By admin 
At a time when new-car prices mostly move in one direction, Subaru’s announcement is a pleasant surprise. The WRX returns for 2026 in six trims: Base, Premium, Limited, GT, tS, and Series Yellow, all powered by a 271-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four making 258 lb.ft of torque. A six-speed manual is standard on every trim except the GT, with the automatic Subaru Performance Transmission available on the Limited and standard on the GT. Subaru even drew a line back to the beloved 2002 WRX, noting the new car costs about the same, adjusted for inflation, while packing far more equipment.
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Pricing across the lineup
The full price ladder starts with the base WRX at $32,495. From there, the Premium lands at $33,995, which is $3,755 less than the outgoing version. The Limited runs $38,995 with the manual and $39,995 with the automatic, cutting roughly $3,155 and $3,685, respectively. The GT sits at $44,995, down $2,710, and the performance-focused tS matches it at $44,995, also down $2,710. The limited Series Yellow tops the range at $45,995. Destination adds $1,195 in most states. Seeing multiple trims drop in price year over year is genuinely unusual, making the WRX an easier sell against pricier rivals.
What the base model gets
Reinstating the base trim matters only if it is worth buying, and Subaru added content to make sure it is. The 2026 base WRX now includes 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless access with push-button start, 245/40 summer performance tires, and a sport-tuned suspension, none of which were previously available on the entry model. Inside sits an 11.6-inch multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the standard six-speed manual gets incline start assist. It is a well-equipped starting point rather than a stripped-out loss leader.
Safety tech is now standard on the manual
Arguably, the most meaningful change applies across the range. For 2026, every WRX, including manual-transmission cars, comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and DriverFocus distraction mitigation. On manual cars, that means adaptive cruise control with lane centering, lane departure and sway warning, and pre-collision braking, features that manual WRX buyers previously could not get. It is a rare case of a driver-focused car adding safety tech without forcing buyers into an automatic.
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The tS, the GT, and the yellow one
At the sharp end, the tS brings STI-tuned electronically controlled dampers, a gold-finished Brembo braking system with six-piston front and two-piston rear calipers, and 245/35 Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires on 19-inch wheels, plus Recaro seats. The GT, offered only with the automatic, pairs Recaro seats with electronically adjustable ride control. The new Series.Yellow is based on the tS and wears Sunrise Yellow, a nostalgic Subaru color, along with matte black wheels, black badging, and yellow interior stitching. Just 350 will be built.
Why it matters
The WRX remains one of the last affordable, manual, all-wheel-drive, rally-bred sports sedans on sale, and this update leans into exactly what makes it special. Bringing back an affordable base model, trimming prices across much of the lineup, and finally making safety tech standard on the manual all make the car more accessible without diluting its character. Assembled in Gunma, Japan, the 2026 WRX arrives at dealers in the spring.
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