Hero: AI-assisted conceptual illustration, not a photograph of a specific vehicle, test, facility or historical event.
The 2025 Subaru WRX offers a newer platform, a larger turbocharged engine and different equipment choices than the 2015–2021 WRX. That does not make it the better purchase for every Canadian driver. The useful comparison is between two actual vehicles: their asking prices, transmission, maintenance history, remaining warranty and the equipment you will use.
Editorial disclosure: Motorz.ca has not road-tested these vehicles. This is a Canadian-market document comparison, not a reliability ranking or appraisal. A 2025 model is not necessarily a new vehicle today; confirm its registration and warranty-start history.
Which generations are being compared?
The previous-generation WRX ran from model years 2015 through 2021. Subaru introduced the next generation for 2022, using its newer global platform. The 2025 car belongs to that generation. Do not mix WRX and WRX STI specifications: they are different models, and the STI is outside this comparison. Subaru’s 2015 announcement and 2022 announcement establish the changeover.
Canadian powertrain differences
| Item | 2015–2021 WRX | 2025 WRX |
|---|---|---|
| Turbocharged engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder BOXER | 2.4-litre four-cylinder BOXER |
| Rated output | 268 hp; 258 lb-ft | 271 hp; 258 lb-ft |
| Transmission choices | Six-speed manual or available CVT, depending on version | Six-speed manual or Subaru Performance Transmission, depending on trim |
The small peak-power difference is not a complete driving comparison. It says nothing by itself about the condition of a used clutch, suspension or engine. The 2021 Canadian announcement documents the outgoing model; 2025 Canadian specifications document the replacement.
Compare trim equipment, not US reviews
Subaru Canada’s 2025 range includes Sport, Sport-tech, GT and tS configurations, with transmission availability tied to the version. The tS is a 2025 addition. Use the Canadian configuration page and the vehicle’s equipment sheet rather than assuming a US trim name means the same thing.
Ask for a demonstration of the driver-assistance functions fitted to the exact car. Availability and operation can differ with model year and transmission. Features do not make the car self-driving, and their presence is not a substitute for checking vehicle condition.
A useful used-versus-new worksheet
- Price: compare written, all-in offers with the same taxes and fees. This guide does not invent a current used-price range.
- History: request maintenance invoices, accident history and a disclosure of modifications. An unmodified advertisement alone is not evidence of an unmodified past.
- Warranty: confirm the original in-service date, kilometres and remaining coverage directly; model year alone cannot establish coverage.
- Daily fit: try the seats, visibility, infotainment and parking dimensions yourself. Budget for the required fuel grade and suitable seasonal tires.
- Condition: arrange a qualified pre-purchase inspection. Do not assume that either generation is universally trouble-free or that a tune improves durability.
Use our Canadian car-buying resources for the wider purchase process, the recall hub to start a VIN-specific check, and winter-driving resources when planning seasonal ownership costs.
Which should you shortlist?
Shortlist the 2025 car when its documented equipment, history and remaining coverage justify the price difference for you. Keep a previous-generation example in contention when its condition and total cost are convincing. Do not pay for an assumed resale advantage: future depreciation is uncertain, and a lower purchase price can be outweighed by deferred maintenance.