Since Subaru dropped out of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2008, it seems like the Impreza has lost some of its luster for enthusiasts. Subaru still trades on its heritage, and in 2015 spun off the Impreza’s WRX badge into its own model from the Impreza. We’re now in the second generation of the Subaru WRX as a standalone model, and it’s a seriously underrated enthusiast’s car. Most interestingly, the WRX is almost the complete opposite in sporting philosophy as the Subaru BRZ, but the WRX has more power and a more sophisticated drivetrain, and costs less.
Currently, a 2026 Subaru WRX starts at $32,495 versus the BRZ’s starting price of $35,860 – making the WRX $3,365 cheaper despite having all-wheel-drive, 43 more horsepower, and two more doors. However, both have sporting DNA, a wickedly fun Subaru Boxer engine, and come standard with a manual transmission.
The WRX Is An Underrated Enthusiast’s Car
When the second generation of WRX dropped in 2021, there was an air of disappointment in the media and enthusiast circles that it was on the mild side with an STi version not arriving at the same time as the base model and the non-manual version using a continuously variable (CVT). However, the WRX delivers 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of turbocharged power and the manual version uses a viscous center differential and a 50-50 torque split for Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.
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I got to drive the current generation WRX at the media launch event, and while it doesn’t have the aggressive looks and rallying pedigree of early WRX models, it still has a wicked side to it and is happy to play in the dirt. Power is plentiful, the manual transmission has all the satisfaction and balance expected from a Subaru stick shift, and it’s a sedan that’s eager to attack a back road like a hot-hatch.
2026 Subaru WRX
ENGINE
2.4L H4 ICE
TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual
HORSEPOWER
271 HP @5600 RPM
TORQUE
258 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
Fuel Economy
(CITY/HIGHWAY/COMBINED)
19/26/22 MPG
As it’s a Subaru, the WRX is just as eager to venture off the tarmac and onto the dirt. However, the front and rear differentials are open, but the front and rear and torque vectoring using the brakes does an excellent job of helping the car and driver attack corners.
The Subaru BRZ Doesn’t Rely On Power
In direct opposition to the WRX, the Subaru BRZ is a two-door, low-slung, rear-wheel-drive sports car, although it does have rear seats – unlike its direct competition, the Mazda MX-5. While the WRX is happy to bump off the tarmac onto some dirt, the BRZ is much more suitable to bump off the tarmac and onto more tarmac for a track day. Which is the faster car on the track is up for debate, but the WRX is going to get more power down out of corners with its all-wheel-drive system and, well, more power.
2026 Subaru BRZ
ENGINE
2.4L ICE
TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual
HORSEPOWER
228 HP @7000 RPM
TORQUE
184 lb.-ft. @ 3700 RPM
Fuel Economy
(CITY/HIGHWAY/COMBINED)
20/27/22 MPG
The BRZ makes 228 hp and 184 lb-ft from its naturally aspirated boxer engine, but like the MX-5, it’s all about momentum driving, and the BRZ’s chassis is tuned to carry speed through a corner. It’s a delight on a twisty back road and teaches how to handle a rear-wheel-drive sports car without relying on power. Frankly, for those looking for purity in their sports car, it would be a two-horse race between the Mazda MX-5 and the Subaru BRZ, but there’s a bloody great elephant in the room.
The Toyota GR86
Unless you’ve only just been introduced to the Subaru BRZ, you’ll know that it’s essentially the same car as the Toyota GR86. They were developed through a joint venture between the brands, and there was a third flavor from Scion beforeToyota learned a harsh lesson: young people generally can’t afford to buy new cars. Essentially, the two cars are mechanically identical, including the use of Subaru’s four-cylinder Boxer engine, and the difference boils down to styling and some tuning choices.
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The problem here is that the GR86 is an even less expensive proposition, starting at $31,400 versus the BRZ at $35,860. However, it should be noted that the BRZ doesn’t have a base trim, and opens with the Limited version that includes features like blind spot recognition and 18-inch wheels that come on the GR86 Premium trim for $34,000.
There are a lot of opinions out there when it comes to which version of the rear-wheel-drive sports car is better, and our very general conclusion is that the GR86 is more fun to drive, but the BRZ is more serious about shaving down lap times on the track while also having more pliable suspension for the road.
The Subaru Bargain Sports Sedan
For an enthusiast that isn’t hard-boiled about going down the traditional sports car route or the more rally-inspired sedan route, the WRX presents an interesting proposition for something generally considered less hardcore than the BRZ. Matched with its $32,495 entry price, the WRX really is Subaru’s performance bargain. Then, when you start comparing it with the competition, things get more interesting.
For those looking for a sports sedan at a reasonable price, pickings are slim but of high quality. The Hyundai Elantra N stands out with its similar horsepower and excellent chassis tuning for $35,100. The Honda Civic Si is still a great comfort-minded enthusiast car and a bargain at $31,495, but it also has bargain-basement horsepower for a sport sedan — just 200 even though the four-cylinder engine is turbocharged.
The Volkswagen Jetta GLI is also worth a mention at this point, but only because it fits the criteria of sports sedan available with a manual. However, it is remarkable only in how disappointing it is to drive after experiencing the fun driving dynamics the Civic Si delivers. Of course, the Civic Type R should enter the conversation, but then eject again as it starts at $47,395 — over $14,000 more than a WRX.
Don’t Sleep On The WRX
Here’s the thing, though. The WRX is only outpowered by the Elantra N in the above list of close competitors, but only by 5 hp, and none of the WRX’s close competitors are all-wheel-drive. And Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system is one of the best in the business. To get a real comparison, we need to step up to the premium tier and the $52,000 Audi S3. Like the WRX, the S3 has all-wheel-drive baked into its drivetrain, but ups the horsepower to 328 and torque to 295 lb-ft while adding truly premium materials and features.
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When comparing the WRX to its direct competition, they are all front-wheel-drive while the WRX is all-wheel-drive. While we do love some front-wheel-drive fun and embrace the discipline of getting a front-wheel-drive car to go fast, it’s undeniable that a good all-wheel-drive system is going to get you through and out of a corner quicker, and that’s before you add the WRX’s dose of extra horsepower over the Civic Si or Jetta GLI.
While the current WRX is tamer and less visceral than some of its predecessors and doesn’t have the cache of the Impreza models from Subaru’s WRC era, it’s a nimble, polished, driver’s sedan. It’s fair to say the WRX has grown up and is a better daily driver than ever, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t nimble fun on a back road or incapable on the track. Quite the opposite, and well worth a look at for anyone that needs a useable back seat and wants to spend less than $40,000.
