The Japanese automaker Subaru only sells eight vehicles in the U.S., but that doesn’t make it less competitive in the automotive market. In fact, Subarus are famous for their performance, utility, comfort, reliability, and safety credentials all around the globe. While the world regards it for its boxer engines and symmetrical all-wheel drive, speed enthusiasts love the brand for its rally-inspired Subaru fast cars.
Please do not take us wrong; Subaru fast cars can’t compete with the likes of Corvette Z06, but you can tune them easily. For example, you can tune the Impreza WRX STI to generate up to 550hp, upgrade the brakes and suspension, and compete against most sports cars out there.
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Top Subaru Fast Cars
Today, we will discuss Subaru fast cars in relation to their 0-60 mph acceleration time. We will take into account every vehicle the automaker created since its inception but will obviously ignore concept models, one-offs, and extensively altered variants.
We want to focus only on production vehicles, and we also have to exclude models that didn’t have reliable performance statistics. We are talking about the models like the WRX STI tS Type RA and the Legacy Turbo cars from the early 1990s.
1) 1992 SVX – 0-60 in just 7.3 seconds
Before the end of 1980, Subaru hired the famous designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to sketch a self-indulgent grand tourer. The result was a concept car, which Subaru decided to produce later on. The best part is that the automaker didn’t make many changes and brought us a true Grand Touring car in the shape of 1992 SVX.
It came with a 3.3-liter flat-six engine pumping out 230 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque all the way to redline. The engine mated to an automatic transmission (which we heard had a tendency of overheating).
At the time of its introduction, the SVX was about $10,000 costlier than other models in the Subaru’s lineup, owing to some innovative features like wind-defusing side windows, stylish interior design, and indisputably Lancer-ish lines.
The SVX is now a collector’s car, so it sells at a lot higher price than it originally came with. Its production lasted for only five years.
2) Subaru Baja Turbo – 0-60 in just 7.3 seconds
Do you recall Baja? The limited-run Subaru that hearkened back to reminiscences of the Chevy El Camino or automaker’s very personal Brat? The vehicle didn’t just make its name because of its awkward looks; the Turbo variant had lots of power, enabling it to zoom from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Under the hood was a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-4 engine generating 210 horsepower, mating to a manual gearbox. The top speed was limited to 130 miles per hour.
3) Subaru Legacy 3.6R – 0-60 in just 7.1 seconds
Mechanically similar to the Outback 3.6R, the Legacy 3.6R was one of Subaru’s fastest cars ever produced. It carried a 3.6-liter flat-6 engine churning out 256 ponies and 247 lb-ft of torque, mating to continuously variable transmission and the all-wheel driving system. Strangely, some other Legacy models with four-cylinder engines even generate more power. The midsize sedan is capable of hitting 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and top out at 139 miles per hour.
4) Subaru BRZ – 0-60 in just 6.4 seconds
Jointly created by Toyota and Subaru, the BRZ came featuring a rear-wheel-drive platform. The compact sports car wasn’t very fast when it came, offering around 200 horsepower with a 0 to 60 time of 6.4 seconds.
Over the years, Subaru made many changes. They updated the naturally aspirated Boxer engine, made the chassis more rigid, and improved its styling.
Currently, it holds a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder mill churning out 228 horsepower (170 kilowatts) and 184 pound-feet (249 newton-meters). The new engine is around 11 percent more robust and 15 percent torquier than the 2.0-liter mill available in the 2021 model. With this power, the new 2022 BRZ can hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
5) Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited – 0-60 in just 5.8 seconds
Another Legacy model making to our Subaru fast cars list is the Legacy 2.5 GT Limited. Giving it momentum is a turbocharged flat-4 engine that is better than the bigger 3.6R flat-six. The engine can create 265 horsepower and 258 pound-feet worth of torque, and it pairs with a manual transmission. The 0 to 60 mph speed stands at 5.8 seconds, which is quite impressive for a sedan.
The Legacy GT also came in wagon disguise with a manual transmission. If you are a performance seeker and happen to find it, buy it without a second thought.
6) Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon – 0-60 in just 5.8 seconds
How can you make the WRX better? Well, transform it into a wagon! While the company is not producing it anymore, the WRX Sport Wagon was indeed a lean and mean rally model that could easily outrun the original WRX during its time.
The Sport Wagon used a turbocharged flat-4 mill kicking out 227 horsepower and 217 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to hit sixty in 5.8 seconds. Subaru seized production a long time back, but it is still among Subaru fast cars.
7) 2014 Forester 2.5 XT – 0-60 in just 5.9 seconds
You might find it very odd when you know that the lite crossover Forester can outperform some of the cars we have listed above. Yes, it truly can, thanks to the turbocharged 2.5-liter mill yielding 250 horsepower. The updated gearing rendered it a sleeper vehicle status. The crossover can hit 60 mph from a standstill in a quick 5.9 seconds, owing to its mechanical resemblance to the WRX.
If that’s not enough, you can always change a few main parts to make it more powerful.
8) Subaru Legacy GT spec. B – 0-60 in just 5.3 seconds
Subaru introduced the Legacy GT spec. B sedan in 2006, and it was a lot costlier than the mainstream Legacy. The company only produced 500 units without giving buyers any color option. The only paint choice was dark silver.
The Legacy GT spec. B borrowed the engine from the Legacy GT, generating the same 250-horsepower, mating to a six-speed manual transmission. However, a few things made it stand out from a normal GT model. For instance, it came with a navigation system priced $1,200 more than the standard GT and had superior suspension, larger brakes, and wider wheels.
The changes shaved off 0.5 seconds from the GT model’s 0 to 60 miles per hour. It can sprint to 60 in 5.3 seconds and offers improved handling.
9) Subaru Forester 2.5 XT – 0-60 in just 5.2 seconds
If we tell you that a Forester can outperform every vehicle we have mentioned thus far, would you believe us? Well, you have to, as the Forester 2.5 XT can zoom to 60 mph in only 5.2 seconds thanks to its 4.44 gearing.
It carries a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower. This Forester is not all about speed; it is an excellent sleeper option if you seek a modest around-town ass-kicker.
10) Subaru WRX – 0-60 in just 5.0 seconds
One of the original rally-inspired racecars, the WRX has now entered its fifth generation. Over the years, Subaru couldn’t improve its power much. For instance, the base 2015 WRX and 2021 WRX both offer the same engine, i.e. a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mustering 268 horsepower with six-speed manual transmission. However, the new 2022 model is a little more robust (just an increase of 3 horsepower) and more responsive, thanks to an electronically controlled turbocharger wastegate. The older WRX could hit the 60 mph mark in only 5.0 seconds.
Subaru has introduced another trim level, the WRX GT, that sits just above the STI.
11) Subaru WRX STI – 0-60 in just 4.8 seconds
The older STI was a beefed-up version of the WRX that delivers a little quicker acceleration on the straight line. In an independent test conducted by Roads & Track, the WRX STI completed the 0 to 60 mph run in 4.8 seconds.
However, the newer models are just the opposite, where the standard 2020 WRX is quicker than the STI variant – 5.6 seconds vs 6.0 seconds.
Whatever model you choose, both variants are fun to drive.
12) Subaru Impreza 330S – 0-60 in just 4.8 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqJ1Gr__EQ
Did you ever hear about the Impreza 330S? Well, most people didn’t because it wasn’t well-known in its time. However, it does have impressive performance stats. It can blast from zero to 60 mph in only 4.8 seconds thanks to the improved 2.5-liter turbo flat-four offering 325 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque.
The five-door hatch features a six-speed manual transmission with Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. This British-bound model of the Impreza is one of the best Subaru fast cars you could buy.
13) Subaru WRX Special Edition – 0 to 60 in only 4.7 seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILxY0EwAw7I
Probably the most dedicated version of the WRX is the Special Edition boasting “Punkin Orange” paint and blazing speed of 4.7 seconds to sixty. This decal-laden machine soon became very popular among consumers after its introduction. Subaru gave it a wider body and larger wheels to make this limited-edition WRX more capable for both on- and off-road conditions.
14) Subaru Impreza 22B STI – 0-60 in just 4.7 seconds
Car and Driver called it “The Subaru from hell” and rightly so for its time. The 1998 Impreza 22B STI was capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. Remember, these are startling numbers for a car more than two decades old.
It featured the boxy, early 1990s appearance and was available in only limited numbers. The company made just 424 examples to celebrate its 40th anniversary. It carried a 2.2-liter powerplant spawning 280 horsepower and a top speed of 144 miles per hour.
15) Subaru WRX STI S206 – 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds
Subaru’s successful updates for the WRX kept coming for a long time, and perhaps the best among those was the STI S206.
Unfortunately, the Americans didn’t know about this model because it was exclusively made for the Japanese market with impressive performance figures. The engineers managed to bump its power up to 316 ponies and 318 pound-feet of torque. The result was a sports car with 0 to 60 mph time of only 4.5 seconds.
Its looks and power certainly made it an excellent racer on the track.
16) Subaru Impreza WR1 – 0 to 60 in only 4.3 seconds
The WR1 may appear the same as its weaker sibling, but it was exceptionally progressive in the performance segment. It came equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine supplying a whopping 342 horsepower and a top speed of 155 miles per hour. Flooring the pedal allows it to hit 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds.
Because the WR1 was a special-edition limited-run car with tremendous performance, speed enthusiasts cried foul over its price and scarcity. Tuned and used to succeed in rally championships in its time, the WR1 is still one of the top Subaru fast cars.
