Subaru Just Made Its Rally Sedan More Attainable AgainThere's a certain kind of car guy who has been grumbling for the past few years, and Subaru heard him. For 2026, the WRX brings back a strong base model, drops the starting price to $32,495, and makes the whole lineup cheaper than it was a year ago. In an era where "affordable performance" has become an oxymoron, that is a small miracle worth celebrating.SubaruEven better context: adjusted for inflation, the 2026 WRX costs about the same as the legendary 2002 original that kicked off America's turbocharged, all-wheel-drive obsession in the first place. You just get a lot more car for the money now.The Formula That Made It a Cult HeroIf you've ever driven a fire road at speed or pointed a car up a rain-slicked mountain pass without a second thought, you understand the appeal of the WRX. Every 2026 model runs a 271-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine paired with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the same basic recipe that has made these sedans a fixture at rally stages and trailhead parking lots alike.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe six-speed manual is standard across the range, which is increasingly rare and increasingly precious. Subaru says it tuned the gear ratios for refined shift quality and added incline start assist, a nice touch for anyone who lives where the pavement points uphill. If you'd rather let the car handle the shifting, the Subaru Performance Transmission is optional on the Limited and standard on the GT, complete with rev-matching downshifts under braking to keep you in the right gear through a corner.A Base Model Worth BuyingThe real story here is the return of the entry-level WRX, and Subaru didn't strip it bare to hit that $32,495 number. The base car now rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels and includes Keyless Access with push-button start, neither of which was available on the previous base trim. You also get 245/40 summer performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension, and an 11.6-inch multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Inside, there's dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, cloth seats with red contrast stitching, and 60/40 folding rear seats for hauling gear. It's a proper performance car, not a decontented promise of one.Prices Dropped Across the BoardMove up the range and the savings keep coming. The Premium starts at $33,995, which is $3,755 less than the outgoing version, and adds heated front seats, heated mirrors, a windshield wiper deicer, and LED fog lights. The Limited runs $38,995 with the manual and piles on navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, blind-spot detection, a power moonroof, and Ultrasuede-and-leather upholstery. Both the GT and the performance-focused tS land at $44,995, undercutting last year's equivalents by $2,710.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe tS is the one enthusiasts will circle. It gets STI-tuned electronically controlled dampers, a Brembo braking system with gold six-piston front calipers, sticky Bridgestone Potenza tires on 19-inch wheels, and Recaro front seats with blue bolsters. It's the closest thing to a modern STI that Subaru currently sells.The Bright Yellow Collector's PieceA Subaru signature shade that has appeared on cult favorites like the Japan-only WRX STI S207. Built on the tS platform, it wears matte black 19-inch wheels, blacked-out badging, and yellow contrast stitching throughout the cabin. Subaru is building just 350 of them at $45,995, so if you want one, you'll want to move quickly.Should You Care?If your idea of a good weekend involves a duffel bag, an unfamiliar zip code, and roads that most crossovers would rather avoid, yes. The WRX has always been the enthusiast's answer to the do-everything Subaru, a car happy to commute all week and then chase a sunrise through the mountains on Saturday. Standard EyeSight driver-assist tech (now included even on manual cars) and that unflappable all-wheel-drive system make it a legitimately practical daily driver, too.Making the whole thing cheaper while adding equipment is the kind of move that rarely happens in the modern car market. The 2026 WRX is assembled in Gunma, Japan, and arrives at dealers this spring. For anyone who has been waiting for an attainable, rally-bred sedan to come back down to earth, that wait is nearly over.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Gear section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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