Subaru Makes The WRX Affordable Again In 2026—Still No Tecnica Though
Key Points
- Subaru cut 2026 WRX pricing across the lineup and reintroduced a true base model starting at $32,495 to address a steep sales decline.
- The new entry-level WRX retains core features and standard EyeSight safety tech, while higher trims also see notable price reductions.
- Powertrain remains unchanged, but a limited 350-unit WRX Series.Yellow adds a niche enthusiast option at the top of the range.
Subaru is bringing back the base model WRX for 2026 as it looks to stop sales from falling off a cliff.
WRX deliveries fell more than 40 percent last year to just 10,930 units. The company has lowered prices across the lineup and reintroduced a true entry-level trim aimed at buyers who have been priced out.
The headline change is the return of a base WRX, simply called “WRX,” which now starts at $32,495 before destination. Even with the destination charge nudging up to $1,195, that represents more than $5,000 in savings compared with last year’s entry point.
Subaru hasn’t totally stripped the car bare to get there, either. The base WRX still comes with LED headlights, a dual-exit exhaust, 18-inch alloy wheels on summer tires, plus Subaru’s full-time all-wheel-drive system.
Inside, the standard 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push-button start, and cloth seats with red contrast stitching. Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite is standard as well, bringing adaptive cruise control, lane centering, pre-collision braking, and emergency stop assist even to the least expensive WRX.
The WRX Premium now starts at $33,995, undercutting last year’s version by almost four grand. For many buyers, this trim will probably hit the sweet spot, adding cold-weather goodies like heated front seats, heated mirrors, and a windshield wiper deicer, along with LED fog lights, a rear spoiler, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
The WRX Limited drops to $38,995, with savings depending on transmission choice. This trim leans heavily into comfort, adding a moonroof, steering-responsive headlights, Ultrasuede upholstery with red bolsters, a power driver’s seat, navigation, and a Harman Kardon audio system.
At the top of the mainstream range, the automatic-only WRX GT now starts at $44,995. It's the most tech-focused WRX and includes electronically adjustable dampers, a digital instrument cluster, and Recaro Performance Design seats.
Sharing the same $44,995 entry price, is the 2026 WRX tS. Tuned by STI, it brings larger Brembo brakes, 19-inch wheels with Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, and electronically adjustable dampers calibrated for sharper response. Subaru has given it a unique interior treatment with blue accents and Recaro seats to set it apart from the GT.
For 2026, Subaru is introducing a new limited-run color edition with the new WRX Series.Yellow. Priced at $45,995 and limited to 350 units, it’s based on the tS and finished in Sunrise Yellow with matte black wheels, black exterior badging, and yellow interior accents.
Across the board, nothing changes under the hood. Every 2026 WRX uses Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four, rated at 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.
OUR TAKE: While the pricing reduction is welcome, the downturn in WRX sales may not be totally attributable to MSRP. The car is getting long in the tooth, and its appeal may be waning outside of the WRX's most diehard audience.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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I think the people who can afford these cars have all grown up, and the younger people who want them now can't afford them. Also overlanding is the trend right now, interest is more subdued overall than it was in decades past.