Subaru WRX — model-year timeline & key facts
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Compiled from the Subaru WRX deep-research dossier; researched 2026-09-21. UNVERIFIED flags from the source research are preserved verbatim.
Key facts
| Powertrain | ICE |
|---|---|
| Power | 271 |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.4–6.1 (UNVERIFIED) |
| New price US | 32495 |
| New price EU | N/A — not officially sold in EU (grey imports only) |
| New price CN | UNVERIFIED |
| Used price signal | 2022 ~$21–28k; 2024 ~$25–32k; 2025 ~$27–34k |
| Value call | Strong enthusiast value; 2024 TR is the buy |
| Sweet-spot year | 2024 |
| Years to avoid | 2022; 2021 (old VA gen) |
| Reliability flag | High on one axis — RTV oil starvation risk |
| Biggest risk | Moderate — cladding backlash was real; tS/STI nostalgia tax |
| Community verdict | The better car and the worse-looking car — owners made peace with the trade |
Model-year timeline 2021–2026
| Year | Generation / changes / reliability / used prices |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Last year of VA generation (2.0L) · FA20 268 hp · VA known quantity; rev-hang, stiff ride · VA-era recalls · ~$18–24k (used market) |
| 2022 | VB launch (Subaru Global Platform) · New FA24F 2.4L turbo 271 hp; 6MT or SPT CVT · RTV oil-pickup reports begin; first-year growing pains · 23V016000 (owner's manual EyeSight text) · ~$21–28k (eBay listings: Premium manual ~$28k BIN) |
| 2023 | Carryover; price +$1,525 · Unchanged · RTV pattern confirmed across continents · None major · ~$23–30k |
| 2024 | TR trim added (Brembos, Recaros, manual-only ethos); EyeSight standard all trims · Unchanged · RTV discussion matures; no factory action · None major reported · ~$25–32k |
| 2025 | tS trim (STI-tuned dampers, Brembos, Recaros, digital cluster) · Unchanged · Stable; community treats VB as proven at stock power · None major reported · ~$27–34k |
| 2026 | Minimal changes · Unchanged · Too early for new data · None yet · New: $32,495–$44,995 |
Sweet-spot year: 2024
Years to skip: 2022; 2021 (old VA gen)