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It’s Time For The Subaru WRX Sedan To Ride Off Into The Sunset

Subaru Canada has an interesting image on social media. The 2024 Subaru WRX is riding off into the sunset. Here's why I think it's an idea that has reached its time.
2024 Subaru WRX

Is it time for the 2024 Subaru WRX sedan to be put to rest? Put to rest permanently. There's an interesting image of the Subaru WRX riding off into the sunset from Subaru, Canada. I would say it could be a good idea now, but before I explain why, here is what Subaru had in mind.  

The WRX riding off into the sunset is not what Subaru Canada had in mind when it posted the image on its Facebook page. It was meant to celebrate sunsets. Subaru Canada says, "We want to see your sunset pics to celebrate the sun. Share your #SubarusAndSunsets photos in the comments!"

Subaru WRX hatch on the beach

What Are The WRX Trends Now?

I've written extensively about why Subaru needs to bring back the WRX hatchback. I recently wrote about its dismal sales, which have been on a downward slide for nine consecutive months. Now, after the April sales report from Subaru of America, WRX sales have decreased ten months in a row. That's significant. 

Subaru of America reports that the WRX sold 1,886 performance sports cars in April, compared with 2,667 models in April 2023. The WRX performance sedan decreased 29.3 percent in April, and for the first four months of 2024, the WRX dropped 38.8 percent, the most of any Subaru model. 

The WRX Has Decreased Ten Consecutive Months. 

  1. April 2024 -29.3%
  2. March 2024 -38.9%
  3. February 2024 -46.3%
  4. January 2024 -41.6%
  5. December 2023 -37.1%
  6. November 2023 -37.3%
  7. October 2023 -14.7%
  8. September 2023 -2.7%
  9. August 2023 -27.2%
  10. July 2023 -25.1%

Ok, So What Does The WRX Need?

Let's review where the WRX has been. Subaru performance enthusiasts remember when it was the Impreza WRX. Subaru dropped the Impreza name from WRX in 2015, which was a good move for Subaru. The same year, the Japanese automaker dropped the WRX hatchback. I would say that was not a good decision. 

The current WRX is underperforming, as the sales numbers validate. So, something needs to change. I'm not advocating for Subaru to drop the WRX like they did the Legacy sedan. I am saying that Subaru Corporation needs to drop the sedan and bring back the WRX hatchback. 

Subaru dropped the Impreza sedan from the lineup and went with a hatchback-only on all trim levels. They need to do the same with the WRX. 

Giving the WRX a hatchback body style would create a buzz around the performance car that would last for years. A hot WRX hatch would increase sales and provide the WRX with new life. 

The WRX Sedan Is Old 

The hatch offers more utility, and it's sportier than the sedan. Sedans are out as more buyers choose the crossovers and hatch models. But the WRX is still in the dark ages with a sedan body style.

It's precisely what Subaru of America needs to ask Subaru Corporate for—an all-new 2025 WRX hatchback body style. Subaru needs to drop the WRX sedan. 

IT'S YOUR TURN

What about you? Would you like to see Subaru Corporation bring back the WRX hatch? Should the Japanese automaker drop the WRX sedan? Click on the red Add new comment below and let us know what you think.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the Subaru WRX story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News and Subaru reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time. Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: Subaru

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Comments

Gilbert Bandry (not verified)    May 8, 2024 - 8:12AM

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Well, yes, bring back a hatchback STI! I have bought 19 Subarus since 1996, including 3 WRXs, 2 STIs a multitude of Imprezas and 2 Legacys, including the 2.5 GT. It is sad that Subaru has gone astray. This has led me (again, for the first time since 1996) to buy a 2024 VW Golf R 6-speed and waiting on a Toyota Corolla GR! Sad.
Please, Subaru, bring back the STI! I would buy one so long as it is a gasoline powered manual transmission.

Richard Hoffman (not verified)    May 8, 2024 - 5:30PM

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Right there with you. I have owned, driven and loved my 2008 STi for 16 years, and now that 16 winters of northern New England road salt have finally done their worst, I wish I could get another just like it. But the closest I could find, here and now, is the GR Corolla, so that's what I bought last week. It's good, and as close as I can get. As I told the Subaru dealer, I would have bought a new hatchback STi in a heartbeat if I could, but the WRX sedan isn't an adequate substitute. Full marks to Toyota for doing what Subaru wouldn't, and making a driver's car that's an AWD manual hot hatch. Now to stick some lift springs in that GR.

Khalid Henriques (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 11:40PM

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I'm in agreement with everyone who posted. I've faithfully driven Subaru's since 2009. I am currently driving a manual transmission Forester which is kind of a rarity. I think that after my current Subie dies I will change brands. The problem I have with Subaru is that they've completely lost their soul and have gone full blown soccer mom now (no offense to soccer moms). I rather not drive around a crappy CVT in the mountainous area that I live, and I don't need any help staying inside of my driving lane!

Steve West (not verified)    May 8, 2024 - 6:35PM

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A hatchback isn't the solution. The problem is they completely botched this wrx: it lacks everything that endeared real drivers to the old wrx, with no boost in performance. They totally missed their target audience: drivers who don't care if they spill their coffee, as long as their ride feels more like a rally car than a Legacy.

Toren Orzeck (not verified)    May 8, 2024 - 7:30PM

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The WRX needs help and so does Subaru overall.
The sedan is dead in America, so i agree the hot hatch would have been smarter. The also should leverage the STI and or WRX banding on there other cars. Imagine a Crosstrek STI..

The beauty of a Subaru is its all wheel drive, high ground clearance and incredible value, but value does not mean lagging so far behind. Its ergonomics are crap. We have a '24 Limited and its short center console arm rest is poorly positioned, the seats are better, sort of but the seat part is too short,. the lumbar should be on the passenger seat as well, the steering wheel is terrible- its a simple round cross section shape feels toy like., The steering wheel should be heated on the limited and wilderness or be an option. The crappy orange perforations in the leather interior tells you it's not leather , it looks cheap,. There should be rear vents at the back of the center console the user interface on the big 11,6 screen is terribly dated looking. (tihis can be updated via an over the air update) and Subaru should do it. The chrome liug nuts are gross as well, go black I'm also not getting the mpg the car is supposed to get.. .

Jay smiles (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 7:21AM

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Everyone hated The Styling on the stew WRX. It's time for this version to ride into the sunset but a new version that's properly styled with an STI variant needs to come out

Mee (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 12:49PM

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For me I think the first problem with Subaru is they went and changed from being Subaru to something else. What happened to the rowdy boxers, gold painted wheels oversize hood scoops and spoilers. Then they went and made everything CVT......hmmmm.
The Impreza name must return as both hatch and sedan then the performance variants get the WRX and STI ( hissing turbos and all) Products such as the XV I think also beg for the performance treatment

Alex (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 5:01PM

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The problem is not the hatchback, a hatchback version would 100% bring them a boost in sales yes but the issue is subaru didn't want to listen to their customers who hated the new model. The issue is Subaru dropping the STI and not offering an actual performance increase on the wrx, why would a performance minded enthusiast drop 30k in this economy for a 271 hp sedan when there are so many other better performing options for around the same price. The issue is that subaru lost their soul, their racing spirit! but I would dare to go even deeper into the issue and also attribute guilt to what was at the beginning a blessing for subaru but now a nail in the coffin in the long run, and that is the loss of their rival the mitsubishi evolution. Think about it, without the evo the wrx has lost its way, before it was evo vs wrx now its wrx vs what? If you bought a wrx in the past it was because you wanted one of the two street rally cars and would spend the rest of your ownership fighting over which one was better. It was a segment within a segment, so what if there are 460 hp mustangs or 300 hp civic type Rs, you didnt buy a wrx to compete with that, you bought a wrx to compete with the evo within your own bubble. I think subaru needs to do just 3 things: Give the customers a better performing car or let them build one themselves by having engines with stronger internals from factory, think about it, every subaru guy would spend an extra 3k over msrp if the engine came with forged pistons and Hbeam rods from factory. Second, do bring back the hatchback and third, for the love of god give us a manual, gas burning STI!

Alex (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 5:03PM

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The problem is not the hatchback, a hatchback version would 100% bring them a boost in sales yes but the issue is subaru didn't want to listen to their customers who hated the new model. The issue is Subaru dropping the STI and not offering an actual performance increase on the wrx, why would a performance minded enthusiast drop 30k in this economy for a 271 hp sedan when there are so many other better performing options for around the same price. The issue is that subaru lost their soul, their racing spirit! but I would dare to go even deeper into the issue and also attribute guilt to what was at the beginning a blessing for subaru but now a nail in the coffin in the long run, and that is the loss of their rival the mitsubishi evolution. Think about it, without the evo the wrx has lost its way, before it was evo vs wrx now its wrx vs what? If you bought a wrx in the past it was because you wanted one of the two street rally cars and would spend the rest of your ownership fighting over which one was better. It was a segment within a segment, so what if there are 460 hp mustangs or 300 hp civic type Rs, you didnt buy a wrx to compete with that, you bought a wrx to compete with the evo within your own bubble. I think subaru needs to do just 3 things: Give the customers a better performing car or let them build one themselves by having engines with stronger internals from factory, think about it, every subaru guy would spend an extra 3k over msrp if the engine came with forged pistons and Hbeam rods from factory. Second, do bring back the hatchback and third, for the love of god give us a manual, gas burning STI!

Mee (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 6:13PM

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For me I think the first problem with Subaru is they went and changed from being Subaru to something else. What happened to the rowdy boxers, gold painted wheels oversize hood scoops and spoilers. Then they went and made everything CVT......hmmmm.
The Impreza name must return as both hatch and sedan then the performance variants get the WRX and STI ( hissing turbos and all) Products such as the XV I think also beg for the performance treatment

IM STI (not verified)    May 10, 2024 - 11:14PM

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I have owned a lot of cars in the past 20 years. Nothing came close to STI. I owned that car and it put a smile on my face every single time I drove. No tech, no comfy seats, just a pure drivers cars. You felt connected to the road. Subaru started parting away from their core which made the brand. Came out with horrible styling, and worse of all, put a CVT in it. They stopped listening to their customers, their sales number. The new WRX are way under performing and to make it look good, you have to spend another $15-30 k which it’s how should have been from the factory. Plastic over the outside, under performing engines, horrible interior and above all they stopped the STI. Lot of times brands die when they get cocky and stop listening to their core customers.

Chris Anderson (not verified)    May 11, 2024 - 10:17AM

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I oen a 2022 WRX Limited currently which I truly enjoy driving. I also used to own a 2012 WRX STI Limited sedan which was a great vehicle. I feel that Subaru should definitely bring back the WRX Hatchback and the STI Hatchback(maybe make the STI version a Hybrid...follow Toyota's lead) that would be one bad dude!

Dave Zimel (not verified)    May 11, 2024 - 10:21AM

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I personally drive a 2012 outback with a 172,000 mi and I'm thinking about getting another vehicle I would love at this point in my life to get a WRX because I miss driving stick and I miss sticking my foot to the floor but I need a hatchback and why Subaru can't give me the Mexican WRX or something with a hatch with balls in America is a mystery to myself I hope I could say balls here no wait I said it twice already

Bob Lutjen (not verified)    May 13, 2024 - 9:59AM

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I would agree totally!
While not being a WRX owner, I have been a Subie owner since my newly shipped over red 1980 GL Wagon back in the day!
While some sedans may look "sporty" and drive fast, the WRX loses a lot of "WOW" when it becomes a "family style sedan "!
Seen many TR6 sedans?
BRING BACK THE BAJA!