Subaru loves to sell itself as a family company, with advertising centered around dogs and keeping the kids in the rear seat safe. But everyone knows that, when the kids are old enough to look after themselves for a few hours, you rediscover old hobbies. Some dig out the guitar that’s been out of tune for eight years. Some join an over-30 basketball league and learn new stretches.
Subaru’s old hobby was racing. The company was once known for great, rally-inspired cars that fed a tuning community so dedicated it kept its own magazines afloat.
Subaru never fully abandoned the rally world. But, for the last decade or so, it’s put less effort into the hobby. Perhaps it missed its old rival, as Mitsubishi dropped out of that culture completely for a while.
But Subaru is back. Last year, it reintroduced the cult-favorite TR trim on its WRX dirt-road performance car. TRs are budget tuner cars—low-priced models with a few performance upgrades that skimp on luxuries to keep the price down.
For 2025, Subaru is bringing another performance trim.
“Tuned By STI”
WRX shoppers looking at next model year’s car will also have the option of a new tS trim. Subaru says the moniker stands for “tuned by STI.” STI was long a performance trim, not an internal division that turned out special editions of cars. But we won’t quibble since this is a welcome addition to the lineup.
Subaru hasn’t announced pricing for the model or said whether it will replace the TR or appear alongside it. The TR model currently sells for $42,775, and we expect a slightly higher figure for the tS.
The 2025 Subaru WRX tS comes equipped with “a new STI-tuned suspension featuring electronically controlled dampers and revised suspension tuning.” Brembo 6-piston front and 2-piston rear brakes and grippy Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires add to its performance credentials.
There are no engine modifications that we can see. But photos show it with the 6-speed manual transmission. Subaru’s press materials for the car don’t say whether buyers can also opt for an automatic.
Recaro Seats and a Stick
From the outside, you’ll spot a tS thanks to red WRX badges. The mirror caps, rear spoiler, and sharkfin antenna come “finished in Crystal Black Silica for a distinctive look.”
Inside, Recaro Performance Design seats come wrapped in black Ultrasuede with contrasting blue accents. The same blue appears on the steering wheel, door panels, and shifter. The tS also gets “an all-new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which offers improved legibility and the capability to prominently show additional information to the driver, including map display and route guidance information.”
Subaru won’t offer it with a power moonroof. The move allows extra headroom for helmeted drivers.
