Subaru WRX Overview: Generations, Specs and Which One to Buy
A guide to Subaru WRX generations from 2014 to present: subaru wrx specs, power figures from 268 to 300 hp, and which versions make the most sense.
The Subaru WRX is a sedan produced from 2014 to the present, with outputs ranging from 268 to 300 hp, permanent 4x4 drive across the lineup, and a choice of manual, CVT or automatic gearboxes. Anyone comparing subaru wrx generations will find a compact range: three generations, all sedans, all all-wheel drive — a car for drivers who want turbocharged pace with everyday usability.
Subaru WRX generations
1 generation (2014–2016)
The first generation of the Subaru WRX was built from 2014 to 2016 as a sedan only, with 3 modifications spanning 268 to 300 hp. All versions came with 4x4 drive and either a CVT or a manual gearbox, all based on a 1998 cc engine. The Subaru WRX 2.0 CVT (268 hp) was the volume version, reaching 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds with fuel consumption of 9.0 l/100km. The top option was the Subaru WRX 2.0 CVT (300 hp), which used 10.4 l/100km.
1 generation, restyling (2017–present)
The restyled first generation has been produced since 2017, again as a sedan with 3 modifications, 268–300 hp, 4x4 drive and CVT or manual transmissions. The Subaru WRX 2.0 CVT (268 hp) of this generation keeps the 6.0-second sprint and 9.0 l/100km consumption. The Subaru WRX 2.0 CVT (300 hp) matches that 6.0-second acceleration while delivering 300 hp from the same 1998 cc engine, at 10.4 l/100km.
2 generation (2022–present)
The second generation arrived in 2022 and continues today, still a sedan with 4x4 drive but now offering a conventional automatic alongside the manual. The range narrows to 2 modifications, both rated at 271 hp. The core version is the Subaru WRX 2.4 MT, pairing a 2400 cc engine with a manual gearbox.
Which Subaru WRX to buy
- 2.0 CVT (268 hp) (1 generation, restyling): the mass-market pick with a 6.0-second 0–100 km/h time and moderate 9.0 l/100km consumption.
- 2.0 CVT (300 hp) (1 generation, restyling): the most powerful WRX in the data at 300 hp, matching the 268 hp car's 6.0-second acceleration.
- 2.4 MT (2 generation): the current volume version with 271 hp, a larger 2400 cc engine and a manual gearbox for those who want the newest car.
- 2.0 CVT (268 hp) (1 generation): the same 268 hp and 6.0-second sprint as the restyled car, but from the earliest 2014–2016 production years, so typically the entry point into WRX ownership.
For a used purchase, the 2017–present restyled cars offer the widest window of production years while sharing the pre-restyling generation's straightforward lineup — one body style, one drivetrain layout, and only three modifications to sort through. The 2014–2016 cars are the oldest in the range, so inspect them accordingly.
Which Subaru WRX to avoid
The Subaru WRX 2.0 CVT (300 hp) of the 2014–2016 first generation is the weakest value in the data: it consumes the same 10.4 l/100km as the restyled 300 hp version but comes from an older production run, and the 268 hp car of its own years posts a documented 6.0-second acceleration at lower 9.0 l/100km consumption. If you want 300 hp, the 2017–present restyled version delivers it with a confirmed 6.0-second sprint.