The Subaru WRX tS is missing something

I was at a party recently (I hate parties), and I ran into someone I hadn’t seen since high school (hence why I hate parties). Within 30 seconds of catching up with this person, it became clear that our shared high school experience was the best time of his life. Oh, they were grown up, had a job, kids…I just got the sense that they’d leave it all behind for those glory days. How this relates to our Subaru WRX tS here is simple – the WRX has been forced to grow up too.

Does that make it better?

The 2025 Subaru WRX tS Overview

Tastes change. I couldn’t imagine dating a 20-something now – that sounds an awful lot like work. If you don’t make plans with Mrs. Machines and I by say, 4PM – we ain’t leavin’ the house.

The WRX has been around since, well…since my high school days – 2002, and it too has grown up. It goes to work. Pays taxes. Doesn’t really look out of place in a nice suburban driveway, now does it?

But there was a problem. See, the GT trim has all the grown-up goodies like an adjustable suspension, Recaro buckets, and Subaru’s overbearing safety systems (in 2002, that amounted to a fasten-your-seat belt ding). But the GT is CVT-only. Talk about a party pooper.

To solve this, Subaru gave us the WRX TR. Manual! Safety systems! Even those Recaros. But it too is incomplete, missing that adjustable suspension and any hint that Subaru Tecnica International was involved. Hand it to Subie though, because they’ve quickly pivoted to make something new – the tS.

Gold Brembo brakes, Rally Blue paint (and interior trim) – but most of all, the STi badge is finally here. No, there’s no gigantic wing or more power, but that’s okay, right?

Well, I guess this is growing up.

Performance Score: 7. Hello fellow kids

There’s nothing here that’s transforming the WRX into a world-beater, but tweaking things here and there has resulted in a more complete overall performance car.

Still, feels like a missed opportunity.

Engine

Ohhh Subaruuuu. Come on guys. Ten more horsepower? Five more? Please?

Okay, how about a louder exhaust? Fancy intake? Nothing?

There’s still nothing wrong with the the 2.4-liter turbocharged flat four. It still pumps out 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and it’s still identical to those offered in other WRX trims.

But there is one difference, which is that the tS has the adjustable throttle feels from the GT. As a result this WRX feels stronger. It’s more eager to rev, and quicker to respond to your right foot. Why there is no floor-mounted gas pedal is beyond me – would be easier to heel and toe.

The redline of 6,100 is still much too short, especially because that boxer motor likes to rev. And I can hear that trademark thrum thrum thrum as low RPM, just waiting for a bazooka muffler to let it out of environmental prison.

Free my guy, Subaru.

Transmission

The GT’s CVT isn’t available here. I know, so sad.

Identical in spec to the TR’s unit, the WRX tS has gearing that’s just not right. It’s either too short in the middle, where there’s not much difference between third and forth, or too short at the top, where the engine is spinning at 3,000 RPM at 80 miles an hour.

The result is that you are constantly shifting. Like, all the time. There’s plenty of power here, so the transmission seems to be the one to blame.

All that said, it’s a good unit with a firm clutch and positive engagement. I love that solid clunk with every gear change, like Vin Diesel is doing the movement for you.

Steering and Chassis

How long has it been since electronic suspensions became maintstream? A decade, give or take? I ask because of all the cars I’ve driven, I can name but a handful where it feels like they make a real difference.

The WRX is the perfect poster car for such behavior – the TR, with its non-adjustable suspension, absolutely nailed the ride and handing trade-off. Minimal roll and dive, but compliant enough to not beat me up like I stole grandma’s purse.

The tS’s suspension is now tuned by STi, and it brings some uncertainty into the mix. Do I need comfort mode now? When do I put the sport suspension on? In the end, the balance of the TR is replaced by modes either too soft or too hard, with your brain always too slow to figure out which is which.

Choice is good, so when the waiter asks how you’d like your steak prepared, you can say “medium”. But when you’re buying a sports sedan, aren’t you telling the cook that yes indeed, I like it spicy? So why do they bring out the grill and make you add the seasoning yourself?

Also here is an adjustable steering rack, and like others, it adds heft but not any more feel. That’s okay – I think it’s great in any WRX, if not quite as direct as I’d prefer. Something about that super-chunk steering wheel too – fun to hold onto.

Brakes

These might be painted gold, but they are the same units from the TR – Brembos all around. If you’re going to leave the car as is, I love the gold (and they match the other tS offering, the BRZ). But if you want your Rally Blue WRX with traditional gold aftermarket wheels, it’ll look weird. Just sayin’.

Otherwise, it would be a copy and paste job from that TR review – they offer the same wooden feel that doesn’t really match the look or size of the hardware.

Performance-wise, the tS amounts to a GT trim with a manual transmission and cool-looking brakes. That’s fine by me, and even if the performance is close between all three trims, I like this tS the best overall.

Lifestyle score: 9. Same-same, but no different

As the TR goes away, the tS is now the only way to get those nice Recaro seats seats with a manual transmission. I still feel as if the price increase over lesser trim models is justified for the seats alone. Your butt’s always in ’em.

The rear seat space is excellent, and I love the open-air feel the tall glass brings to the cabin. Easily fit your family of four in here, because you’re a grown-up now.

If you move to Australia you can buy a WRX wagon, but then you’ll have to drive upside down. For the rest of us it’s sedan-only, so you get a traditional trunk that offers your spouse no excuse to prevent you from getting one. Plenty of room in this car.

Fuel Economy: 4. Boxer brief

Official numbers for the tS aren’t available yet at the time I published this, but it’s safe to assume the TR’s combined 22 MPG will carry over (I averaged less, ignore the pic). Still better than the GT’s CVT-equipped model.

In a world where a BMW X3 M50 gets 27 combined MPG, it’s hard to justify the boxer motor’s running costs – it’s not like it offers a Z06-type of orgasmic experience. But I don’t want an electric WRX so it’s fine. Absolutely fine. Keepin’ it moving, nothing to see here…

Features and Comfort: 7. *Yells at dashboard*

At some point, when the mood is right, you might find yourself with a significant other in your car. And sure as the sun rises, you will be driving with them on a road that you share with other cars. If they are of the high-anxiety type, they will brace themselves because the car a hundred yards ahead tapped the brakes.

This will annoy you over time. You might even say something about it to them. Nicely.

The Subaru is like having your high-anxiety partner with you at all times.

WRX tS STi ABCDEF…

I like it in the tS better than any other WRX, but to be fair, all are pretty premium.

The tS gets the digital dash from the GT trim, and though I had no issue with the conventional dials in the TR, the screen is more versatile.

Elsewhere, there’s the same Alcantara trim throughout, but with absolutely delicious blue highlights. A nice, big vertically-oriented touch screen, flat-bottom wheel and carbon fiber trim round out the good things.

Annoyingly, the center arm rest is still way too short here (must be a manual thing?), so it’s pretty hard to get comfortable. Down low, drilled aluminum pedals look nice, but can be slippery.

By far the biggest issue I have is the WRX’s safety systems, which continue to warn too early, tug at the wheel violently, and slow you down too much. Turn off what you can, and prepare to ignore the rest once you try and hustle. This isn’t a little Impreza guys, it’s a Rexy.

Know your audience.

Blue dude

Please just don’t be red…

Nothing wrong with that shade, but after filming two dressed in Santa’s suit, I was hoping for this: World Rally Blue Pearl.

It’s a classic Subaru WRX color, and it looks great with the blue trim on the inside. The red badging on the tS pops more, as do the gold calipers. Also fun is a new color called Galaxy Purple Pearl. Curious how that will look.

19-inch Satin Grey wheels get ported over from the TR, and they are merely fine. Black mirrors, a black spoiler, and a red WRX badge on the front grill round out the changes. It’s subtle, but at least it’s there. The TR could have been in the WRX-ness protection program.

Okay, okay, I’ll say it. Where big wing? I know it’s not a “real” STi (still no badge outside), but these need an obnoxious wing.

The tS is the best WRX yet, but it’s still not what we want

I hate to sound the alarm, but if WRX sales continue to tank it may not be around much longer.

Is it really our fault though? The WRX has become so mainstream, like your favorite band after they are discovered by everyone. We (meaning millennials), have grown up, so we’re all in BMWs and Mercedes. Subaru’s bid to keep our interests means making the car appeal to a broader audience.

The tS was a chance for Subaru to turn up the volume a bit – make it antisocial. Just a little. Blue hair…something.

Automakers are always a bit weird with sports cars. Why did it take so long for the Supra to get a manual – it’s what we wanted. And why can’t Subaru turn up the boost, slap on a big wing, and bring back that knob that turns the four-wheel drive system into a magic handling potion? It’s what we want.

As it sits, the WRX is a great car, the perfect one for daily duties and fun at a (somewhat) reasonable price. It’s a grown up car for grown ups, only missing a t-shirt that says “Adulting is tough”.

But I miss the glory days; the bug eyes and 747 wings. The fart cans and gold wheels.

I guess, like my friend, the WRX peaked in high school.