2026 Subaru WRX Road Test and Review

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Subaru WRX is an all-wheel-drive sports sedan with about 270 horsepower and an available manual transmission. And none of that has changed in almost two decades.

For a time, that lack of progress was a liability. Newer sports sedans hit the market with more horsepower, just as the WRX’s weight gains made it slower. It added a few modern tech features over the years; a big touchscreen and a gaggle of safety technologies. These were part of the most recent redesign, back in 2022. But from a performance standpoint, it’s like Subaru is content to sell a 2009 WRX in 2026.

And yet, these days, that approach has become the WRX’s calling card. The 2009 WRX lost a big Car and Driver comparison test to a pair of long-dead models – the Chevrolet Cobalt SS and MazdaSpeed 3 – and the Volkswagen GTI, which now comes only with an automatic transmission. Various other rivals have also been discontinued or transformed.

To see how this old-school sports sedan fits into today’s market, we just spent a week testing the 2026 Subaru WRX. Keep reading as we explore its pros and cons, plus how it compares with modern competitors – including a couple of greats that weren’t around back in 2009.

New Price Cuts

Car prices tend to go up over the years. And between inflation and tariffs, the Japanese-built WRX was no exception. But after a sales slump, Subaru is taking things in the other direction. This year, it cut prices across the WRX lineup and introduced a new base model that’s missing a few amenities. It starts at $32,495. With the mandatory $1,195 destination charge and a $395 coat of Galaxy Purple Pearl paint (yes, we know it looks black in the pictures), our base-model test car came to $34,085.

That may not sound cheap for a WRX – or any other compact car with cloth seats and a stick shift. But consider this: The 2009 WRX’s starting price of $24,995 would equal 40 grand in today’s dollars. And the 2025 WRX started at $35,750.

Even the base model isn’t completely stripped down. Yes, it’s missing the heated front seats, upgraded cloth upholstery, fog lights, and spoiler from the next-up Premium ($33,995 plus destination). But it includes push-button starting, automatic climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, and adaptive cruise control. Other models include the $38,995 Limited with leather and suede upholstery, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, blind-spot monitoring, and a moonroof; and the GT and tS ($44,995). They add an adjustable adaptive suspension, Recaro sport seats, an automatic transmission (on the GT), and upgraded brakes (on the manual-only tS). This year, you can also get a limited-edition Series.Yellow for $45,995 – literally a tS with a yellow paint job and yellow interior trim instead of blue.

The WRX gets a lot of attention for its top-of-the-line models’ steep pricing. But the rest of the lineup has become an attractive bargain.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

271 Horsepower and a Six-Speed Manual

Every 2026 Subaru WRX has a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. That’s a healthy output for a compact car, even if some competitors have even more. It can hit 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

More notably, the WRX comes with a feature that’s missing from more than 98 percent of the cars sold in the U.S. today – a manual transmission. This is a light, accurate six-speed with a forgiving clutch pedal. The WRX isn’t trying to be the fastest car on the market, or even in its class. But if you like the engagement of shifting your own gears, it pairs an honest driving experience with respectable speed. Plus, you get a bit more time to enjoy the process before you’re already past the speed limit.

The manual WRX gets 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined in EPA testing, using premium fuel. A big 16.6-gallon tank means you don’t have to refuel too often, but this isn’t a cheap car to run. At least we beat the EPA estimates to average 26 mpg in our manual test car, though flogging the car harder would quickly drink up more premium.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

‘Subaru Performance Transmission’

We’re less excited about the WRX’s other available transmission. Subaru optimistically calls it the “Subaru Performance Transmission,” but it’s a continuously variable automatic, or CVT. A CVT is technically a master of smoothness and efficiency, since it can choose among infinite gear ratios for the optimum combination. But it’s an odd choice for a performance car – it holds revs in a steady drone if you keep your foot to the floor. When you don’t drive quite as hard, Subaru did program the CVT to simulate the rising and falling of revs like a conventional automatic shifting gears.

The WRX is a little quicker with its automatic transmission than its manual. And it lets folks buy a WRX who can’t shift their own gears or prefer not to. Still, if we wanted an automatic, we’d probably pick a competitor with a more performance-focused transmission, like the dual-clutch automatic in a Hyundai Elantra N or Volkswagen GTI. This year, the WRX’s automatic is available only on two trim levels – it’s optional on the Limited and standard on the GT. In EPA testing, the automatic WRX gives up 1 mpg versus the manual; in most modern cars, automatics get better mileage.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Rally-Ready Handling

The WRX’s smooth ride and light steering make it a gentle companion as a commuter car. That could seem contrary to this Subaru’s proudly loud-and-rough image, which still shows up in a booming exhaust note.

But this softer touch is part of the longtime WRX package. Most performance cars are optimized for handling a smooth racetrack. But Subaru’s racing heritage is rallying on dirt roads. That means the WRX has all-wheel drive and a forgiving suspension over bumps. Those qualities are as welcome in everyday use as they are on a rally course. To some tastes, the WRX’s steering and suspension are too soft for on-road performance; a Hyundai Elantra N or Toyota GR Corolla has tighter, crisper responses. But it’s still fun to drive, with agreeable composure, responsiveness, and handling limits.

Also, the top trim levels let you adjust both the steering and the suspension. When we tested a tS last year, it let us dial in the sharpness that’s missing from lesser WRX models like our latest test vehicle.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Assertive-Looking Sedan

As we mentioned, the current-generation WRX debuted back in 2022, and it hasn’t changed much since then. The early WRX models were souped-up Subaru Imprezas, but recent generations have exclusive bodies. The WRX seems to lean forward, with a hood that slopes down from the windshield, plus a prominent fender flare that rises from above the rear wheel to join the taillight at the top of the trunk. A big hood scoop is a WRX signature, too, while plastic-clad wheel wells speak to rally-ready hardiness.

This isn’t exactly a pretty car. Since it created a WRX-unique body, it could have adopted a low, sporty roofline. Instead, this is an upright, functional-looking sedan with big windows. But the details speak to its performance attitude: the fender flares, the subtly aggressive front end, and a blacked-out lower bumper with quad exhaust tips.

Once again, the WRX stands out by surviving. Sedans are rarer than they were back in 2009 – both in the broader market and at Subaru dealerships. Since the company discontinued the mid-size Legacy and started selling the compact Impreza only as a hatchback, the WRX is the only sedan Subaru still sells.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Simple-Looking, Well-Finished Interior

Like its exterior, the WRX’s dashboard pairs a simple shape with some sporty details. A big 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen fills the center of the blocky dash, which looks like most current Subarus from the entry-level Impreza to the three-row Ascent. The tS and Series.Yellow get dressed up with blue and yellow accents, respectively. And the aluminum pedal covers are a WRX signature.

Despite the big screen, the WRX’s interior can look and feel old-school. It’s not a flashy digital experience, but a dashboard that’s built to fade into the background while you focus on driving. And between the front seats, you find (on most WRX models) the manual gear selector and manually operated handbrake.

Now, whether you love technology or not, we do have a word to say about the WRX’s infotainment system. It can be slow to respond, especially right when you’ve started up the car. That’s a particular problem because most climate settings and the upper trims’ driving modes are buried in the screen – often in menus that force multiple taps. On the plus side, the system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can run your smartphone’s GPS and other apps on the big screen.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Supportive Seats and Plenty of Space

We mentioned that the WRX is an upright sedan rather than a sleek, low-slung ride. That pays off in the car’s interior space and comfort. When it’s not at an autocross event, this sports sedan can serve as a family car or carpool vehicle.

Up front, our test car’s front seats were thickly padded and nicely bolstered – holding us in place without being confining. The top trims’ Recaro seats are more aggressively snug, but we still found them comfortable. Heated front seats are included on all but the base WRX, and upper trims also let you fine-tune the driver’s seat with eight- or 10-way power adjustability. The WRX’s rear seat comfortably fits two people and can squeeze in a third. And the trunk holds a decent 12.4 cubic feet.

Five-door hatchbacks in this class have even more cargo versatility. But the WRX is still quite functional for a small, relatively affordable performance car.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt

WRX vs. the Competition

Driving enthusiasts have a welcome set of options for small, sporty cars. The WRX’s top rivals are the all-wheel-drive Toyota GR Corolla, Mazda3 Turbo, and Volkswagen Golf R, along with the front-wheel-drive Hyundai Elantra N, Honda Civic Si, and Volkswagen GTI.

Of these, the Toyota and Volkswagens are five-door hatchbacks; the Honda and Hyundai are sedans; and the Mazda offers both options. The Mazda and VWs come only with automatic transmissions; the Honda offers only a manual; and the Toyota and Hyundai have both.

For lively fun and all-wheel drive, the GR Corolla has the spirit of older, more raw WRX models – along with quicker acceleration. But its tiny backseat and bumpier ride make it less friendly to live with every day, and it costs more than the WRX.

The Elantra N also offers the “crude thrills” experience of a 2002 WRX, with lots of power and sharp handling. But it comes with front-wheel drive instead of AWD, and it has a cheaper-feeling interior, bumpier ride, and higher starting price.

The GTI and Golf R are the luxury cars of this segment, driving like bargain-priced Audis. But their polish isn’t always an asset when you’re looking for an engaging driving experience, and the R is quite expensive. The Mazda3 Turbo is a great bargain when you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, though its steering isn’t as sharp as the VWs’.

A final WRX competitor, the Civic Si, is fun to drive, spacious, and reasonably priced. And it has a slick-shifting manual transmission and good gas mileage. But it’s not as quick as the WRX and lacks AWD. An even bigger downside: Honda will suspend Civic Si production after the 2026 model year.

2023 Toyota GR Corolla ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Holding Steady

The 2026 Subaru WRX may not leave many existing WRX owners craving an upgrade. For years, it hasn’t moved the needle on speed, handling, or style. But if you don’t already have a WRX, or you need to replace an old one, there’s still a lot to like from this familiar sports sedan – especially at this year’s lower prices.

To us, the WRX feels less like a purpose-built sports sedan (though it is) than an ordinary car with a stick shift that happens to handle and accelerate pretty well. Once upon a time, that combination would come up short against a host of other small sedans. But now, it’s not so common.

The new WRX reminds us of how many cars used to be – just with the modern convenience of wireless Apple CarPlay and adaptive cruise control. If you’re looking for simple fun paired with everyday functionality, the 2026 WRX is still hanging around.

2026 Subaru WRX ・ Photo by Brady Holt