Subaru WRX tS: Bigger is better.

Fuji Heavy Industries continues its legacy of high-performance rally-inspired sedans with the latest model, the 2025 Subaru WRX tS. tS stands for “tuned by STI” by the way. Years of making great high-performance sedans that go anywhere (wet, dry, sandy, snowy—you name it!) have given this brand a huge, loyal following. Napleton News test-drove one for a week. Here’s our report.

What you should know about the Subaru WRX tS

The WRX tS, a four-door sedan, that starts as a meager little Impreza. This five-seater’s got two amazing trims that are impressive, if nothing else. With its turbocharged 2.4-liter “boxer” flat-four engine, the Subaru WRX delivers 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed gearbox. That’s a three-hp gain over the outgoing 2.0-liter four banger. As there has been no WRX STI announced for this year (or next year for that matter) Subaru has combined features from the WRX GT and the WRX TR models to bring the WRX tS as a place holder for the time being. For those unfamiliar with them, boxer engines are unlike the more common vertical inline-four cylinder engines.

A boxer engine features two offset cylinders on each side with a crankshaft in the middle that controls their movements. It offers a lower center of gravity than other engines and improves handling as a result. It’s Subaru’s prime means of motivation and they are sticking to it. From a competitive standpoint, the Subaru WRX STI competes head to head with the Honda Civic Type R or the Hyundai Veloster N.

Grip in all conditions was ensured by the six-speed manual transmission and Symmetrical AWD. The Subie’s tires were summer-only performance meats providing awesome grip in dry conditions. We remember getting a bit squirrely during torrential downpours a few summers ago, which seems to be a regular thing in South Florida. At that time, the handling was just like a Formula 1 race car needing to switch from slicks immediately to intermediate rain tires after the first inkling of rain hits the road.

The suspension is new for this year with electronically-controlled adaptive dampers and high-performance Brembo brakes with gold brake calipers.

How does the Subaru WRX tS look?

It comes across with a bit of attitude! Short and stout, like an English bulldog, perhaps. On the other hand, it has a rather subtle elegance to it thanks to the dark blue hue of its paint and its lack of festoonery in the way of shopping cart-style rear spoilers and larger than large front splitters.

All Subarus WRX models include flared fenders in front and 19 inches tires and wheels all around. The tS is equipped with gold Brembo front brakes with cross-drilled rotors as standard.

Inside the Subaru WRX STI

The first thing you notice is the blue and black suede Recaro buckets with matching rear seat trim. Oh, and the stick shift. That’s right, all WRX models are equipped with manual transmissions. Don’t worry, though, the stick is a blast. And as the current saying goes, the manual transmission is one of the best theft deterents on the street today (Because many drivers don’t know how to bang throught the gears like some seniors might.)

We’ve said it before and will continue to say it until Subaru does something about it: The company needs to stop scrimping on insulation inside the cabin. Let’s post three categories: Speed. Handling. Solitude. Ideally, we’d like all three. Unfortunately, the WRX tS offers the speed, with 0-60 in 5.6 seconds and the handling and the marvel of modern-day AWD as it pulls you around the corner. But every now and then, we wish we could hear ourselves think when in this vehicle. Call us old, but the WRX tS has a terrific knack for transmitting every decibel of road noise into the cabin. In that respect, it excels.

As with other WRX models, there are virtually no options for the new WRX tS. Sure, there are a few dealer add-ons but other than that, Subaru adheres to the principles of “if it’s not here, you don’t need it.”

Behind the wheel.

With a high rev at idle, the Subaru WRX tS let the neighbors know who was up at an early hour. Eventually it calms down to a more acceptable level. Once the engine warmed, it was easy-peasy.

When we turned onto the main drag, we were able to mash the skinny pedal for a spell of rapid acceleration. The gearbox was nearly flawless with quick, smooth shifts that allowed us to feel ourselves being pushed back into the buckets. As the sound wound up, it encouraged us to go even faster until we decided it probably wasn’t wasn’t in our wallet’s best interest.

Discretion is generally the better part of valor. Sometimes.

2025 Subaru WRX tS Specifications