Subaru WRX VA

The VA is the end of an era, and it knew it. When the WRX split off as its own model in 2015 it moved to the modern FA20 direct-injection turbo and 268 horsepower, but the STI held onto the old EJ257, that 2.5-liter boxer soldiering on with 305 and later 310 horsepower while the rest of the industry chased downsized efficiency. It was a bit old-school on purpose, and that became part of the appeal.

Subaru sent the EJ off with fireworks. The 2018 Type RA sharpened the formula for the track, and the 2019 S209 became the most powerful and most expensive Subaru ever sold here: 341 horsepower and just 209 examples, all US-only. When the final STI rolled off the line in April 2021, the nameplate went quiet with no VB successor in sight.

If you want the definitive turbo-Subaru experience before the badge went dormant, this is it. A stock 2019-2021 STI, or one of the halo cars if your budget stretches, is a car people will be hunting for a long time.