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Boosting the performance of your Subaru WRX/STI does not have to be expensive. One of the cheapest and most effective ways to do this is by installing a cold air intake (CAI). A cold air intake can transform your Subaru WRX/STI with an increase in horsepower and torque, as well as a more appealing soundtrack. It can also improve your car's overall throttle response and fuel mileage. For a difference that you can see, feel, and hear, a cold air intake is one of the most affordable parts and popular first mods that owners do to really take their turbo ride up a notch.
But with so many different options on the market, how do you know which one is right for you? That's why we put together this list of the top five best cold air intakes for Subaru WRX/STI drivers. So whether you're looking to improve your car's power and handling or just want a more aggressive sound, we've got you covered. The following products all feature the top traits Subaru owners look for when shopping for a quality intake: good looks, great sound, durability, proven performance, and ease of installation. Be sure to also click on the link below to browse other available systems from a number of reputable brands currently on the market.
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Give your Subaru WRX/STI the maximum, unrestricted flow it deserves with the Mishimoto Cold Air Race Intake. This system features 3-inch mandrel-bent tubing that provides a smoother flow over the stock setup for massive amounts of air to pass through. The large-diameter intake tubing is engineered for large turbos and more aggressive engine tunes to produce the best results possible in terms of throttle response, power gains, and overall performance. It also comes with a pre-oiled air intake filter that boasts excellent filtration properties to keep your engine running clean. The Mishimoto Cold Air Intake was specifically designed for the Subaru WRX/STI with its big turbos and high boost pressures in mind. Your vehicle will require a tune to run this intake system in order to provide that much more power and torque for you to enjoy. What’s more, the CNC-machined air diverter helps to maintain reliable and consistent MAF readings, making tuning an easier task.
The Mishimoto Cold Air Intake not only provides added power gains, but also emits a highly aggressive intake tone under acceleration that is better suited to the popular tuner car. The package comes with a powder-coated airbox that further protects against unwanted and unnecessary heat soak during those long drives to maintain optimal operation. At the same time, the stock intake snorkel works to provide cool exterior air to the airbox to help keep intake temperatures down. The included MAF extension makes for an easy installation process, with no wiring harness modifications necessary. This WRX/STI intake kit comes with everything for a direct fit installation, and just like all Mishimoto parts, is backed by the Mishimoto Lifetime Warranty. Pair this with the Mishimoto WRX/STI Front-Mount Intercooler and WRX/STI Cat-Back Exhaust for the ultimate increase in power and performance!
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The AEM Cold Air Intake for the Subaru WRX/STI is one of the most popular options on the market. It features a heat-insulating molded plastic tube and a washable/reusable conical air filter to reduce intake temperatures for maximum performance and convenience. AEM’s Performance Cold Air Intake Systems are designed, tuned, and dyno-tested to give your engine more power and acceleration by replacing the stock restrictive air intake assembly. This air intake system was developed to accommodate your Subaru engine's factory emissions control devices like the mass air flow sensor. It also comes with a heat shield that gets installed outside the engine compartment to allow for cooler air to enter your engine and, thus, deliver better engine performance; something every Subaru WRX/STI deserves.
Air enters this system through an oversized AEM Dryflow synthetic washable air filter for outstanding air flow, filtration, and performance. The air filter is located in the original air box space and is protected by the heat shield. This oil-free synthetic filter media can be used for up to 100,000 miles before cleaning is necessary. The intake tubing is made from mandrel-bent aluminum for strength and finished with a durable, attractive gunmetal grey powder-coating. This AEM cold air intake is engineered to produce horsepower and torque gains in the mid to high range. Best of all, it does not require any tuning or ECU recalibration to perform. It’s a simple plug-and-play installation that will give you instant results in the form of improved throttle response, power gains, a bolder sound, increased fuel mileage, and added styling.
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The Perrin Performance Cold Air Intake will not only increase horsepower on your Subaru WRX/STI, but also elevate the look of your underhood compartment. Perrin intake systems use proper MAF alignment and plumbing size, both of which are extremely important in maintaining the proper air-fuel ratios and avoiding that pesky check engine light that plagues the competitors. Perrin’s Performance Cold Air Intake is made with aluminum tubing that is CNC mandrel-bent for optimal flow and precise-fitting parts. The OEM MAF sensor on the Subaru WRX/STI is too short to work with this system, so an extension is provided. The Perrin MAF sensor is also CNC machined to guarantee perfect alignment of the MAF sensor to intake, which is crucial for ECU engine management so no compatibility issues arise. The best part is that there is no tuning required with this system; just install it and go!
The Perrin Performance Cold Air Intake for the Subaru WRX/STI comes with a heat shield to redirect the hot engine air away from it in order to allow for cooler, ambient air intake temperatures. The smooth intake pipe also reduces turbulence to promote better airflow throughout the whole RPM band. The increased flow allows for faster spooling which helps to reduce turbo lag. During normal driving, the Perrin intake sounds relatively tame and stock. Under load, however, it really comes to life, unlocking the true sound of the turbo flat-4. Once installed, the sound of your car’s blow-off valve will also be enhanced to demand attention everywhere you go. The version featured here has a durable black powder-coated finish that is corrosion-resistant and can stand up to the elements. There is also a red version available for those who want to dress up their engine bay with a splash of color. Both versions come with a washable and reusable open cone Dryflow filter that requires less maintenance than an oiled filter and alleviates the risk of over-oiling while providing the same level of protection.
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Inspiration for the StealthBox Cold Air Intake by GrimmSpeed came from internal discussions about what the brand wanted from an intake system for the popular Subaru WRX/STI. Of course, performance was the highest priority, but GrimmSpeed understood that so much more goes into a product. The company aimed to create an intake that purred quietly under normal driving conditions but roared at wide-open throttle. The StealthBox was designed to look at home in the sporty WRX/STI engine bay rather than look like a shoebox was stuffed into the fender area like other competitors on the market. GrimmSpeed went one step further and took additional inspiration for this intake from the F-117 Nighthawk. If you are looking for a premium cold air intake system that was developed with the strictest attention to detail and thoroughly tested for proven results, GrimmSpeed’s StealthBox is a premium choice.
The GrimmSpeed StealthBox Cold Air Intake for the Subaru WRX/STI is truly unique and checks all of the boxes that an ideal system would have. Each intake starts out with a CNC-bent and laser-cut 6061 aluminum for the utmost strength and reliance. GrimmSpeed found that using thicket aluminum tubing (1/8” wall thickness) kept the intake from being vulnerable to rapid temperature changes. Such is known as the “thermal flywheel effect”. Custom MAF flanges are machined from the same 6061 alloy material and are placed where the most consistent cross-sectional flow is observed. The heat shields are also laser-cut, CNC bent, and hand-assembled before getting powder-coated for added resilience. With this intake, your Subaru will experience an additional 32 pound-feet (14.3% increase) at 3000 RPMs and a 21 wheel horsepower (9.6% increase) at 5500 RPMs, with healthy power gains across both curves.
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ETS intakes are made from high-quality parts and built in-house at their facility to stringent standards so you can expect the very best. The Extreme Turbo Systems (ETC) Cold Air Intake comes with or without an airbox, to keep as much hot air from inside the engine bay away from the intake. This system installs the filter in the fender well out of the engine bay to not only take in the coldest air possible but the most air as well. It utilizes a stock-sized MAF housing that doesn't require any retuning. You can just bolt this intake on and notice immediate performance gains while maintaining a safe air/fuel ratio. ETS takes pride in offering top-tier intake systems that boast proven results, precise fitment, and a durable finish.
The ETS cold air intake for the Subaru WRX/STI features full 3-inch diameter tubing for increased flow over the stock setup. It uses a custom billet CNC 5-inch velocity stack to help funnel as much air as quickly as possible through the system. This combined with a large 5-inch K&N filter provides the most filter surface area and flow possible for optimal results. It is specifically placed to allow the use of the factory ram air duct which supplies cold air to the filter. If you want to keep your engine bay looking stealthy, you should definitely opt for the airbox option. Besides looking great, it also helps isolate the intake from the hot engine bay temperatures for the most direct and coldest intake charge.