru, that would be a minimal cost – but for a consumer to do it, its probably a grand or more. That adds up when people are already considering your vehicle overpriced.
And I mostly blame Subaru of America, rather than Subaru of Japan. It is their incompetence that has kept models out of the US that probably would sell in reasonable volumes and keep enthusiasts happy. Think of models like the Levorg that are sold elsewhere just not here.
Japan is pretty incompetent too. They finally have a VB manual WRX after being cvt only for so many years.
If they made it in a hatch or wagon I’d already have one in the driveway, and I do not love Subarus. I would even tolerate the stupid arch trim and tail lights that make my new AWD turbo car look like an old Honda Civic.
F it. I’m lying. I would have to see that ‘my first tablet’ bolted to the center every time I drove the thing. I don’t think I could live with that. I’ve seen people integrate CRT screens better into Camaros in the 90’s. If the WRX makes it to another generation, I’ll give it another look. I’m sure Subaru will find a way to make it unappealing enough in at least one major way for me to stay away.
Even if people aren’t buying the base model, the base model exists because the price point gets people looking at the car and going to the dealership. If they walk themselves up from $33k to $38k once they are there, great, but without the $33k there’s a chunk that won’t come in at all.
Yes, it is when Toyota released Sienna 3rd gen in 2010. they gave basic trim with 2.7 4-banger just to be under $20K I believe. Barely anyone bought those but they walked in to a dealer and that worked
People weren’t buying the base model because dealers weren’t stocking the base model. Like most things, it’s tough to buy what you cannot find.
Right. The takeaway should’ve been, “Our DEALERS never order the base trim.”
Still have my 2016 base. Picked up for around 25k new. The previous gen was frumpy but painted. No cladding and drop it to 30k and it’s a hard maybe. I really dislike the trims and sunroof/spoiler BS Subaru pulls. Just let me decide what plastic bits you want to stick on the car. They only care about the crosstrek/outback owners.
25 years ago, the 2002 WRX had about 230hp and AWD in an otherwise pretty reasonable sedan. That was groundbreaking back then, and I’m not even talking about the STI trim. It was fast, practical, and really distinctive from almost everything else on the road.
So flash forward a quarter century of engineering, technology, development….and you get about 40 more hp (offset by the weight gains) in a still somewhat reasonable but generally unremarkable sedan, quite a bit less character and many trims saddled with the CVT. Great that you can get it with a manual, but otherwise its just kind of a boring sedan. I don’t get how they don’t get it.
Looks like they cut prices across the board. Premium and Limited are over $3k cheaper, GT and tS are $2710 less, so even if they hadn’t brought back the base the entry price would have been ~$35k with destination. Regardless of trim, the ~$37-38k entry was just too high, and they seem to have realized that if they’re going to move them. But I think a lot of it is as you say, it’s rather aged at this point.
I am the proud owner/operator of a base WRX. I had always dreamed of one after watching WRC Subies blasting down dirt roads.
Of course, I am a middle aged dude so I just use it as a daily commuter. An Impreza would probably be fine but they are very underpowered and I think they axed the manual. I would gladly get another base WRX.
I’ve said since this wet fart of a generation was unveiled that Subaru doesn’t want to make enthusiast cars anymore and is intentionally nerfing the WRX so they have an excuse to axe it. They’re over this shit. No matter what they do with the WRX the vapes and Brazzers memberships crowd will complain and they want to focus all of their resources on getting those sweet, sweet crossover bucks.
I’ve always liked the WRX and STI too, if you’re of a certain age they were pretty much THE cars for a while. But I really can’t understand buying one in 2026. Am Elantra N is around the same price, and while it isn’t all wheel drive it absolutely smokes the WRX in every performance metric, is also available in manual, and has a great automatic if you’d rather have that. A DCT vs a CVT in a performance car isn’t even up for discussion.
The GR Corolla is also right around the same price and better in pretty much every way…and also a hatchback! Also manual, also has an available auto that’s better than a CVT (although the general consensus is it still isn’t very good), and also all wheel drive. Both cars even get better gas mileage than the WRX even though the average shopper in this class doesn’t care.
Suffice to say, I guess if you get a fat discount on one of these (and to be fair, you can) that puts it right at or just under $30,000 they’re an appealing buy, but ultimately this is a car that the market has just kind of left behind, and I don’t think Subaru is all that upset about it.
I’m 47 and loved the original WRX, but even in my mid-20s, I was like “Not sure if I could DD this in respectable company.”
Around the same time, my dad grabbed a VW R32 and I had the opposite opinion — the tradeoffs in performance for the relative comfort and quiet seemed reasonable to me, doubly so today.
IMO if Subie wants the best of both worlds, the best solution is a new Forester XT. If we’re going to assume the WRX is dying on the vine, anyway, at least let its soul live on inside something that will sell well.
I’ve said this dozens of times, but I’d buy a fast Subaru wagon in a nanosecond.
I’m at peace with the lack of a manual in the WRX Wagon / Levorg, but if Subaru made a PHEV wagon with the 2.4 turbo it would be an instant purchase.
Apparently the performance tuned CVT is actually quite good. It’s still a CVT and I know a lot of people won’t be able to get past that, but I’d be more than willing to give it a try in a WRX wagon equivalent if Subaru thinks it’s necessary to sell the things.
Honestly modern CVTs really are fine. They’re not my first or second choice of transmission but I think a lot of the disdain is from people that drove CVTs 10+ years ago and haven’t since.
I’m a pretty big Subaru apologist (and my wife is drinking Subaru brand kool-aid on the regular). But based on my wife’s Forester, I’m a little reluctant to give the Subaru CVT my stamp of approval. It was replaced once under warranty. And it’s pretty darn slippy from a stop.
I cannot comment on exactly what the difference is between the typical CVT and the one in the WRX, but I would certainly be cautious of it.
Add: It is a 2018, and I’m uncertain as to what changes Subaru has made to the CVT since, but I get the vibe that Subaru rarely makes any changes basically ever.
What model Forester? I have a Crosstrek with the CVT and I find that it’s pretty good for that application. I’d go for a manual in a WRX but if you watch Jason at Engineering Explained review, it’s clear that the WRX’s CVT is no slouch.
Like idea of a Crosstrek XT better. Isn’t it basically the same platform?
That would be cool. Seems like it would nicely fit the slot of the OG Forester XT with the hilarious hood scoop. I get the sense that low volume models just aren’t in the cards anymore.
It’s a basic 2.5i Forester. 2018. Hopefully the CVTs are better now? They seem to be, across the board?
We only have probably 35k on this CVT and have already replaced the fluid once so…. yeah, hopefully it holds up even if it isn’t particularly pleasant to drive.
I think your Forester has the same TR580 CVT as the Crosstrek. It’s generally considered a pretty good transmission with the most common failure actually being a valve body issue totally unrelated to it being a CVT.
I have not ruled out ‘bad luck’ regarding our experience lol. My experience is anecdotal. Still not super happy with it though.
I will give the Forester credit that in the 7.5 years we’ve had it, that’s the only issue. Considering the replacement was under warranty (and unlike some brands, our dealer gave us absolutely zero problems having it covered, which limited our pissy-ness about it) we’re not quite mad yet.
I wouldn’t take a reviewer’s word on the GR Corolla’s automatic until driving it. They want a DCT. The torque converted auto isn’t going to provide that, but I’m guessing it is nicer in a lot of everyday situations where some DCTs get harsh and clumsy. And the GR posts similar 30-50 and quicker 50-70 passing times than the Elantra N DCT and Golf GTI DSG in C&D testing, so it looks responsive.
That’s a valid point, and I think if it had launched with both options it would’ve been better received. No one other than terminally online weirdos complained that the spicy Golf’s had the DSG option until they got rid of the manual. But the GRC had the “manual only” gatekeeper mystique when it launched and I think it’s made people irrationally pissed they developed an auto for it.
Those folks can just go buy a CTR or ITS if it’s the gatekeeper validation they crave because Honda will never, ever put an automatic in either of those cars or any performance Civic.
You could say the same for the WRX CVT. In spite of the complaints, it sure looks like it’s not far behind the GR and it’s far ahead of the Elantra in those passing tests. And that’s in spite of both a power and weight deficit.
It’ll come down to whether you prefer real gear changes or sliding ratios. But yes, test drive for oneself rather than relying on the opinion of others. As always.
I certainly seems that people have a strong preference, but for me if it’s not a manual transmission, I’ll take whatever moves the power to ground quickest.
There is a scenario where I still think the WRX is compelling over competitor’s like the Elantra N and GR Corolla: The comfortable-yet-sporty daily driver. In some ways I now think of the WRX as the Gentlemen’s Sport Sedan. I was on the GR Corolla waitlist at my local dealership and am no longer due to some of the reasons below (and deciding to purchase a GR Supra instead). I’m considering a WRX as a future daily driver (and am thrilled Subaru has recognized it was too expensive in 2025). Here’s why:
The WRX is more comfortable daily driver (but not too comfortable). Most of the ‘Sport’ variants of other cars like the Elantra N and GR Corolla put super stiff suspensions on the cars. I get it, I’ve owned many of those types of cars over my life, and they were fun when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. Now I’m on the higher-end of my 40’s and sometimes parts of me hurt, I don’t need the car to contribute to that. Somehow the GR Corolla has gotten even stiffer since it debuted. I don’t need my daily driver to be track-ready, I need it to be ready for pot-holed Denver streets while still being fun and powerful. The Civic Si and GTI is a great example of this, fun-enough, but still very comfortable. I think of the WRX more in the vein of those cars than the hi-po variants like the Civic Type-R, GR Corolla, Elantra N, etc.
The WRX is bigger (some may see this as a con, I get it). The back seat in a GR Corolla, and even a GTI, is sometimes laughable, especially if I need to put in a car seat to drive my niece around. If you need a fun car that also has a usable back seat and AWD, the WRX looks pretty good.
If you get a lot of snow, or live somewhere that does poor street cleanup after it snows (Denver metro… cough), AWD still has a lot of value. While not alone in this category anymore thanks to the GRC, when combined with the above attributes, it still makes the WRX a compelling option in certain areas for a certain demographic.
You’re absolutely correct. The WRX makes little sense if you judge it by spec sheet alone, but in reality it somehow rises to the top of the practical performance car matrix of needs. I’ve even come around on the cladding to point that I think it looks kind of cool.
“I’ve even come around on the cladding to point that I think it looks kind of cool.”
Stockholm Syndrome.
Subaru designs tend to take time to be appreciated. Second gen Impreza’s are classic now but not many people were praising them for their looks at the time. Same deal with the Forester – praised for everything but not a single comment on it’s looks.
It’s fine if you don’t like it but sometimes it just takes time to understand change.
That was intended as a joke, but it brings up an interesting point. Some design languages gain appreciation over time, others are made to seem reasonable when future designs are even worse, and others simply remain unlovable years later, like the Aztek.
Subaru’s cladding binge falls somewhere between those last two. Its only hope is if the next generation is somehow even more over-the-top.
I do agree that Subaru’s recent obsession with cladding is moving towards the absurd. They seem to have seen the positive consumer reaction to some cladding and concluded that if some = good that More must = Better. While I think the WRX looks purposeful, the new Outback just looks bloated and clumsy.
Yes! The poor Outback. In higher trims it used to look the part of the stealth wealth wagon. Not many mainstream vehicles can nail that look but Subaru is moving away from it.
Unlovable years later: See the Subaru B9 Tribeca. That was beyond odd, and unlovable.
Truly unlovable. Not all designs improve with age.
For sure. The original (in the U.S.) Bug-eye WRX’s were not classically beautiful cars, they looked odd at first. Over time as you began realize what they were capable of they became appreciated for their odd look, but only because they were great performance vehicles.
I think the current generation is a pretty good looking car overall. Would I prefer it to not have wide-black wheel arches? Yes. Is it a deal-breaker? No. Just enough “oddness” to make me think of the OG WRXs.
The previous generation was the most boring. It looked like a Corolla also-ran with a hood scoop.
Yep. I get that manufacturers shouldn’t listen to enthusiasts about most things. But this is a fucking enthusiast car lol. And Subaru does basically everything in their power to make this thing as unappealing as possible.
I could go on, but like, come on Subaru.
I’ve never seen a compelling reason why they went away from the hatch body to a sedan in an era where sedans are a much smaller part of the market than they used to be.
Previous WRX hatches were beloved, so yeah, the switch to sedan for no reason, especially with an Impreza hatch still in production, is mindboggling.
They’re still not painting the whole car though, eh?
The reduced price will certainly move the needle for a lot of folks, but it’s pretty long in the tooth and a nostalgia pick more than anything.
With how expensive cars have gotten, paint the whole damn body.
Or make the whole thing out of cladding and discount it by $3k!
Wildernough is Enough edition.
But without the cladding how would everyone know that it’s a tough outdoorsy car for hardcore rugged individualists like yourself?! And what if you hit a lamppost in the Target parking lot?!
Put a bunch of stickers for outdoorsy lifestyle brands across the back window?
Or stickers of all the national parks you’ve totally visited in your Subaru
And merit badge emblems that you clearly met the requirements for and submitted your signed card to the Subaru dealer to obtain
I think they biffed it from the start on this one. The CVT is a miss, you can’t get the stick on the top dog, and the looks are questionable. The base model is great, but who knows how many of those will actually be on dealer lots once they start making them. Once you move up from the base, it’s competing with newer and nicer cars.
Didn’t realize Subaru was trying to move these with a $38K starting price. $33K seems much more appropriate. 19/26mpg on the EPA rating, though. Oink oink!
The bigger news to me is the GT trim. $48,000 + Recaro + See-Vee-Tee. Yuck. Who the hell is buying that expensive mess of contradictions? And they don’t call it a CVT on the site, they call it a “Subaru Performance Transmission”. That’s tacky.
This long time Subaru fan is sticking with his GR Corolla.