The WRX has a loyal following as it’s been Subaru’s iconic performance car since first being sold in the U.S. in 2002. Known as a rally racer, WRX actually stands for “World Rally eXperimental.” It’s fast and fun with standard all-wheel drive, comes with either a manual or automatic transmission, and is relatively affordable. While it gets poor gas mileage and has a tiny trunk, WRX fans remain loyal.
Base Price: $41,655
As Tested: $42,775
Horsepower: 271
Mileage: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined
The WRX was originally part of the Impreza line-up. Subaru split it off in 2015. The WRX was fully redesigned and entered its fifth generation in the 2022 model year. There were no major changes for 2023. For 2024, Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, an infotainment system with 11.6-inch screen, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay become standard on all trims, and the TR trim returns. Subaru says the TR is “enthusiast-focused” and offers exceptional performance and handling.
The 2024 Subaru WRX comes in five trims: base, Premium, Limited, TR and GT. Starting prices range from $32,735 to $44,215. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating; however, the back seat is tight and only roomy enough for two smaller adults.
Unlike some other compact sports cars, the WRX is not available as a hatchback, only as a sedan.
The WRX is powered by a vigorous 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all trims except the GT. It comes standard with the Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT), a continuously variable automatic with paddle shifters, eight-speed manual mode, adaptive shift control, and variable torque distribution that sends more power to the rear wheels. The SPT is also available on all other trim levels of the WRX.
The WRX is fun and fast. The turbo four kicks in with little turbo lag and is especially punchy in first and second gears. Accelerating for merging and passing at freeway speeds is also a breeze. The WRX excels at winding through twisty back roads, staying planted with its standard AWD. Steering and brakes are responsive. The ride is firm, as you’d expect, but not jarring.
Fuel economy is poor for a sport compact car. EPA ratings for my tester with the six-speed manual are 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with a combined rating of 22. I got 22 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Premium fuel is required.
The cabin in TR tester is attractive with an upscale look and feel thanks to the Recaro seats in black and gray Ultrasuede with contrasting red stitching. A set of analog gauges and the huge infotainment system dominate the dash. Seats are comfortable and bolstered, providing plenty of grip when you’re taking twisty backroads. Front passengers have decent leg- and headroom, but the backseat is tight for adults.
Standard features include remote keyless entry, rearview camera, automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, analog gauge cluster, infotainment system with 11.6-inch vertically-oriented touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, HD Radio, satellite radio, Bluetooth, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, one USB-A port, and automatic LED headlights with high beam assist.
Available features include proximity keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, leather-trimmed upholstery with red stitching, 8- or 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, Recaro front sport seats, 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, navigation, three additional USB ports (one USB-A and two USB-C), Wi-Fi hotspot (available with subscription), windshield wiper deicer, moonroof and trunk lid body-color rear spoiler.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and pedestrian and cyclist detection.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse collision warning, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
The Infotainment system has a ginormous 11.6-inch vertical screen that resembles a tablet. While it looks good, it’s not always easy to use. The system can be slow to respond to touch and voice commands, and some functions require several steps of going through menus and submenus. There are handy knobs for volume and tuning, and physical buttons for climate, but the climate buttons are small, making them difficult to operate while driving.
The WRX has a tiny trunk with just 12.5 cubic feet of space. This is less than most rivals. The rear seats fold 60/40 which helps in transporting larger items. However, the trunk opening isn’t very tall so it can be challenging to load big things. A power trunk lid is standard.
The good:
Peppy powertrain
Nimble handling
Fun to drive
Available with manual transmission
Standard all-wheel drive
Many standard and available features and tech
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Not available as a hatchback, unlike rivals
Bad fuel economy
Cramped back seat
Small trunk
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $41,655. Destination fee is $1,120 bringing the grand total to $42,775.
Bottom line:
The 2024 Subaru WRX is quick and fun, especially if you’re zipping on curvy roads or spending the day at the track. In addition, it has a quality interior and many standard and available features and tech. It’s easy to see why the WRX is so beloved by those who want an affordable sport compact car.
