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Used 2018 Subaru WRX Sedan Trims Comparison

Trim level differences

The 2018 Subaru WRX is a five-passenger sedan offered in five trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, STI and STI Limited. The base model comes ready for action with 268 horsepower and performance tires, while the Premium adds larger wheels and heated front seats. The Limited adds luxuries such as leather upholstery and has more available options. STI models start with Limited equipment but add a 305-hp engine and performance brakes and suspension. The STI Limited goes all in with sunroof, navigation, driver aids and more.

Base WRX models start with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (268 hp, 258 pound-feet of torque), a six-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. The standard equipment list also includes 17-inch wheels, performance tires, heated side mirrors, cloth upholstery, a rearview camera, 60/40-split folding rear seats, Bluetooth phone and audio connection, and a six-speaker media system with a 6.2-inch touchscreen, satellite and HD radio, CD player, USB and auxiliary inputs, and smartphone app integration.

The WRX Premium adds 18-inch wheels, foglights, a sunroof, heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icers, and a 7-inch touchscreen.

The Limited builds on that with LED headlights and foglights, automatic high beams, a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, leather-trimmed upholstery, keyless ignition and entry, and an optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters.

Options for WRX Premium models with manual transmission include the 7-inch touchscreen, an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system, and a new Performance package that bundles Recaro front seats (including an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat), upgraded brake pads, and red-painted brake calipers. This package deletes the sunroof, however, in the interests of weight savings.

A manual-equipped WRX Limited is eligible for options including navigation, upgraded audio, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems, while Limited models equipped with the CVT can add Subaru's EyeSight system, which bundles features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive ("bending") foglights that help illuminate corners and curves. The EyeSight system is not available with the stick shift, though.

STI models come equipped like the WRX Premium but with a bigger engine, 19-inch wheels, and no sunroof. The base STI adds a more powerful 2.5-liter engine engine (305 hp, 290 lb-ft), Brembo brakes, front and rear limited-slip differentials, and more aggressive suspension tuning. Options include Recaro sport seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, and keyless ignition and entry.

The STI Limited adds back the sunroof plus keyless ignition and entry, an eight-way power driver seat, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and the premium audio system with navigation. The lone option is a low-profile trunk lip spoiler. EyeSight is not offered for the WRX STI.

Several dealer-installed options are available for the WRX and STI, including a performance exhaust (base WRX), an auto-dimming rearview mirror, short-throw shifter, carbon-fiber trim, unique shift knobs and interior lighting accents.

Which WRX trim does Edmunds recommend?

With its 305-hp engine and sport everything — brakes, suspension, seats, steering — we would love to recommend the WRX STI, but we can't. Out of the box, it's a competitive weekend race car that you can drive to work during the week, but its high-strung manner and unforgiving suspension limit its appeal. Instead, we'd steer you to a WRX Limited. While the Premium trim costs less, moving up to the Limited beings a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, adaptive LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, as well as a range of options, including navigation and various driver safety features.

Compare trims side-by-side

Comparing average pricing near
Danbury, CT
Vehicle
WRX Base
WRX Premium
WRX Limited
WRX STI
WRX STI Limited
Vehicle
Base
2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M
See all WRX Base for sale
2 for sale near you
Premium
2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M
See all WRX Premium for sale
STI
2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M
See all WRX STI for sale
1 for sale near you
STI Limited
2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M
See all WRX STI Limited for sale
1 for sale near you
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Section Title

Features

Features

Features

Features

Features

Bluetooth
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Navigation
Not Available
Not Available
optional
Not Available
standard
Satellite radio
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Keyless Ignition
Not Available
Not Available
standard
optional
standard
Cruise control
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Adaptive cruise control
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Parking assistance
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Upholstery
cloth
cloth
leather
leather/sueded microfiber
leather
Heated seats
Not Available
standard
standard
standard
standard
Cooled/Ventilated seats
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Folding rear seats
standard
standard
standard
standard
standard
Sunroof
Not Available
standard
standard
Not Available
standard
Section Title

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Drivetrain
all wheel drive
all wheel drive
all wheel drive
all wheel drive
all wheel drive
Engine power
268 hp @ 5,600 rpm
268 hp @ 5,600 rpm
268 hp @ 5,600 rpm
305 hp @ 6,000 rpm
305 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Engine torque
258 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
258 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
258 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
290 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
290 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Engine displacement
2.0 l
2.0 l
2.0 l
2.5 l
2.5 l
Engine configuration
flat 4
flat 4
flat 4
flat 4
flat 4
Transmission
6-speed manual
6-speed manual
6-speed manual
6-speed manual
6-speed manual
Tire size
235/45R17
245/40R18
245/40R18
245/35R19
245/35R19
Wheel size
17 X 8.0-in
18 X 8.5-in
18 X 8.5-in
Wheel type
alloy wheels
alloy wheels
alloy wheels
alloy wheels
alloy wheels
Run flat tires
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Not available
Section Title

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

City/Hwy/Combined MPG
21 / 27 / 23 MPG
21 / 27 / 23 MPG
21 / 27 / 23 MPG
17 / 22 / 19 MPG
17 / 22 / 19 MPG
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Fuel Capacity
15.9 gal.
15.9 gal.
15.9 gal.
15.9 gal.
15.9 gal.
Driving Range (city/hwy)
334 / 429 miles
334 / 429 miles
334 / 429 miles
270 / 350 miles
270 / 350 miles
Fuel Type
premium unleaded (recommended)
premium unleaded (recommended)
premium unleaded (recommended)
premium unleaded (required)
premium unleaded (required)
Section Title

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Turning circle
35.4 ft.
35.4 ft.
35.4 ft.
36.0 ft.
36.0 ft.
Curb weight
3,272 lb.
3,322 lb.
3,340 lb.
3,391 lb.
3,441 lb.
Ground Clearance
4.9 in.
4.9 in.
Overall Width with Mirrors
Overall Width without Mirrors
70.7 in.
70.7 in.
70.7 in.
70.7 in.
70.7 in.
Height
58.1 in.
58.1 in.
58.1 in.
58.1 in.
58.1 in.
Length
180.9 in.
180.9 in.
180.9 in.
180.9 in.
180.9 in.
Wheelbase
104.3 in.
104.3 in.
104.3 in.
104.3 in.
104.3 in.
Seating Capacity
Cargo Space
12.0 cu. ft.
12.0 cu. ft.
12.0 cu. ft.
12.0 cu. ft.
12.0 cu. ft.
Front Head Room
39.8 in.
37.2 in.
37.2 in.
39.8 in.
37.2 in.
Front Leg Room
43.3 in.
43.3 in.
43.3 in.
43.3 in.
43.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room
55.6 in.
55.6 in.
55.6 in.
55.6 in.
55.6 in.
Rear Head Room
37.1 in.
37.1 in.
37.1 in.
37.1 in.
37.1 in.
Rear Leg Room
35.4 in.
35.4 in.
35.4 in.
35.4 in.
35.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room
54.2 in.
54.2 in.
54.2 in.
54.2 in.
54.2 in.
Section Title

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

True Cost to Own®
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Average Cost Per Mile
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Depreciation
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Financing
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Taxes & Fees
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Fuel
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Insurance
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Maintenance
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Repairs
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Section Title

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Colors

Interior
Carbon Black, cloth
Carbon Black, cloth
Carbon Black, leather
Black/Carbon Black, leather/sueded microfiber
Carbon Black, leather
Exterior
Pure Red
Ice Silver Metallic
Crystal White Pearl
Lapis Blue Pearl
Crystal Black Silica
Dark Gray Metallic
WR Blue Pearl
Pure Red
Ice Silver Metallic
Crystal White Pearl
Lapis Blue Pearl
Crystal Black Silica
Dark Gray Metallic
WR Blue Pearl
Pure Red
Ice Silver Metallic
Crystal White Pearl
Lapis Blue Pearl
Heritage Blue Metallic
Crystal Black Silica
Dark Gray Metallic
WR Blue Pearl
Pure Red
Ice Silver Metallic
Crystal White Pearl
Lapis Blue Pearl
Crystal Black Silica
Dark Gray Metallic
WR Blue Pearl
Pure Red
Ice Silver Metallic
Crystal White Pearl
Lapis Blue Pearl
Heritage Blue Metallic
Crystal Black Silica
Dark Gray Metallic
WR Blue Pearl