Subaru has a history of incredible vehicles. From their small 360 back in 1958 to the E-RA STI, Subaru produces cars that are great off-road, excellent in gas mileage, and known for their modification capabilities. It's almost impossible to choose only ten of the greatest cars Subaru ever produced, but we picked through the lineup to find some of the most iconic Subarus.
While it would be easy to say the WRX STI takes the cake, yet some special editions are far more remarkable than the standard STI. Further, not every entry is a sports car, as some models have a history of greatness off the track and off-road. One model even had difficulty deciding between off-road and track tuning, so it embodies both. Take a journey through Subaru's excellent lineup to find the ten greatest cars Subaru ever produced.
10 2020 Travis Pastrana's Gymkhana WRX STI
Ken Block and Travis Pastrana man the wheel of the Gymkhana WRXs, and the eleven-time event draws hundreds of millions of views. For the 2020 model, a Subaru WRX STI was again center stage. It featured a 2.3L four-cylinder boxer engine with a 50 PSI boost putting out 862hp and 664 lb-ft of torque.
Up until this event, Ken Block was the leading man behind the Gymkhana events but passed over the reigns to Travis Pastrana. In partnership with Vermont Sports, Subaru fashioned a unique STI. Vermont Sports helped tune parts like the suspension, differentials, hand brakes, and gear levers. It is also stuffed with carbon fiber to reduce the weight to 2623 lbs!
9 1996 Impreza Series McRae
When Subaru won its first rally with Collin McRae behind the wheel, the brand decided to commemorate the event with a limited production of the Impreza Series McRae. The special edition saw only 200 units produced and were available in the UK only. Japan also featured several similar special editions.
The Series McRae came with the famous EJ20 boxer engine, which produced 207 horsepower. Hooked to the boxer was a five-speed manual transmission, full-time AWD with viscous limited-slip differential. Plus, the Series McRae also featured open headrest Recaro seats, a staple for Subaru.
8 1998 Impreza 22B STi
Another uber-rare Subaru is the 22B STI. The 22B STI was the 40th-anniversary celebration special edition, with only 400 made. When one goes up for auction, they go for six figures.
The 22B STI featured a boxer engine producing 276 horsepower. Like other STIs from the era, it has a five-speed manual and can hit 60 in only 5 seconds with a top speed of 157 MPH. Depending on who you ask, the 22B sold out between 30 minutes and 48 hours, but regardless, the popularity remains at an all-time high.
7 2000 Impreza P1
Another exclusive to the UK Subaru is the Impreza P1, which stands for Prodrive One. Only 1000 of these beauties exist, and they received a sizeable bump in power over standard Imprezas. In fact, it hit 276 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, all in an aggressive package.
The Impreza P1 was unique in that it featured AWD, but it wasn't symmetrical. Instead, the P1 uses a 60/40 split with a front-wheel-heavy layout. It came in World Rally Blue paint and was a two-door, giving it an authentic rally feel. Using the 276 horsepower, the P1 hit 60 in 4.8 seconds and could hit a top speed of 155 MPH.
6 1997 SVX
Subaru didn't field an exclusive sports car until the SVX. The SVX was ahead of its time with a window-in-window feature that many didn't appreciate until recently. It sported a wedge shape design, a 3.3L boxer six that produced 230 horsepower but was limited thanks to the four-speed automatic.
The SVX hit 60 in 7.3 seconds using the boxer six and a top speed of 143 MPH. It also came in both FWD and AWD, with the latter establishing a trend that follows today.
5 2019 WRX STI S209
It was beginning to feel like the U.S. would never get a special S-line WRX STI. That is, until 2019 when Subaru released the S209 specifically for the American market for the first time in its history. The S209 STI came with the 2.5L EJ25 turbocharged boxer four that puts out 341 horsepower and a max boost of 18 psi.
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In addition to the bump in power, Subaru installed Bilstein dampers and Stiller springs for a track-focused suspension. It also has a wider body than a standard STI, and special badging differentiates the S209 from the RA and common STI. Only 200 of these bad boys exist, and we would love to get our hands on one.
4 1984 Brat
With the popularity of the El Camino, Subaru decided to enter the light utility truck game with the Subaru Brat. The original engine was severely underpowered, but a turbocharged version allowed the brat to hit 95 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. Subaru's Brat beat import regulations by installing two jump seats in the bed, allowing for a passenger vehicle designation.
The Brat was also unique for using full-time 4WD and having an incredibly lightweight body at only 2,200 lbs. It came in either a four-speed manual automatic transmission, and though the Baja was a spiritual successor, a return to the Brat is the only way to go.
3 2021 BRZ GT300
Subaru wanted to enter the Super GT game in Japan and decided the BRZ was the perfect platform for the job. Subaru upped the performance significantly, reworking the famous EJ20 engine to unleash more power than ever, all while handling the demands of GT racing versus WRC racing. Thus, the BRZ GT300 was born.
Specs for the new GT300 are challenging to pin down, but the previous BRZ GT300 saw power of around 300 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. The BRZ GT300 finally brought home a championship in 2021 with its upgraded BRZ GT300.
2 2019 Outback 3.6R
Subaru's Outback is a rock-solid performer with years upon years of reliable performance. It's one of the best-selling models in Subaru's lineup, and the 3.6R ramped-up performance with a 3.6L boxer six under the hood that produces 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.
With 8.7-inches of ground clearance, the updated Outback styling, and new enough luxuries like heated seats and rearview cameras, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better crossover. The Outback 3.6R is great for off-road or slick drives.
1 2005 Forester STI
STI wasn’t just for sedans and hatches but also crossovers, and the Forester STI proved high-performance crossovers work. The Forester STI featured a 2.5L turbocharged boxer four that put out 265hp and 278lb-ft of torque and came with an upgraded six-speed manual.
To take things to the max, the Forester STI could hit 60 in only 5.2 seconds, had a top speed of 131 MPH, and has one of the most aggressive designs for an SUV or crossover. It's a shame STI hasn't had its way with more of Subaru's vehicles.