The Cheapest Subaru WRX Is Back For 2026

The base WRX returns for the new year—and nearly every trim is cheaper across the board.

2026 Subaru WRX

Photo by: Subaru

Anthony Alaniz

By: Anthony Alaniz

Jan 21, at 10:00am ET

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THE BREAKDOWN:

Subaru has brought back the base WRX trim for 2026.
The new base model starts at $33,690—more than $5,000 cheaper than the entry-level 2025 WRX Premium.
It arrives at dealers this spring.

Great news, everyone: Subaru is bringing back the base WRX trim for 2026. That means buyers will be able to get into a brand-new WRX for just $33,690. That's $5,230 less than the current 2025 WRX Premium (or $3,230 less than that model when it was brand new). The new WRX arrives at dealers this spring.

Not only is it cheaper, but the base WRX now comes with more features than before. Keyless entry with push-button start is now available. It also features summer performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Features on the WRX include wireless phone connectivity, a rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, auto-up/down front windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and LED headlights.

Model 2026 Price 2025 Price Price Difference WRX $33,690 N/A N/A WRX Premium $35,190 $38,920 -$3,730 WRX Limited $40,190 $43,695 -$3,505 WRX GT $46,190 $48,875 -$2,685 WRX tS $46,190 $48,875 -$2,685 WRX Series.Yellow $47,190 N/A N/A

New for this year is the WRX Series.Yellow, which now sits at the top of the lineup. Subaru will only produce it in limited numbers, though, with a starting price of $47,190.

That version has a Sunrise Yellow exterior, 19-inch black wheels, and black badging. Inside, the limited WRX has black seats with yellow stitching. It shares the suspension and performance upgrades with the WRX tS, which is $685 cheaper for 2026, costing $46,190.

The tS comes with STI-tuned electronically controlled dampers, Brembo brakes, and Recaro front seats. Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires are also standard.

Every 2026 WRX comes with the brand’s turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine, making 271 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with the "Subaru Performance Transmission"—a continuously variable transmission—optional on the Limited trim and standard on the GT.

Subaru Sales Hiccup

2026 Subaru WRX

2026 Subaru WRX

Photo by: Subaru

Sales for the WRX were down 41.2 percent in 2025. That’s the year Subaru dropped the base WRX offering, and the price tag spiked. Subaru sold just 10,930 WRXs last year. However, the WRX’s poor sales results last year don’t tell the whole story.

The automaker revealed last July that it had limited WRX production to prioritize the much more popular and profitable Forrester. It’s expanding Forester production in the United States, freeing up capacity at its Gunma, Japan factory, where it builds the WRX.

What do you think?

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It’s already building the Forrester in the United States, with Forrester Hybrid production expected to begin next spring. With the production shift, it appears Subaru can now add back the base WRX trim.

Motor1’s Take: The return of the base WRX could turn around the model’s sales in 2026. Affordable sports cars are disappearing, and it feels like Subaru is giving enthusiasts what they want—a cheap, bare-bones car that’s fun to drive.