If you happen to be ion the market looking for a sports sedan under 50k, both the WRX and the STI are excellent choices, but which one is the right one for you? The rally monster with 310 horsepower, or the family-friendly sedan with 270?
The Subaru WRX and WRX STI (previously called Impreza WRX and Impreza WRX STI) have been around for a long time. The recipe for these cars is pretty simple: a sports sedan with a turbocharged engine, manual transmission, and AWD. This layout comes directly from the rally heritage that's on the WRX.
If you are unsure about what car to buy, we have collected the 10 biggest differences between these two Japanese sports cars in order to help you decide with is the right Subaru for you.
10 Engine
The main difference between the 2 cars is what it is under the hood. The WRX packs one of the new motors, the FA20, which is a turbocharged 2-liter flat-four engine, producing 268 horsepower.
The more powerful STI packs the same engine as the previous-gen STI, the EJ25. Its also a turbocharged flat-four, but with 2.5 litres and producing 310 horsepower.
9 Styling
From the outside, both cars look pretty similar. In fact, to the untrained eye, the giant wing on the back of the STI might be the only exterior difference. There are some other tips and clues that help you determine if it is a WRX or an STI, even if the STI does have the wing.
The STI will have STI badges on the grill and in the back. It will also have bigger wheels and bigger breaks. The STI also has a distinctive rear diffuser, wich the WRX hasn't.
8 Performance
Of course, there are many things that affect the top speed and acceleration, and these differences we mention between the cars affect them a great deal. The WRX does 0 to 6o in 5,4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 145 mph while the WRX STI does the 0 to 60 in and 4,8 seconds and reaches an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.
But as there are so many differences between these cars, I would recommend you not let simple numbers like these have a big impact on your decision on which one to buy.
7 Price
With the aforementioned differences in features and engine, prices between the two trims differ greatly, as well. The WRX has 3 trim levels, with the base model starting at $29,000, the Premium version from $31,000, and the top of the line Limited version from $33,000.
The more expensive WRX STI has just 2 trim levels (without taking into account any special versions, like the S209 for example. The base STI starts at $38,000 and the Limited version starts at $43,000.
6 Transmission
The WRX is offered with a six-speed manual or a simulated 7-speed CVT gearbox, which is not bad at all, but it's not the same as a manual. The STI, on the other hand, is only available with a six-speed manual transmission but is not the same as the one on the WRX.
The transmission on the STI is a TY85, a fully synchronized close-ratio six-speed manual, while the WRX has a TY75, which is not close-ratio.
5 Available Upgrades
As I said before, both cars have different trim levels, starting at different prices. Of course, with different trim levels come different equipment options and upgrades. The base WRX offers only two "significant" upgrades: an STI shift knob and the STI exhaust system. If you want to have a little more STI feeling in a WRX Premium, which allows you to have (for extra money, of course), the Recaro performance seats, and the Brembo performance braking system. And the WRX Limited, apart from the GPS system option, doesn't offer much more than the Premium Version.
The STI doesn't have as many options as the WRX, however, because it is already a very complete car. The base model STI has as optional the Recaro Performance seats that are standard on the STI Limited version. And the STI Limited offers a very interesting choice: to ditch the giant spoiler and change it instead for a lip spoiler which is standard on the WRX.
4 Brakes
It is well known that if a car is capable of going fast, it should equally be able to slow down. As we talked before, both cars are capable of going fast, but there are some differences in their weight and performance. That means that its capacity to brake doesn't have to be necessarily the same.
Both the WRX and the STI have brake discs all around, the difference is that while the WRX has regular solid disc brakes, the STI packs a giant set of Brembo brakes, with ventilated discs and 6 piston calipers in the front and 2 piston calipers in the back.
3 Standard Equipment
To talk about the standard equipment, we will consider the base models on both cars. The base STI has a lot of technology that comes standard: an SRH system (steering responsive headlights), heated front seats, leather-trimmed upholstery, keyless access, automatic headlights, a dual-zone climate control system, and a 7-inch multimedia system, instead of the 6,5-inch one on the WRX.
The base WRX, on the other hand, may not have all the equipment you want. It doesn't have LED headlights, power-adjustable seats, Push Button Start, GPS, or the dual-zone climate control system. But is not a basic car either. It does have electronic cruise control, a rear vision camera, keyless entry, and the 6,5-inch infotainment system.
2 Interior
The differences between the two cars in the interior might be less noticeable at first sight, but they are important. The STI has a regular handbrake, instead of the electronic one on the WRX. The STI will also have the DCCD selector right behind the stick. The STI will also have all the corresponding badging, on the wheel, the dash, and the gauges. Also, if you look closer, the top of the shift knob is red.
Also, if you see a WRX with an automatic transmission, it will not be an STI, as the STI is only offered manual, while the WRX offers both a six-speed manual and a "7-speed" CVT gearbox. This makes the STI a real driver's car, as there are not many cars offered with a manual transmission.
1 Suspension
Think of the STI as a street version of a rally car, and the WRX as a domesticated family-friendly version of the STI. Of course, these cars will have different suspensions setups. And it's not only about the ride height.
Both cars have independent suspension in all four corners. The WRX's suspension is sport-tuned, which means that, while it's designed to take some abuse, is also comfortable in the city, and you will not feel every bump on the road. The STI's suspension, on the other hand, is a high-performance tuned suspension, prepared to take a LOT more punishment and corner as fast as possible, but this means that it might be too stiff and uncomfortable on a daily basis.