A Trip Down Memory Lane: Driving the 2025 Subaru WRX tS

Almost two decades ago, I stumbled across Ken Block’s first Gymkhana video. Behind the wheel of a rally-prepped blob-eye WRX STi, Block turned tight city corners into his personal playground. It was loud, raw, and exhilarating. Watching it, I felt an immediate connection to that car. A street-legal rally machine with thinner windows and no stock radio for weight reduction? It was everything my 19-year-old self could dream of.

That dream became a reality when I poured my life savings into a 2004 WRX STi I found on eBay. It was a great deal—and for a while, I was living my rally-inspired fantasy. The 2.5L Boxer engine roared with confidence, and every drive felt like a mini adventure. But, like so many young WRX owners before me, I pushed the car too hard, and it didn’t take long for me to blow everything under the hood. Turbo? Gone. Rod bearings? Toast. My beloved WRX turned into a 3,200-pound paperweight sitting sadly in my driveway until I finally parted ways with her.

Since then, I’ve longed for another chance to get behind the wheel of a WRX. Luckily, that moment finally came when I spent a week with the 2025 Subaru WRX tS. From the moment I pressed the ignition button, I was thrown back in time. The 2.4L turbocharged Boxer engine growled to life, its muted rumble striking a nostalgic chord. While I wish it was as louder and as aggressive as my old STi, it still delivered a reminder of that rally DNA Subaru is so famous for.

Sliding into the Recaro seats, I was hit with a wave of familiarity. They offered the same snug fit that made me feel locked into my 2004 STi, but with a more polished touch. On the road, the WRX tS retained the confidence and sharp handling I remembered, yet the driving experience was undeniably more refined. Subaru has taken what made the WRX a legend—its rally-bred soul—and infused it with a sense of maturity. It’s faster, smoother, and more composed, but it hasn’t lost its edge.

Driving the WRX tS was like reconnecting with an old friend who had grown up in all the best ways. It may not have the rawness of my 2004 STi, but the spirit of the WRX is alive and well, and I’m happy to report that Subaru hasn’t forgotten where it came from.

It’s no wonder that despite not being the fastest in its segment the WRX still outsells others in its class. With 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque paired with Subaru’s renown symmetrical AWD, this hot rod can literally take you anywhere. Whether you’re going to the mountains or picking up your kid from daycare the WRX delivers and at a pricepoint of $45,705 it’s definitely a contender for aging yuppies who have responsibilities but still want to have fun on their daily commute.