The 5 Biggest Mistakes Subaru Made With The WRX STI And How They Can Fix It

We aren’t down on the Subaru WRX STI, and think the sedan is a good performance value, but why settle for good when you can be the best? Fans want Subaru to make the next-generation 2021 WRX STI something special and make improvements that will bring it back to being the leader in the compact sports car segment.

The 2020 Subaru STI is six years in its current generation and it’s falling behind the competition, but Subaru can fix it with the new-generation model. Here are five mistakes the Japanese automaker made with the current generation STI since its launch in 2015.

2020 Subaru WRX STI Series.White

Subaru dropped the 5-Door Hatchback

What would turn things around? A return to the hatch body style would help bring the compact performance car back to life. Performance fans have been asking for the return of the 5-Door body style since it was dropped in 2015. This fix is simple. The new-generation STI needs a hatch body style to compete with the new Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R models.

They didn’t give the EJ25 2.5-liter turbocharged Boxer enough power upgrades

Subaru Corporation upgraded the 2019 STI’s 2.5-liter boxer engine with more horsepower, from 305 to 310 horsepower but it wasn’t enough. The torque stayed the same at 290 lb. ft of torque. The 6-speed manual gearbox featured a revised 3rd gear ratio which helped contribute to faster acceleration times according to Subaru.

2020 Subaru STI

Reports from Road and Track say the new 2021 Subaru WRX STI will be powered by the Ascent, Legacy and new Outback-sourced 277 horsepower FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer. Subaru Tecnica International could rework the internals and bump up horsepower and torque considerably if they use it in the next-generation WRX STI. This would be a welcome upgrade.

Subaru WRX Concept

The WRX STI didn’t look enough like the WRX Concept

Everyone remembers the WRX Concept that broke cover at the New York Auto Show in 2013. Fans loved the new design language, but Subaru chose to go with a much milder version. Subaru Corporation needs to get more aggressive with the next-generation STI body style that sets it apart from the current model. The VIZIV Performance STI Concept Subaru brought to the Tokyo Auto Salon 2018 would be a good place to start.

VIZIV STI Performance Concept

No DSG automatic transmission

The current-generation Subaru WRX STI comes with only one gearbox, the 6-speed manual rower. It’s a good transmission for performance enthusiasts, but Subaru could take the performance of the STI up a notch with a new direct-shift gearbox known as a DSG. The gearbox is capable of ultra-fast shifts that even the most proficient user of a manual rower simply can’t match.

2020 Subaru WRX

Subaru is committed to the CVT and they will continue to use it in the WRX because it saves fuel and it’s compatible with the EyeSight driver assist safety system. If Subaru wants to seriously upgrade the STI, they should develop a six-speed variant like VW Golf’s DSG.

Subaru’s WRX STI 2.5-liter Boxer engine failure issue

Subaru settled an engine failure lawsuit over the EJ25 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in 2012-2017 Subaru WRX STI models. This hurt credibility with many performance fans. Forbes even came out recently and put the WRX STI on their top-10 cars to avoid list for 2019. Subaru will likely drop the EJ25 in the next-generation WRX STI. The new FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer could be the best answer.

The next-generation Subaru WRX STI is expected to arrive sometime late next year as a 2021 model year. Subaru has made mistakes with the 2015-2020 STI but it can be fixed to make it the best.

You Might Also Like: New Subaru WRX STI Still Scores The Best In Resale Value

Denis Flierl has invested nearly 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates!

Watch The 2020 Subaru WRX and WRX STI Series.White Details/Price and Subscribe to Torque News Youtube for Daily Automotive News and Analysis

Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers!

Photo credit: Subaru USA, Subaru Canada (via Ross)