Refreshed 2018 Subaru WRX STI: What You Need to Know

When Three Letters Just Aren’t Enough

One thing you can always expect from Subaru is a car that can handle itself like a pro on almost any road. The Subaru WRX STI is the epitome of what we’ve come to expect from that Japanese automaker. For the WRX STI, Subaru takes everyone’s favorite stock rally car and adds a more powerful engine, Brembo brakes, and specialized STI badging.

The STI was refreshed for the 2018 model year and shows off a newly modified front bumper, higher-quality interior materials, and improved insulation from outside noises.

There are rumors of a redesigned Subaru WRX and WRX STI coming in 2020, with new engines and an improved design. Until then, we’ll have to be happy with the 2018 refresh.

Read on to see what’s new about the 2018 Subaru WRX STI.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

Styling

The 2018 Subaru WRX STI will offer a familiar design scheme if you’re used to how the current one looks. However, there have been some changes, including a new front bumper that is supposed to offer a more aggressive design. The lower grille of the bumper has been enlarged to show its aggressiveness.

LED headlights that turn as you steer come standard on the STI, as well as brackets for a roof rack. The STI’s brakes have been painted yellow, but we’ll get into those details later on in this slideshow. The WRX STI looks as intimidating as the 2017 model, if not more so. However, Subaru has yet to implement the Subaru Global Platform design scheme, which was introduced on the redesigned 2017 Subaru Impreza.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

The Need for Speed

There are no powertrain changes for the 2018 Subaru WRX STI, which means it still comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that pushes out 305 horsepower. The STI’s engine has been one of its major selling points ever since the vehicle first came onto market, and it continues to impress drivers and critics alike. The biggest downside to the STI’s engine would be its gas mileage, which comes in at 17 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway, significantly lower than its competitor, the Volkswagen Golf R.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

How Does It Handle?

If the performance of the 2017 STI is any indication, we can expect the 2018 Subaru WRX STI to handle with precision, gripping corners tightly on new 19-inch wheels and stopping on a dime with standard Brembo brakes. A revised standard all-wheel drive system makes sure that the STI handles inclement weather and road conditions with ease.

However, the STI’s stiffer suspension may cause some ride comfort issues. Where the base WRX’s suspension can handle bumps in the road with ease, the STI let’s you feel the full driving experience. Due to the stiffer suspension, even the smallest indent in the road is felt by the driver.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

Interior Comfort

With how impressive the performance specs of the STI are, you may think that the Japanese car’s interior would be subpar. However, the STI does away with the cloth upholstery of the base WRX and comes standard with an ultrasuede and leather-trimmed interior. The leather even extends to the flat-bottomed steering wheel that’s been specifically designed for the STI.

Recaro seats are optional on the STI, though standard on the STI Limited. A dual-zone automatic climate control system, a 3.5-inch LCD gauge display, a 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped shifter also come standard.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

Interior Technology

While the STI doesn’t come loaded with tech features, what it comes with is reliable and easy-to-use. The base STI has Subaru’s 7-inch STARLINK Multimedia Plus system, which offers HD Radio, a USB port, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and compatibility with apps like Pandora, iHeart Radio, and Aha. There is also a six-speaker audio system that comes standard.

If you pay a little extra and upgrade to the STI Limited trim, you’ll have a nicer STARLINK system with navigation and a touch screen, a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and active driver assistance features like blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

WRX STI Type RA: When Six Letters Aren't Enough

The Type RA was brought to the infamous Nurburgring race track in order to test its chops. The Type RA’s time around the track was clocked at 6 minutes and 57.5 seconds, which makes it the fastest four-door vehicle to test the ‘Ring. That time also places it a half second behind the Porsche 918 Spyder and makes it almost two full seconds faster than the Lamborghini Aventador.

Inside the WRX STI Type RA, you’ll find Recaro seats with STI logos on the headrests. The steering wheel is wrapped in ultrasuede, not leather, which gives the driver a better grip on the wheel. Sales of the Type RA are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2018, although Subaru is only expected to produce 500 examples.

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

Pricing and Availability

The 2018 Subaru WRX STI will start at $36,095, with the STI Limited trim bumping the price up to $40,895. The 2017 WRX STI was priced at $35,195, and the 2017 STI Limited started at $39,995.

The non-STI 2018 Subaru WRX is currently available for purchase or lease at your local Subaru dealership. The 2018 WRX starts at $26,995, just $300 more than the 2017 model. 

• Read the 2018 Subaru WRX Full Review
• See 2018 Subaru WRX Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

Competition

The 2018 Subaru WRX STI has faced and continues to face some fierce competition. The compact car class features some amazing vehicles that offer even more incredible performance trims.

The Ford Focus RS ($36,120) offers drivers 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque and is one of the most impressive hot hatches on the market today.

Honda has added a new trim to the Civic for the 2017 model year; the Civic Type R ($33,900) offers 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The Volkswagen Golf R ($35,655) has been a mainstay among performance-oriented compact cars. All three of those vehicles offer a big challenge to the STI, so be sure to test drive all four before you make your decision.

• Read the 2017 Honda Civic Full Review
• See 2017 Honda Civic Photos
• See Compact Cars Rankings

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

If you’re looking to get a great deal on the Subaru WRX STI, head over to our Subaru deals page. There, we’ve compiled a list of all the best deals Subaru is currently offering.

If you’re interested in any of the WRX STI’s rivals, be sure to look at our best lease deals and financing deals pages. You can compare cars by heading over to our new car rankings.

Once you’re ready to buy, be sure to use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealership in your area offering the lowest prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.