2025 Subaru WRX tS Review and Test Drive

Subaru's latest special flavor of the WRX is its best yet.

Tim Stevens | 

Oct 31, 2024 | 6 min read

Tim Stevens

As of publication, Subaru has not released pricing and full trim details for the 2025 WRX lineup. In 2024, the car comes in Base, Premium, Limited, TR, and GT trims, with prices ranging from the mid-$30,000s to the mid-$40,000s, including the destination charge to ship the car from the Ota, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, factory that builds it to your local dealership.

The WRX tS I drove in California will be a new trim on sale in the first quarter of 2025, equipped with a standard manual transmission and 19-inch wheels. Outside of paint colors, there are few options from which to choose. Subaru provided the vehicle for this WRX review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

Tim Stevens

Is the 2025 Subaru WRX a Good Car?

The WRX has always offered an engaging driving character blended with practicality. With the new tS trim, the recipe just gets better. While some might lament the lack of engine updates, the new adaptive suspension really makes for a fun all-arounder compared with the front-drive Honda Civic Type R, edgy Toyota GR Corolla, and pricey Volkswagen Golf R.

Tim Stevens

What's New for the 2025 Subaru WRX tS?

The most significant change accompanying the WRX tS is a wholly new adaptive suspension system. It has three damper settings, offering a wide range between Comfort on one side and a stiffer-feeling Sport mode on the other, with a Normal mode falling in between the two.

The tS is the first WRX to receive a fully digital gauge cluster. Measuring 12.3 inches, it offers a few views you can cycle through. Want just the standard speed and tachometer? You can have that. Prefer a 3D navigation map view? You can get that, too.

Subaru has made other modifications to liven up the car, including a retuned power steering system to provide a more engaging feel and bolstered Recaro seats with unique color highlights. Add badging that is only available in the U.S., and you have a car that's not radically different from the WRX TR that came before but is more engaging and comfortable to drive.

Tim Stevens

The New 2025 WRX tS Suspension Is a Treat

Subaru has evolved the WRX quite a bit since it put the higher-performance STI trim out to pasture in 2022. Most recently, the automaker showcased enhancements in the WRX TR that Subaru debuted last year. That Tuner Ready model was stiffer and sportier, mostly just bringing together desirable options to create something enthusiasts could get behind.

Now, all of that feels a bit forgettable compared with the WRX tS. That curious moniker stands for Tuned by STI, Subaru's in-house performance division. Unfortunately, unlike those previous proper STI models, this new WRX offers no engine upgrades. It still has the same turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder as every other WRX, producing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

It also doesn't receive any upgrades to the rest of the drivetrain. Yes, the WRX has an all-wheel-drive system, but it's of the basic variety, with a simple, viscous center differential in the middle and open differentials at either end, boosted by an automatic braking system to keep excess wheelspin in check. This gets the job done, but it's far from a high-performance setup.

What's worth getting excited about is that new suspension. In my opinion, the WRX has always had a good blend of compliance and responsive handling, earning it a legion of fans worldwide. But the tS model's adaptive dampers are excellent, pushing the ride and handling envelope further in both directions.

Tim Stevens

In Comfort mode, the suspension is genuinely pliant and comfortable without getting so soft that you can't still have fun on a bumpy road. When things smooth out — or if you're lucky enough to hit the racetrack — activate Sport mode for a taut ride and engaging drive.

I was lucky enough to run a few laps around California's Sonoma Raceway in the WRX tS, and that new suspension plus the sharper throttle response makes for an entertaining car. The 245/35R-19 Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires are also quite good.

My only real complaint is the steering. Subaru attempts to add more feeling by reducing the amount of assistance from the power steering system, but the result is just a steering wheel that's harder to turn. The feel itself isn't significantly improved.

Thankfully, you can personalize your drive-mode settings. For my custom mode, I selected a firm suspension and sharp throttle response but a comfortable steering effort level. It was perfect.

Tim Stevens

Flashier Interior and Solid Safety Tech in the 2025 WRX tS

The other main upgrade with the WRX tS is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. It presents all sorts of information, from a digital boost gauge and tire-pressure information to a live view of your Apple Maps navigation if you're using CarPlay. Sadly, Android users are out of luck on this display.

Android Auto does connect, wirelessly even, but only on the 11.6-inch, portrait-oriented center display. This is where you'll control Subaru's now-familiar infotainment system. It's all a bit cluttered, and the design of the user interface is anything but elegant. That said, it's functional.

Among the few other upgrades, the most noticeable are the blue highlights on the Recaro performance seats, a bit loud visually but certainly striking. Despite their aggressive design, those seats are quite comfortable and equally supportive when on the track. Larger drivers, though, may struggle to fit between the bolsters. Seating in the second row is generous, and there's a reasonable 12.5 cubic-feet of cargo space in the trunk.

Last year's WRX finally brought Subaru's comprehensive EyeSight active safety suite to WRX models equipped with a manual transmission, and the new tS takes advantage of that. Highlights include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and a notification when the vehicle ahead starts to move.

Tim Stevens

Overall, the new WRX tS doesn't radically change the WRX formula. It's still a practical, attainable, fun sports sedan ideal for all-weather driving. But the new adaptive suspension has created a WRX better suited for even broader conditions, adjusting its aggression to suit the road ahead — and your mood.

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Tim Stevens

Tim Stevens is a veteran editor, analyst, and expert in the tech and automotive industries. He helmed a major website's automotive coverage for nine years and acted as its content chief. Prior to that, Tim served as the editorial lead at a tech-oriented site and even led a previous life as an enterprise software architect.