Is this the closest thing to a fully-fledged Subaru WRX STI? I intend to find out over the next few months.
Subaru diehards have had a tough few years without a flagship sports-car icon to worship.
The fan favourite WRX STI performance hero bowed out with the previous generation in 2021, and although a newer Subaru WRX sports sedan was introduced in 2022, gone is the all-important WRX STI.
But, it turns out not everyone at Subaru was happy with seeing that nameplate off, at least judging by the introduction of the Subaru WRX tS Spec B.
As a subvariant of the Subaru WRX sports car, the tS Spec B builds upon last year’s Club Spec variant (which had the classic, big STI wing, Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, among other additions) to marry up the manual transmission with adaptive suspension and drive modes for the first time.
The price stands at $61,490 plus on-road costs, some $8000 more than the WRX RS manual on which this Spec B is based. Both use a 2.4-litre turbocharged 'boxer' four-cylinder engine outputting 202kW and 350Nm to all four wheels, through a six-speed manual transmission.
Despite the shared underpinnings, make no mistake, this is the closest thing the brand has released to a full-blown WRX STI yet.
With that in mind, this long-term series will be handled a bit differently. We’re not going to be exploring the boot space, we’re not going to be diving deep into the infotainment, and we won’t be evaluating the costs associated with running one of these special editions.
Instead, this car’s tenure at Drive will be all about what it’s like from behind the wheel. What it’s like to hustle along mountain passes, the experience of taking it on some of the best road trips I can find, and how closely it matches up against that Subaru WRX STI forebear.
While I’ll take the car out for its first proper trip in the next instalment, the first port of call was to visit a local cars and coffee event. The Highball Cars and Coffee meet up is the biggest of its kind in Melbourne, and regularly draws metal from all corners of the enthusiast landscape.
The WRX tS Spec B was right at home alongside other WRXs, as well as hot hatches of a similar price point, like the Volkswagen Golf R. Given there was a slew of more jaw-dropping cars positioned just metres away (think Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, the new Audi RS6 GT, and the Porsche 911 S/T), the attention the WRX drew was limited.
However, the WRX tS Spec B is less about hard parking and more about hard driving.
The key parts of the Spec B that are special, at least to me, include the Recaro sports seats, which (even after only a few weeks) have already impressed me in how supportive and comfortable they are, the ripping-effective Brembo brakes (four-piston front, two-piston rear), and the adaptive suspension.
That latter addition to the WRX tS Spec B ensures it’s been super comfortable for my everyday commute. There is a defined change between ride comfort when switching between Comfort and Sport modes whereby the compliance is genuinely plush and easy to live with everyday.
Gone are the days when performance cars were difficult to live with over our frustratingly pockmarked road network; the Subaru WRX tS Spec B shows you can have your cake and eat it too.
Not everything about the car is liveable, though. The STI Performance mufflers are a no-cost option, and unlike the suspension damping, they aren’t adaptive. It’s a loud car no matter what, and my neighbours undoubtedly haven’t appreciated the resounding, boomy exhaust note as much as me.
It’s good news for Subaru fanatics, though, because that iconic boxer four-cylinder engine sounds as characteristic as ever.
Although it pales in comparison to what I’ve got in store for the WRX in later long-term updates, I did sneak out with the car for a brief drive along the winding roads out past Melbourne’s airport.
| Key details | 2026 Subaru WRX tS Spec B |
| Engine | 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer turbo petrol |
| Power | 202kW @ 5600rpm |
| Torque | 350Nm @ 2000–5200rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 129.3kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 1562kg |
| Spare tyre type | Temporary |
This initial taste test was good. The car’s firm and flat through corners in the Sport+ drive mode (the most hardcore of all), the steering is direct and lively, and the brakes do a strong job of pulling the 1522kg (tare) mass to a standstill. They don’t feel particularly grabby or difficult to use either.
I’m not in love with the six-speed manual transmission – it has a fussy, narrow gate and isn’t tight and notchy like I’d prefer – but that’s about the only point of improvement I’d level at the car so far.
In the coming weeks, we’re heading to the Yarra Valley and beyond with the WRX tS Spec B to test its mettle and explore a selection of the best driving roads I’ve found so far in the state of Victoria.
Stay tuned for more, and be sure to leave any questions or comments below and I’ll address them in the next update.
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
