Subaru WRX STI vs Subaru BRZ

Subaru performance has traditionally boiled down to three letters: WRX. But for almost a decade, Subaru fans have gotten familiar with another three-letter code: BRZ.

The Subaru BRZ is unlike anything else in the automaker’s lineup. Subaru is known for building practical cars with all-wheel drive (AWD) and turbocharged engines, but the BRZ throws all of that away. It’s a willfully impractical two-door coupe with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a naturally aspirated engine, aimed at providing the most satisfying driving experience.

The first-generation BRZ was introduced as a 2013 model, so the sports car was due for a redesign. The 2022 Subaru BRZ gets a restyled exterior and a more powerful engine, as well as more tech features than its predecessor. As before, the BRZ is twinned with a Toyota product. Its previous counterpart was the Scion FR-S; it's now the Toyota 86, which was renamed GR 86 as part of its redesign (and is covered in a separate review). Subaru is taking orders for the new BRZ now, but deliveries aren’t expected to begin until late October or early November.

Subaru keeps the 2022 BRZ lineup simple, with just Premium and Limited trim levels to choose from. We spent a day with the higher-tier BRZ Limited, driving it on winding Connecticut roads as well as the race circuit and autocross course at Lime Rock Park.

A performance sedan is an ideal blend of fun and functionality. It’s similar to hot hatchbacks, like the Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Golf R, or Hyundai Veloster N. They offer performance and practicality, and do it at a relatively affordable price. But there’s not just one tier of performance. Like selecting fuel at the pump, there are levels. And for every level you go up in performance, it becomes more of a commitment. Such is the way of the 2021 Subaru WRX STI, a performance sedan that will put a smile on your face, but it’s also a bit of a lifestyle choice.

The WRX STI was last redesigned for the 2015 model year, and though it received some infotainment updates for the 2019 model year, it is a somewhat dated car. It's still based on the previous-generation Subaru Impreza platform, in fact.

Automakers tend to let their performance offerings linger a bit longer before a redesign, however. And just as the Golf R is to the VW GTI or the Type R is to the Civic Si, the STI is a level up from the Subaru WRX. So does the STI offer enough performance to warranty selecting it over the standard WRX, or other sporty compacts for that matter? Read on to find out.