GD · 2000/01–2007
The generation where the WRX and STI finally reached the US.
The second generation brought the US market its first-ever WRX (2002 MY) and first-ever STI (2004 MY), both on the GD/GG chassis, while JDM STI continued its own parallel catalog of limited 'S-series' models (S203 in 2004, S204 in 2005, spec C in 2006) commemorating milestones like an 8-minute Nürburgring lap. Enthusiast facelift nicknames — Bugeye (2000/2002–03), Blobeye (2003–05), and Hawkeye (2005–07) — describe this generation's headlight-shape changes; these are informal enthusiast/parts-catalog terms, not official Subaru designations. US STI was sedan-only this generation; the hatchback STI body style didn't arrive in the US until the following generation.
US WRX debuts for 2002 MY; US STI debuts for 2004 MY — both roughly a decade after their JDM introductions.
CoverageGeneration tracer-bullet · 23 July 2026
Powertrain
Engine options
Per-generation engine specs aren't sourced yet for this profile — see the engine genealogy page for the family-level boxer engine history.
Configuration
Trims and transmissions
US WRX ran the 2.0L EJ205 turbo from its 2002 launch before switching to the 2.5L EJ255 turbo for the 2006 model year; US STI launched in 2004 on the 2.5L EJ257, matching export-market practice generally. JDM STI stayed on the 2.0L EJ20 family throughout.
Identify & buy
Identification and ownership notes
'Bugeye,' 'Blobeye,' and 'Hawkeye' are the enthusiast shorthand for this generation's three headlight facelifts; exact model-year boundaries for each haven't been independently verified against a primary Subaru of America source.