Subaru WRX VB

The VB (2022-2026, primarily US-market) is the current WRX on the Subaru Global Platform and the first with the FA24F (2.4T, around 271 hp). The bigger displacement brings more everyday torque and takes some of the predecessors' nervous turbo character out of the engine — most buyers here are getting a new or near-new car, not a classic. On gearboxes: the standard 6-speed manual is the enthusiast's choice; the CVT offered again (Sport variant, GT trim) still polarizes and is unpopular with drivers who want WRX character. Early VBs had a few teething issues worth knowing. The biggest is infotainment: the 11.6-inch STARLINK screen responds slowly and is prone to black-screen dropouts (image gone, system still running in the background) — critical because EyeSight functions are tied to the display and a fault can take assist warnings with it. A reset by long-pressing the volume knob helps short-term; persistent cases need software/service. Add B-pillar rattles, an occasionally troublesome sunroof, and the WRP-23 driveshaft recall for 2023 cars: the outer race of the front driveshafts can crack, causing power loss or, parked in P without the handbrake, a rollaway risk — Subaru replaces the front shafts, confirm it's done. There are scattered reports of 6-speed gearbox defects, plus production-typical items like sub-optimal RTV application at the oil pan and direct-injection carbon buildup over time. On price, as a new car the VB runs roughly from around $35,000 to start up to over $40,000 for Limited/SPT depending on spec; near-new used examples are priced accordingly. Insider pick: a VB as a 6-speed manual, ideally with WRP-23 done and current infotainment software, preferably a later model year where the early teething issues are sorted. At the viewing: test the infotainment for black-screen and lag, check EyeSight warning lights, inspect the B-pillar and sunroof for rattle and seal, pull the recall status by VIN, and row through every gear cleanly. The VB isn't an analog hero like the GD; it's a modern, livable all-wheel-drive sport sedan with a bit more torque and a few software weaknesses worth checking before buying. Hit the right model year and the right gearbox and you get the most balanced WRX yet.