IS the 2024 Subaru WRX TR the BEST WRX ever? On-road and OFF-ROAD test

We drive the 2024 Subaru WRX TR and see it is the best WRX ever.

The 2024 Subaru WRX TR pays homage to the original WRX TR launched in 2006 as a stripped-down, basic trim offering.  TR back then stood for Tuner Ready but this new one is not so stripped down, so today I’m going to test it and see if it’s worth it. 

It is impressive that Subaru has not stopped producing this turbo-manual-AWD sedan since most other carmakers are killing them off and making awful crossovers. Weirdly they did stop selling the WRX in Europe in 2018.  There are a few left though and the Toyota GR, the Honda Civic Type R and the Golf R come to mind.  

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:27 WRX Competitors
1:14 TR Specs
2:20 Exterior
2:37 Cargo Space
2:57 Under The Hood
3:21 Pricing
3:43 Interior and Tech
5:57 Driving
8:30 Off-Road
12:14 Verdict

What's a TR?

So, you could call this an STi light but don’t get too excited, there’s no more power on offer. So, what is the new TR exactly? The brakes are the TR's major upgrade, these big Brembos with six-piston calipers up front and two-piston fixed calipers at the rear. There’s a larger master cylinder (which is offered on all manual-transmission 2024 WRXs).  The other good news is that it comes as a manual only, which is bound to please the Save The Manuals brigade. Subaru’s own data suggests just about four in five WRX buyers opt for three pedals,

The 13.4-inch front rotors are an inch larger in diameter than the standard WRX ones, and the 12.8-inch cross-drilled rear discs are 1.4 inches bigger than the standard brakes. For the vain among you if someone doesn’t recognize your TR the calipers are painted bright red. You can also identify the TR by the unique 19-inch wheels, which are an inch larger to accommodate the larger brakes.  

The wheels are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires, (I hope they are good) which are new to the WRX.  They are 245/35s all round. The springs and dampers are about 5 percent stiffer, and the power steering has been re-tuned for more feedback. To save weight you'll notice the TR doesn't have a sunroof, the gods are smiling on me. The TR weighs within a couple of pounds of a manual-transmission WRX Limited. Curb weight is 3,400 lbs  

Exterior

There's no change to the exterior, it still has these love-or-hate, squared-off plastic wheel arches.
It also doesn’t have any badges saying it’s a TR.  

Under the hood

Sadly the WRX TR uses the same 271-hp 2.4-liter Boxer 4 as other WRX models. It has 258 lb-ft of torque and all four wheels are driven through a 6-speed manual.  Tread lightly and you should get 26 mpg on the highway.  

2024 Subaru WRX TR Numbers

BASE PRICE: $41,665
PRICE AS TESTED: $34,975
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, AWD, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
ENGINE: 2.4 liter turbocharged and inter-cooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4
POWER: 271 hp @ 5,600 rpm
TORQUE: 258 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6 -speed manual
CURB WEIGHT: 3,430 lb
0-60 MPH: 5.2 seconds
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON: TBD
OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY  18.9 mpg
CARGO SPACE: 12.9 cubic feet
PROS: Superb brakes, Suspension mods work well, More precise steering, Incredible grip
CONS: Need 300 hp+, Fussy infotainment, Seats need more lumbar support