2018 Subaru WRX Base+L

The 2018 WRX is Subaru's compact performance sedan, the one you cross-shop with the Golf R and Civic Type R if you want all-weather grip. The ride is firm and the cabin is a bit loud on coarse pavement, which is the trade for how sharp and communicative the steering feels. It's a sedan with a usable back seat and a trunk that swallows a week's groceries, so it works fine as a daily driver. A simpler infotainment screen and manual air conditioning set the Base trim apart from the Premium and Limited above it. The Base is the lightest WRX at 3,272 pounds, and its smaller wheels give a slightly more forgiving ride than the stiffer STI.