Hood

What are the best hoods for a WRX or STI? For most builds, the best aftermarket hoods are vented carbon fiber hoods — they shed weight over the front axle and vent hot air out of the engine bay. If your car still runs a top-mount intercooler, choose a hood with a functional scoop; front-mount intercooler cars usually switch to a scoopless design. Drivers who want a subtle change can go with paint-matched scoops and OE-style hoods instead.

A hood is one of the largest panels on the car, so it changes both looks and performance in one move. Carbon fiber hoods are the enthusiast favorite for strength-to-weight and vented styling, while paint-matched scoops and OE-style replacements keep a sharper factory look.

Aftermarket hoods come in a few styles: vented and heat-extraction hoods that pull hot air out at speed, scooped hoods that feed a top-mount intercooler, and scoopless designs for front-mount intercooler builds. Check the listing for your exact year and model — hood shapes changed across generations — and choose a raw carbon finish or a paint-matched part.

Popular brands in this collection include JDMuscle — from Tanso carbon fiber hoods with heat extraction to paint-matched oversized hood scoops — and Seibon, known for its CW-style carbon fiber hoods.

Complete the look with our vented hoods, trunk, and fenders collections, or shop popular picks like the JDMuscle carbon fiber hood V2 with heat extract for 15-21 WRX/STI, the Seibon CW-style carbon fiber hood, and the paint-matched oversized hood scoop for 22-26 WRX. See also our article on aftermarket parts that improve your vehicle’s value.

Will an aftermarket hood fit my factory latch and hinges?

Generally yes — hoods bolt to the factory mounting points. Always confirm the listing covers your exact year and model, since panel shapes change between generations.

Do vented hoods let rain into the engine bay?

Vents are shaped to extract hot air at speed, and some water can enter in heavy rain — that’s normal, and critical electronics are sealed from the factory.

Do I need hood pins with a carbon fiber hood?

Many owners add hood pins or upgraded latches as extra insurance at highway speeds — an inexpensive addition worth considering.

Scoop or scoopless — which should I choose?

Match the hood to your intercooler: a functional scoop feeds a top-mount intercooler, while a scoopless hood suits front-mount intercooler builds.