The history of Subaru’s STI brand is long, but there haven’t been all that many road-ready cars built. The current lineup of production cars includes only one STI model. The United States has only enjoyed three other cars developed by Subaru Tecnica International.
Each brought its own unique talents, look, and personality. But, when power is the name of the game for STI sports cars, it begs the question: Which STI is the fastest? The Subaru S209, WRX STI, Series.White, or the BRZ tS?
The 2020 Subaru S209 goes 0 – 60 in 4.7 seconds
This sports car was the first Subaru STI S-model to land on U.S. shores. Critics and fans alike applauded the S209 as the most powerful car the brand has ever created. It was built on the bones of the classic Subaru WRX STI.
Hands-down, the S209 is the fastest Subaru STI car in the lineup. The S209 offered an upgraded SUBARU BOXER engine with a bigger turbocharger, which provided 341 horsepower and an incredible sub-five-second sprint time from zero to sixty.
2019 Subaru S209 | Subaru
The 2021 Subaru WRX STI goes 0 – 60 in 5.3 seconds
The tried-and-true STI is the fastest production Subaru WRX you can buy. Car & Driver published results for their tests of the 2021 model, and the WRX STI sprinted from zero to sixty mph in just over five seconds.
The WRX STI comes standard with a 305-horsepower engine paired with a six-speed manual. This model is also the only Subaru STI sports car available for purchase—all the other models have been retired. The WRX model may also be the last STI car to run on an internal-combustion engine. It may mark the end of a legacy.
2021 Subaru WRX STI | Subaru
The 2020 Subaru WRX STI Series.White goes 0 – 60 in 6 seconds
This short-lived beauty wasn’t as spectacular as critics hoped. MotorTrend reported on this model a few years back, noting some disappointments. The STI Series.White offered the same 2.5-liter turbo engine that the regular WRX STI ran on. The specs remained the same at 310 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The major differences between the WRX STI vs. the STI Series.White were primarily cosmetic. The paint, wheels, and seat upholstery were the standout differentiators.
A big surprise? The more-powerful 310-horsepower STI Series.White was actually slower during testing than the 268-horsepower WRX STI. The Series.White hopped from zero to sixty in a full six seconds. Its lower-powered sibling did it in 5.6 seconds.
Subaru USA | Youtube
The 2020 Subaru BRZ tS goes 0 – 60 in a little over 6 seconds
The Subaru BRZ tS—which stands for “tuned by STI” was a brief shining spot in the STI line. It came standard with an STI-developed sport suspension and a stiffer chassis than the conventional BRZ model. Its 4.0-cylinder engine was good for 205 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque, and it offered a spicy ride.
Finding accurate numbers for the 2020 BRZ tS can get messy, with little clear agreement among reviewers. However, Car & Driver reported that the 2018 Subaru BRZ tS went from zero to sixty in about 6.3 seconds. Since there was no significant change in powertrain in the 2018 vs. 2020 BRZ tS, we can assume that the 0 – 60 times were about the same.
Keyword: What is the Fastest Subaru STI Car?