For decades, the WRX has been Subaru's performance-tuned version of its Impreza sedan and hatchback. The 2024 WRX is part of the car's fifth generation, which debuted for 2022. We're not expecting much to change this year, which means you can expect the same mixed bag of desirable attributes let down by a few missed opportunities.
The WRX has traditionally appealed to sport-compact fans seeking turbocharged boxer engine power, all-wheel drive, and rally-inspired styling by way of fat fenders and towering spoilers. The latest car mostly delivers. All-wheel drive is indeed standard and helps to make the most of the car's 271 horsepower. But some people might take issue with the WRX's latest look, which relies heavily on black plastic body cladding. And unlike most of the competition, you can't get the WRX as a hatchback.
As part of your shopping search, you'll definitely want to check out the Toyota GR Corolla. It is more expensive but offers more of the classic rally car experience that the WRX lacks. Other enticing options include the Hyundai Elantra N, Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo (sedan or hatch) and Volkswagen Golf GTI. Check out our testing team's full Expert Rating of the WRX to learn more.
Edmunds Expert Rating
average
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
The WRX provides a significant performance bump over the Impreza. It's also decently comfortable for daily driving. But there's not much else that will really get you excited about a WRX purchase.
How does the WRX drive? The WRX isn't as quick as some of its rivals, but it's still fun to drive. We tested a manual-equipped WRX, and at Edmunds' test track it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. That's appropriately quick, though achieving that time requires an abusive launch technique. Our test driver noted: "I'll be honest and say I thought I broke this car trying to launch it. The driveline shock when you drop the clutch is so harsh and severe that I thought there might be a pile of metal on the ground. Even with the new engine, there's a significant amount of turbo lag below about 3,000 rpm. That means getting the best launch basically means dropping the clutch from about 5,000 rpm." We have yet to test the automatic-equipped WRX.
The WRX is at its best when leaping from turn to turn on a curvy road. Its strong midrange power, all-wheel-drive traction, composed suspension and responsive steering make for an excellent, enthusiastic driving experience.
Unfortunately, the brakes in the WRX don't deliver the response or stopping confidence we'd expect. Its pedal feels too soft for something this sporty. At our test track, however, the WRX was able to stop from 60 mph in just 110 feet — a respectable distance for the segment.
How comfortable is the WRX? The ride quality and the seating comfort in the WRX are both right at the top of their class. It's worth noting that several hours of driving in the WRX gave us no significant fatigue or pain. The seats hold you in place well during corners and provide proper support all the time.
The climate controls that are located inside the big center touchscreen are a bit difficult to learn and can be distracting at first, but most owners will get the hang of them relatively quickly. On the downside, the WRX is pretty noisy, with a little rumble from the engine at highway speeds and some pronounced wind noise over the doors and mirrors at speed.
How’s the interior? Up front, the WRX feels roomy for its class, and finding an excellent driving position should be easy. There's lots of range from the adjustable steering column and the driver's seat. The cabin controls are all within reach, and with the exception of the center screen, which looks daunting to use, everything is pretty easy to navigate. The back seat is a bit more cramped, especially with the transmission tunnel running through the center of the floor, so don't put your long-legged friends in the center of the back seat.
Getting in and out of the WRX is easy thanks to wide-opening doors, and once you're inside, there's a good view forward from large windows. The high trunk line makes rear visibility more of a challenge compared to others in the class, but that's no major penalty.
How’s the tech? The available 11.6-inch center screen is a highlight of the interior experience. It has crisp graphics and quick responses to inputs. Some users may dislike the portrait-style layout, but getting used to its functions is relatively easy. Seeing navigation destinations and directions is easy too thanks to the clear screen and high-contrast display. The available 11-speaker Harman Kardon stereo is excellent as well, with high-quality audio that's properly powered for high-volume listening.
Smartphone connections occur quickly, and voice controls are easy to use thanks to a number of on-screen prompts and the system understanding most natural language. Our test vehicle was missing some key optional driver aids including adaptive cruise control and forward collision mitigation, but the blind-spot warning system and the lane keeping assistance on the vehicle worked well without false alarms or overly sensitive alerts.
How’s the storage? As a higher-performing compact sedan, the WRX goes up against a lot of competitors that are available either as sedans and hatchbacks, or hatchbacks exclusively. The WRX only offers 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space, which is less than what the Honda Civic Si and Hyundai Elantra N offer. Thankfully, the rear seats do fold down to accommodate longer items.
Small-item storage is adequate enough for smartphones and small water bottles. Installing child seats into the back should be relatively easy thanks to wide-opening doors, though you have less rear legroom to fit a larger seat.
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates a manual-equipped WRX will get 22 mpg in combined driving, which is one of the worst in the class. Driving the WRX on the Edmunds' test loop for 115 miles, the WRX averaged 24 miles per gallon. That's right where we'd expect it to be according to its fuel economy rating, but other cars such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hyundai Elantra N are more frugal.
Is the WRX a good value? Build quality is excellent. There are lots of soft-touch surfaces, and the WRX feels classy from the moment you step inside. Unfortunately, the WRX has much worse fuel economy than competitors and worse mpg than already bad previous-generation models. It's also one of the more expensive higher-performing compact sedans on the market.
For the class, the WRX's warranty is average: three years/36,000 miles of basic coverage, five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, and corrosion coverage for five years/unlimited miles. Roadside assistance lasts the life of the basic warranty.
We're bummed Subaru doesn't offer a higher-performing WRX STI like it used to, or even a hatchback body style. The plastic panels that line the bodywork are a polarizing bit of styling too. But the WRX is fun to drive, which is ultimately the most important aspect.
Subaru hasn't released official information on the 2024 WRX as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's WRX, we recommend the Premium trim. This version of the car adds features that make driving in colder climates easier and more comfortable and installs a large-screen infotainment system with extra tech. The Premium trim also unlocks access to appealing upgrades such as a premium sound system and a sunroof.
[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's WRX. We expect the 2023 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Subaru WRX sedan comes in four trim levels: base, Premium, Limited and GT. Each has a turbocharged 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine (271 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque). It pairs with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional continuously variable automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. (Subaru calls the CVT a Subaru Performance Transmission.) Highlights from each trim level are as follows:
Base
In standard specification, the WRX includes:
- 17-inch wheels
- Summer performance tires
- LED headlights
- Remote keyless entry
- Single-zone automatic climate control
- Cloth sport-bolstered seats
- Height-adjustable driver's seat
- 60/40-split folding rear seats
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Dual 7-inch center touchscreens
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Six-speaker sound system
Choose the optional CVT and Subaru also equips the WRX with:
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
- Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the WRX and the car in front)
Premium
The WRX Premium adds several desirable features, including:
- 18-inch wheels
- LED foglights
- Heated side mirrors
- Windshield wiper de-icer system
- Keyless entry and ignition
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Heated front seats
- 11.6-inch center touchscreen (replaces the dual 7-inch displays)
- Starlink connected services
- Dual rear USB ports
Options for the Premium include:
- Harman Kardon premium sound system
- Sunroof
Limited
This version of the WRX adds comfort and tech in the form of:
- Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
- Body-color exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals
- Sunroof
- Power-adjustable driver's seat
- Synthetic leather seating with microsuede inserts
- Navigation system
- Harman Kardon premium sound system
- Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Add the CVT to the Limited, and the car also has:
- Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
GT
With the GT trim, the CVT and all safety features listed above are standard equipment, plus:
- Adaptive suspension dampers
- Additional drive mode settings
- Recaro front sport seats
- Upgraded interior trim
