Should You Buy a Newly-Redesigned 2018 Subaru WRX/STI or Wait for the All-New 2020 STI?
Subaru says the newly-redesigned 2018 WRX and WRX STI performance sedans are the best-handling, best-performing examples they’ve ever built. We would have to agree. They get revised suspension tuning, new Brembo brakes with larger cross-drilled rotors (STI), new 19-inch wheels (STI), Recaro performance seats, and LED Steering Responsive Headlights. The upgrades will definitely improve their performance over the outgoing models. Should you buy one now, or wait for the all-new 2020 model with even more upgrades?
Subaru WRX STI fans still want the aging EJ25 2.5-liter mill replaced with the new 2.0-liter direct injection FA20 power plant with more than 305hp on tap. Fans also want Subaru to bring back the hatch body style. Unfortunately, you will have to wait on both until the WRX/STI gets a complete remodel for the 2020 model year. That’s when the performance models will get the new Subaru Global Platform (SGP) and the STI will most likely get the new 2.0-liter FA motor with power upgrades.
Should you buy the 2018 WRX/STI or wait for 2020?
Until then, the 2018 WRX/STI is still the best performance car value on the planet. The upgrades make it better than the outgoing 2017 models and you won’t be disappointed in the performance. If you can’t wait two more years, the WRX/STI holds its value better than all other sports cars. So if you buy a 2018 STI, keep it two years, you won’t get dinged as much as other sports cars when you trade it in for a new-generation 2020 STI, but you will lose money.
If you can wait until late spring/early summer of 2019, you’ll be able to get the all-new 2020 WRX STI with the new SGP, a new power plant, more power and improved performance. Until then, you’ll need to decide if the revised suspension, brake upgrades, and Recaro performance seats on the 2018 WRX STI are enough to keep you grinning.
Check out the new 2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI video below. Subaru takes the new WRX STI out to a test track for some serious drifting. The WRX has fun drifting in the dirt on a deserted desert road. Then the two get after it on a twisty mountain road where the STI overtakes the WRX to take the lead.
Photo credit: Subaru
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