“AWD is awesome, manual transmission is great, and the vehicle is extremely sporty and fun to drive.”
2021 Subaru WRX: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2021 Subaru WRX is essentially a carryover, with one notable change: Premium gains standard keyless access and push-button start. The engines, all-wheel-drive systems, body, and core cabin layout remain unchanged from 2020.
About the 2021 Subaru WRX
4th-generation WRX (2015-2021), final year before the all-new 5th-generation 2022 WRX; also the final U.S. model year for the VA-generation WRX STI.
Subaru positions the WRX as a rally-bred sport sedan that blends real performance with everyday usefulness. The core draw is turbo power, standard all-wheel drive, sharp handling, and available manual-transmission involvement, but Subaru also leans on the car’s four-door practicality, folding rear seat, and all-weather confidence. That mix makes the WRX different from front-wheel-drive sport compacts: it is meant to be fun on a back road, usable in bad weather, and livable as a daily driver.
The regular WRX is a 268-hp, all-wheel-drive sport sedan, with Premium adding daily-use comforts and Limited providing leather upholstery, upgraded lighting, and a power driver seat. The more focused STI uses a 310-hp engine, a six-speed manual, stronger Brembo brakes, and an adjustable center differential, while STI Limited adds navigation, Harman Kardon audio, and blind-spot monitoring.
What changed, by category
Tech
WRX Premium gains standard keyless access and push-button start; these features were optional on the 2020 Premium.
2021 Subaru WRX specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.5 Liter |
| Transmission | Manual, 6-Spd | Manual, 6-Spd | Manual, 6-Spd | Manual, 6-Spd | Manual, 6-Spd |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 16 mpg | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 22 mpg | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg |
| Horsepower | 310 hp | 268 hp | 268 hp | 268 hp | 310 hp |
| Torque | 290 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft | 290 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft | 12 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 35.4 in | 35.4 in | 35.4 in | 35.4 in | 35.4 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 4-Wheel Disc Brakes | |||||
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||
| Alarm System | |||||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |||||
| Automatic High Beams | |||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||
| Driver Attention Assist Monitor | |||||
| Active Lane Keep Assistance | |||||
| Rear View Camera | |||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||
| Fog Lights | |||||
| LED Headlights | |||||
| LED Tail Lights | |||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||
| Rear Spoiler | |||||
| Roof Rails | |||||
| Navigation System | |||||
| Premium Audio | |||||
| Satellite Radio | |||||
| Smartphone Interface | |||||
| Touch Screen Monitor | |||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | |||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||
| Leather Seats | |||||
| Power Driver Seat | |||||
| Power Steering | |||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||||
| Remote Start | |||||
Frequently asked questions
What changed on the 2021 Subaru WRX compared with the 2020 model?
The main change is that the 2021 WRX Premium has keyless access and push-button start as standard equipment. The rest of the lineup is largely unchanged from 2020.
Did the 2021 Subaru WRX engines change?
No, the 2021 engines carry over from 2020. The regular WRX has a 268-hp 2.0-liter turbo engine, while the WRX STI has a 310-hp 2.5-liter turbo engine.
Does the 2021 Subaru WRX have EyeSight driver assistance?
EyeSight is limited to regular 2021 WRX models equipped with the automatic transmission. It is not offered on the manual-transmission WRX or the WRX STI.
Is 2021 the final year of this Subaru WRX generation?
Yes, 2021 is the final model year of the fourth-generation WRX before the redesigned 2022 model arrived. It is also the final U.S. model year for the VA-generation WRX STI.
Is the 2021 WRX Premium meaningfully different from the 2020 Premium?
Only slightly. Standard keyless access and push-button start are the 2021 Premium’s main equipment gain; its engine, all-wheel-drive system, body, and core cabin layout otherwise carry over.
2021 Subaru WRX Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2021 Subaru WRX.
4.5
2021 Subaru WRX
(162 reviews)
“If you love to drive, and the now-almost-extinct ""feel"" of being one with the car, you should seriously consider the STI.”
“Great performance, feels more serious than other performance models like Civic Si.”