Subaru WRX

Core summary

Current second-generation WRX with a 2.4-litre turbo boxer and all-wheel drive

The current Subaru WRX is the second generation of the standalone model and the fifth generation associated with the WRX nameplate in the supplied history. It was redesigned for the 2022 model year and moved to Subaru’s Global Platform, separating its engineering foundation from the earlier VA-era car. Its central mechanical feature is a 2.4-litre FA24F turbocharged horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine rated at 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque in North America. Buyers can choose a revised six-speed manual or the Subaru Performance Transmission, a continuously variable transmission. Both versions use all-wheel drive.

The current range has developed through model-year updates rather than a new redesign. A TR model appeared for 2024, the tS replaced it for 2025, and the base model returned for 2026 alongside a 350-unit Series.Yellow edition. The extract also identifies the Japanese-market WRX S4, and a related WRX Sportswagon in selected markets. No new internal-combustion WRX STI was announced for this generation.

History & generations

The WRX originated from the Impreza introduced in 1992 and was created alongside Subaru’s rally activities. The first three generations remained Impreza-based and used sedan, wagon or hatchback forms depending on generation and market. The second generation brought the nameplate to the United States for 2002, followed by the STI for 2004. The third generation continued with sedan and hatchback bodies, while the STI used widened variants.

The VA generation began with the 2015 model year and was marketed as WRX rather than Impreza WRX. Subaru gave it more distinctive front and rear bodywork, introduced the FA20F engine for the WRX, and stopped producing a WRX hatchback. The VB generation arrived for 2022 on the Subaru Global Platform with the larger FA24F engine. In 2022 Subaru said it would not market a new internal-combustion WRX STI. The current generation therefore remains the regular WRX family, with tS and other grades rather than a confirmed new STI.

Body, platform & design

The VB WRX represents a more substantial change than the VA facelift cycle because the underlying vehicle moved to Subaru’s Global Platform. The production model was revealed in September 2021 after its planned auto-show debut was rescheduled. Its main North American form is a four-door sedan, continuing the sedan emphasis established after the VA generation ended the regular WRX hatchback.

The current generation also supports regional body and naming variations. In Japan, the sedan is sold as the WRX S4. In Australia and New Zealand, the second-generation Levorg was introduced as the WRX Sportswagon and WRX GT, respectively; the same 2.4-litre turbo boxer is used there. The extract records later wagon availability in the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.

Engine & drivetrain

North American VB WRX models use the FA24F, a 2.4-litre turbocharged horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. The stated output is 271 horsepower, or 202 kW and 275 PS, with 258 lb-ft or 350 N-m of torque. The engine uses direct injection, a larger cylinder bore, an electronically controlled wastegate and air bypass valves. These details distinguish the current powertrain from the VA WRX’s 2.0-litre FA20F.

Transmission choices are a revised six-speed manual or the Subaru Performance Transmission, Subaru’s name for the available CVT. The manual uses a viscous centre differential with a 50-50 torque split. The SPT uses a planetary centre gear with variable torque distribution. Both versions have open front and rear differentials and brake-based torque vectoring. Drive Mode Select can add electronically controlled adaptive dampers. The Japanese WRX S4 also uses the FA24 and SPT, with a stated 202 kW and 375 N-m. The current production VB range described here centres on the regular WRX powertrain rather than a separate WRX STI engine.

Trim differences

North American trim names vary by market and model year. For the United States, the 2022 range comprised Base, Premium, Limited and GT. Canada used Base, Sport and Sport-tech, with EyeSight available on the two upper trims. The 2024 model year introduced a TR grade, while the 2025 model year replaced TR with the tS, or Tuned by STI. The 2026 model year brought back the base model and added the 350-unit Series.Yellow edition.

The tS is described as receiving an upgraded Brembo brake system, Drive Mode Select, electronically controlled dampers and gold-painted calipers, while power output remains unchanged. The 2024 update made EyeSight and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trim levels. The Japanese-market WRX S4 began with GT-H and STI Sport R models, each offering an EX grade with additional EyeSight X equipment. Regional names and specifications should not be treated as interchangeable: the extract describes separate North American, Canadian and Japanese lineups.

Interior & seating

The current WRX interior is presented in the extract mainly through equipment and regional technology distinctions rather than a complete cabin description. In North America, the 2024 update made wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trim levels, along with the EyeSight system. The Japanese WRX S4 uses different instrument configurations depending on grade: conventional versions have two analog instruments and a small central display, while EX grades use a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel. EX versions also receive an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented centre display, while a 9-inch navigation screen is optional on non-EX grades.

The preceding VA generation received upgraded interior materials and a quieter cabin for 2017, but those details belong to the older model and are not current-generation specifications. It is therefore best treated as visual documentation of that named version rather than evidence for every VB trim.

Efficiency & range

The extract supplies one fuel-consumption figure for the Japanese WRX S4: an estimated 10.8 km/L, equivalent to 25 mpg-US or 31 mpg-Imperial. That figure is associated with the FA24-powered SPT-equipped Japanese model and should not be generalized to every market, transmission or trim.

The current powertrain does include direct injection and a turbocharged boxer engine, but those design features alone do not establish a complete efficiency rating. Earlier VA discussion mentions off-boost efficiency for the FA20F and compares its torque curve with the older EJ engine; those observations describe the previous generation and are not current VB consumption data. The WRX Sportswagon is identified as using the same 2.4-litre turbo boxer as the sedan, but no separate wagon efficiency figure is provided.

Safety & equipment

For the current generation, Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance system became standard on all North American trim levels for the 2024 model year according to the extract. The same update also improved the crash structure for rear occupants. Japanese WRX S4 EX grades add the more advanced EyeSight X system, while the conventional and EX instrument layouts differ accordingly.

The 2022 North American launch information does not list a complete safety-equipment inventory or crash-test result. The extract does establish that EyeSight availability can vary by market and model year, so its presence should be checked against the specific vehicle. The VB’s brake-based torque vectoring is a chassis-control feature rather than a substitute for collision-avoidance equipment. Earlier VA statements about EyeSight being limited to CVT models describe that preceding generation’s rollout and should not be applied to the current 2024–2026 range.

Strengths

The current WRX retains the defining combination of a turbocharged boxer engine and all-wheel drive while moving to the newer Subaru Global Platform. Its FA24F produces 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque in North America, giving the current car a larger displacement than the VA WRX’s FA20F. The six-speed manual remains available, which preserves a direct driver-operated transmission choice alongside the SPT automatic option.

The drivetrain offers distinct technical arrangements by transmission: a viscous centre differential and 50-50 split with the manual, or variable torque distribution with the SPT. Brake-based torque vectoring is included with both. Model-year development has also broadened the range, adding adaptive dampers and Brembo braking to the tS. The 2026 Series.Yellow provides a limited-production alternative. A related wagon body is available in selected markets, expanding the WRX family beyond the sedan without changing the current generation’s basic powertrain identity.

Considerations

The current WRX is not a direct continuation of every historic WRX format. The regular hatchback was discontinued with the VA generation, although a related current wagon is sold under WRX-related names in selected markets. Availability, body style and trim equipment vary substantially between North America, Japan and other regions.

The current car also should not be described as having a new WRX STI. Subaru stated in 2022 that it would not market the expected second-generation STI with an internal-combustion engine. The tS is a current performance grade, but it is not identified in the extract as an STI model. Buyers comparing cars across years should also separate the VB’s FA24F from the VA’s FA20F and the older STI’s EJ engines. Transmission choice affects the drivetrain hardware, and the extract provides only one market-specific fuel-consumption figure.

Recommended use

The WRX is suited to drivers seeking a compact performance car with all-wheel drive and a choice between a six-speed manual and an automatic CVT. The manual version uses a viscous centre differential with a 50-50 torque split, while the Subaru Performance Transmission uses variable torque distribution. Both use open front and rear differentials with brake-based torque vectoring.

Its sedan format makes the current North American car a road-focused alternative to larger sports sedans, while the WRX Sportswagon and WRX GT versions provide a more practical body style in selected markets. The tS grade is the clearest current choice for buyers prioritizing factory braking and damper upgrades. The Japanese WRX S4 offers a regional alternative with the same basic FA24 concept but different output, transmission and equipment.

FAQ

Q: What generation is the current Subaru WRX? A: The current model is the second generation, known by the VB chassis designation, introduced for 2022.

Q: What engine does the current WRX use? A: It uses a 2.4-litre FA24F turbocharged horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine.

Q: Is all-wheel drive standard? A: Yes.

Q: Is a six-speed manual available? A: Yes. The current North American WRX offers a revised six-speed manual alongside the SPT CVT.

Q: Is there a current-generation WRX STI? A: Subaru said in 2022 that it would not market a new internal-combustion WRX STI.

Q: What changed for 2026? A: The base model returned, and a 350-unit Series.Yellow model was introduced.

Sources & updates

Research for this Subaru WRX profile prioritized current manufacturer specifications, model-year equipment pages and official press material. Independent safety or regulatory records were used where available. Historical references were kept separate from current-generation specifications and image identification.

Equipment, pricing and certified figures can vary by market, trim and model year. The expandable reference list below contains the linked sources used for verification. Last editorial review: August 30, 2026.

• 2026 Subaru WRX | 4-Door AWD Sports Car | Learn More · official manufacturer →
• Subaru WRX · reference overview →

Last editorial review: August 30, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.