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For 2026, Subaru is doing something WRX fans have been begging for: bringing back the base trim. That means the cheapest entry point to a new WRX is back on the market, starting at $33,690, with the cars expected to arrive in dealers in the spring. It’s a meaningful reboot after 2025, when supply started higher and the entry point disappeared, leaving many buyers overpriced or looking elsewhere.
What makes the return of the base WRX even better is the fact that it’s not just a special. Subaru says it now offers keyless entry with push-button start, summer performance tires, a sport-tuned suspension and a tire pressure monitoring system. Key amenities are also present, including wireless phone connectivity, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth seats, auto-up and down front windows, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column and LED headlights.
The rest of the lineup will also be easier on the wallet. The WRX Premium drops to $35,190 (down $3,730), the Limited is $40,190 (down $3,505), and both the GT and tS are priced at $46,190 (down $2,685 each). New to the top is the $47,190 limited-edition WRX Series.Yellow, which features a Sunrise Yellow exterior, black 19-inch wheels, black badging, and a black interior with yellow stitching. It also adopts the same performance-oriented hardware as the WRX tS.
If you cross-shop the higher trim levels, the tS is still the enthusiast-friendly sweet spot on paper. Standard equipment includes STI-tuned electronically controlled dampers, Brembo brakes, Recaro front seats and Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires. No matter which 2026 WRX you choose, every model features Subaru’s turbocharged 271-horsepower 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder with a six-speed manual as the standard transmission. Subaru’s “Subaru Performance Transmission” CVT is optional on the Limited and standard on the GT.
The price shift is also consistent with the larger story behind last year’s plunge. WRX sales fell 41.2% to 10,930 units in 2025, a year that also coincided with Subaru dropping the base model and increasing buy-in. Subaru has also said that WRX production is limited as the company prioritizes the more popular Forester, and that it is expanding U.S. Forester production, including plans to begin Forester hybrid production next spring. As production pressures ease, it looks like Subaru may finally be able to give the WRX lineup the accessible entry point it’s always needed.
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Darryl Taylor Dowe is an experienced automotive professional with a proven track record of leading successful companies and providing strategic advice across the automotive industry. With years of hands-on experience in both business operations and market development, Darryl has played a key role in helping automotive brands grow and adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape. His insight and leadership skills have earned him recognition and contributions as a trusted expert Automobile addicts reflect his deep knowledge and passion for the business side of the automotive world.
