Your questions answered: Is the Subaru WRX STI really coming back?

In this week’s edition of Your Questions Answered, we chat with former Mazda fans, check in about the big BYD ute and ponder whether Subaru is serious about the STI.

Got an automotive question but you don’t know where to find the information you need? Never fear, email us here at editor@carsales.com.au.

We’re very keen on buying a BYD Shark 6 but the only thing stopping us is its limited towing capabilities. We’ve read articles of BYD bringing out a bigger version of the Shark. When will it be in Australia? – Jackson

Answer: Hey Jackson, our gun journo Ali recently caught up with the new boss of BYD, Stephen Collins, who suggested a stronger Shark is being considered.

However, his language suggests that it’s unlikely to land in 2026… but I could be wrong, given BYD’s propensity to step up and break stuff.

Stephen makes a fair point, though. Many people are perfectly okay with 2500kg of towing capacity.

To be honest, 3500kg is a hefty load for a mid-sized pickup ute, regardless of what the marketing claims.

Two-and-a-half tonnes is plenty for a mid-sized camper trailer, boat, or open car trailer – leaving a bit of payload to spare.

It looks like a cheaper Shark 6 dual-cab as well as some cab-chassis versions will lob in 2026, and I’d bet we’ll hear more about the 2.0-litre version when those two drop.

Awesome coverage of the Tokyo Show! As a Subaru fan from the Colin McRae days, I was so excited to see the STI! Will we ever see this monster on the streets of Australia? – Nick

Answer: Hey Nick, I was lucky enough to be a young journo in the midst of the Japanese all-wheel drive (AWD) wars in Australia… truly a cool time to be into cars.

Subaru obviously committed harder than its cross-town rivals at Mitsubishi, and the STI was the poster child for a lot of us.

There has been so much talk and so many false starts over the last decade regarding a new one, though, that it was easy to lose hope about ever seeing one again. And yet, we’re now looking at two!

Everyone on the ground at the Mobility Show said that the internal combustion engine (ICE) STI model looked almost production ready, all it was missing was a number plate.

Whereas the electric version was obviously far more speculative.

To answer your question, would we ever see the STI here as a line model in a Subaru showroom?

The suits would say no. It wouldn’t help the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) ledger, it would likely be bloody expensive to retail, and supply will be intermittent.

However, if there’s any of the rallying soul left in the Aussie operation that brought us some of the coolest versions ever – remember the WRP10? – then there’s still a chance we can relive the glory days of the WRC, big wings and all.

I’m a bit confused as to why Kia came out with a ute before Hyundai. Isn’t Hyundai the parent company? Or are they waiting to see what happens with the Tasman before they commit to one? – Tom

Answer: Hey Tom, I’ve been writing about Hyundai’s on-again, off-again ute plans since around 2015, and I was just as surprised as you when Kia beat it to the punch with the Tasman.

Although the two companies are related, they remain strong competitors, meaning the actions of one doesn’t necessarily guide the other.

We recently caught up with the Hyundai management team, and we’re told that it’s all systems go for a ute, which will arrive locally before 2027 wraps up… or so we’re told.

For the last decade, Hyundai has flirted with the idea of an Aussie dual-cab –rolling out case studies, mock-ups, leaks, and even full-scale models.

Yet, for whatever reason, the Korean giant company has walked away – a move that’s hurt the brand given our insatiable appetite for utes.

The new Hyundai Motor Australia CEO Don Romano recently remarked that people who own a particular ute will also often own a second car from the same brand, so perhaps with his help, the Hyundai ute will become a reality at long last.

Mazda need to address the real issue since launch, the ridiculous gear box and ride. I wanted to buy one as the three-litre diesel was outstanding, but the bounce and gearbox ruined the test drive.

The day they put a six-speed ZF in it and move to proper SUV suspension is the day I will by it. I brought a 150 Series Prado instead, so I was willing to spend. – Brendan

Answer: Thanks for the note, Brendan. It’s going to be an interesting time for legacy carmakers like Mazda as they navigate new brands, adapt to the NVES landscape, and deliver what customers want – while staying profitable.

Ride and handling have long been Mazda’s strengths. After recent missteps with models like the CX-60, the brand is likely to regroup and refocus on this key point of difference against new rivals.

There’s a noticeable shift back toward traditional torque-sensing automatics, but as always, the challenge lies in balancing supply, demand, and price.

* The views stated in this advice column are advisory only. Questions may be edited for clarity and length.

Got an automotive question but you don’t know where to find the information you need? Never fear, email us here at editor@carsales.com.au.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au