Does Subaru Still Make The STI? | No More New STI

No, Subaru no longer sells a new WRX STI; the last U.S. WRX STI was the 2021 model.

Does Subaru Still Make The STI? For new-car shoppers in the United States, the answer is no. Subaru still sells the WRX sedan, and the STI name still appears on some parts and trim details, but a full factory WRX STI is not in the new lineup.

That distinction matters when you’re shopping. A WRX tS with STI-tuned dampers is not the same thing as an STI. A dealer-installed STI short shifter is not the same thing either. The badge may still show up, but the old recipe of a stronger STI drivetrain, 310-hp EJ engine, driver-controlled center differential, Brembo setup, and sharper hardware ended with the 2021 WRX STI.

What Happened To The WRX STI?

Subaru made the break public in March 2022. The company said a next-generation internal-combustion WRX STI would not be built on the newer WRX platform. Subaru also said it was studying an electrified STI direction.

That wording left room for the STI name to return in another form. It did not leave room for a gas-only fifth-generation WRX STI based on the current WRX. So if a listing claims to be a 2024, 2025, or 2026 WRX STI in the U.S., read the fine print. It may be a WRX with STI accessories, a mislabeled listing, or a dealer using familiar wording to catch searches.

Why Subaru Made That Call

Subaru did not publish a long technical autopsy. The short reason from Subaru’s own statement was that performance cars had to fit tighter emissions rules, zero-emission goals, and fuel-economy requirements. A high-output gas STI on the new WRX shell no longer fit the plan.

The timing also made sense. The WRX moved to a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine for 2022, while the old STI still used the 2.5-liter EJ257. Bringing the STI up to a new platform would have required money, emissions work, durability testing, and a buyer base large enough to justify it.

What Subaru Sells Instead Of A New STI

The current WRX still gives buyers a turbo boxer engine, all-wheel drive, a sedan body, and a manual gearbox on most trims. It keeps the rally flavor alive in a more settled sedan, not in a hardcore STI shell.

Subaru lists the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine across the current WRX lineup, with 271 horsepower. That makes the WRX lively, but it is not an STI replacement. The old STI was rougher, louder, and more mechanical. It had a different drivetrain feel, tighter steering flavor, and a track-day attitude that asked for more from the driver. The WRX is easier to live with, while the STI feels more specialized.

• Buy the current WRX if you want warranty, daily comfort, and new-car tech.
• Buy a used STI if you want the old hardware and can accept higher upkeep risk.
• Skip mislabeled “new STI” listings unless the VIN and trim data prove the claim.

That split is why Subaru’s statement on Subaru STI matters for shoppers. Current trim data matters too; Subaru’s 2026 WRX specs and trims page helps separate WRX trims from a true STI. The cleanest way to separate these cars is to ask what changed below the badge. The STI was not only a power bump. It had a different center differential setup, different gearing, tougher manual transmission, and brake hardware built for harder use. A WRX with accessories can feel better than stock, but the expensive pieces underneath still matter.

For a shopper, that means a lower-mile STI is not automatically the better buy. A stock WRX with warranty can beat a tuned STI if the older car has clutch slip, smoke, rust, or ECU changes that nobody can explain.

STI Question	Plain Answer	Buyer Check
New U.S. WRX STI	No new factory model is sold.	Ask for the window sticker and trim code.
Last U.S. STI	The 2021 WRX STI was the last one.	Verify model year and VIN history.
Current WRX tS	It has STI-tuned parts, not an STI drivetrain.	Compare engine, brakes, and differential specs.
STI accessories	They can add feel, sound, or style.	Confirm whether parts are factory, dealer, or aftermarket.
Electric STI	Subaru has not announced a U.S. production model.	Treat teasers and concepts as unconfirmed.
Used STI value	Clean, stock cars tend to draw stronger demand.	Check service records, mods, rust, and accident data.
Track use	Hard driving raises wear on brakes, clutch, tires, and fluids.	Get a pre-purchase inspection from a Subaru specialist.
Daily driving	The WRX is calmer; the STI is rawer.	Drive both before paying collector money.

Why Subaru No Longer Makes The STI For New Buyers

The loss of the STI changed the shopping math. Before, the WRX and STI sat in a clean two-step lineup: one was the lower-cost rally-flavored sedan, the other was the harder-edged halo car. Now the WRX must carry the whole performance-sedan job on its own.

Subaru has tried to fill part of that gap with sharper WRX versions. The tS adds STI-tuned suspension pieces and Brembo brakes, and the Series.Yellow adds limited-run paint and trim. Subaru’s 2026 WRX pricing release says the lineup includes Base, higher trims, GT, tS, and Series.Yellow. None of those is a WRX STI.

How To Read Dealer Listings Without Getting Burned

Search results can get messy because STI can mean three different things: a car model, a Subaru performance division, or an accessory label. A listing title may say STI because the car has an STI shifter, STI exhaust, STI wheels, or a seller-added badge. That does not turn it into a WRX STI.

Use the VIN, factory window sticker, and model code. A true 2021 WRX STI will show WRX STI trim data, not only WRX data with add-ons. On used cars, ask for cold-start video, compression or leak-down results if modified, and full service records. A clean STI can be great. A poorly tuned one can drain your budget.

Buyer Type	Better Match	Reason
Wants a warranty	New WRX	Fresh coverage and fewer unknowns.
Wants the STI feel	Used 2018–2021 STI	Later cars bring the familiar STI hardware with newer cabins.
Wants low upkeep	Stock WRX	Parts, tires, and clutch costs tend to be gentler.
Wants collector appeal	Stock, low-mile STI	Original cars are easier to trust and resell.
Wants track days	Inspected STI or WRX tS	Brake, cooling, tire, and service history matter more than badges.

Insurance is another place where the badge matters. Carriers may rate the STI differently from a WRX, and modified cars can be harder to value after a claim. Get quotes before you fall for a clean wing and gold wheels.

Should You Wait For Another STI?

Waiting only makes sense if you are open to a car that may not sound or feel like the old STI. Subaru has left the door open for an electrified performance model, but it has not confirmed a U.S. production WRX STI successor. Rumors are fun. Purchase decisions should rest on cars you can order, inspect, or test-drive.

If you want a manual turbo Subaru right now, the WRX is the clear new-car choice. If your heart is set on the hydraulic, old-school STI feel, shop used and be picky. Pay more for stock condition, clean records, and a careful inspection. Cheap modified STIs often cost more after the first repair bill.

The Practical Answer For Shoppers

Subaru does not still make a new WRX STI for the U.S. market. It still makes the WRX, sells STI-branded parts, and uses STI tuning on select pieces. That can blur the search page, but the buying answer stays clear.

For most drivers, the current WRX is the safer buy. For fans who want the real STI character, the best path is a well-kept 2021 or older WRX STI with proof of care. The STI badge still carries weight, but the new-car version is gone.