The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Turbo power
- Athletic moves
- Great steering
- Still has a manual!
Dislikes
- GT is expensive and lacks manual
- Some weird exterior lines
- Where’s the STI?
- Can get quite expensive
- Lousy mpg
Buying tip
features & specs
Practical but fun, the 2024 Subaru WRX is the enthusiast’s everyday driver.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Subaru WRX? What does it compare to?
The 2024 Subaru WRX is a rally-like sedan with standard all-wheel drive, plentiful turbo power, and a sport-tuned chassis. Shop it against the Hyundai Elantra N and Volkswagen Golf R.
Is the 2024 Subaru WRX a good car/SUV?
If you’re a fan of sporty driving but need more space than a coupe will ever offer, the WRX makes an excellent choice. It’s quick, handles brilliantly, and has a practical design. It’s a 6.0 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Subaru WRX?
For 2024, Subaru has finally made its EyeSight driver-assistance and crash-avoidance tech work with a manual transmission. The tech is standard across the line. A new WRX TR model with Brembo brake calipers and an upsized master cylinder, suspension and steering tweaks, and Bridgestone Potenza S007 summer tires mounted on 19-inch wheels has been added to give the WRX a more track-oriented edge.
The WRX comes in a single sedan configuration, with looks derivative of the automaker’s Impreza and Crosstrek models. It’s wide and low, if rather busy and chunky with its unpainted fender flares and lower trim plus its wide hood scoop. There’s a lot going on inside, too, especially in the base trim with its tacky twin 7.0-inch touchscreens. Other versions have an 11.6-inch screen that looks better integrated.
Underhood, the WRX’s 2.4-liter turbo-4 has been plucked from the automaker’s big Ascent SUV. Its 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque give it robust acceleration via either a 6-speed manual transaxle or an optional continuously variable automatic. Look for 60 mph to tick by in around five seconds.
Adaptive dampers come on the top GT model, which has the most comfortable ride of the bunch, though that model only comes with the CVT. All WRXs have quick reflexes and benefit from exceptional grip thanks to standard all-wheel drive. They’re highly balanced performers as adept at handling a day-to-day slog as they are a weekend track day.
They’re aided by comfortable seats and a spacious cabin, even if some interior trim feels a bit low-buck for a price tag that can hit $45,000 in top trims.
Now that EyeSight is standard, all models have adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitors.
How much does the 2024 Subaru WRX cost?
Subaru charges $33,855 for the base 6-speed WRX, a bump over last year’s $31,600 entry point. We like the Premium trim with its heated seats, 11.6-inch touchscreen, and 18-inch alloy wheels. It’s $35,755, plus $2,000 for the CVT. The GT edition costs $45,335.
Where is the 2024 Subaru WRX made?
In Japan.
2024 Subaru WRX Styling
The WRX prioritizes performance over style.
Is the Subaru WRX a good-looking car?
It’s something, that’s for sure. The WRX has a puffed-up look compared to its predecessors, and its unpainted fender flares give it a rugged, Crosstrek-like edge. It works all right to us, so we give it a 6 out of 10 for its exterior. Its busy cabin earns no points.
The wide hexagonal grille and swept-back headlights tie the WRX into the rest of the Subaru lineup, but it has no Impreza equivalent. (That’s kind of a shame, since a hatchback version would be quite practical.)
Inside, look for a complex design. The 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen in most versions works well enough on the dash, especially compared to the base dual 7.0-inch setup that screams cost cutting. Subaru does a nice job integrating typical sporty bits, such as busy upholstery and a flat-bottom steering wheel, though.
2024 Subaru WRX Performance
The Subaru WRX has a wide performance envelope.
While there’s no ultra high-zoot version just yet, the 2024 Subaru WRX nonetheless delivers balanced handling, exceptional grip, plenty of power, and a daily driver-tolerable ride. It’s a 9 on the TCC scale.
Is the Subaru WRX 4WD?
Yes, though just what setup is underneath depends on the gearbox. Manual models have a 50/50 split between front and rear thanks to their viscous coupling center. CVT models swap in a center differential with an electro-hydraulic clutch that nudges slightly more power rearward under normal driving circumstances.
How fast is the Subaru WRX?
It’ll zip to 60 mph in five seconds thanks to its 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4, which is rated at 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That torque curve is broad and lag is barely perceptible. The standard 6-speed manual is a joy thanks to its snappy shifter and natural-feeling clutch, though this model has more lag than the optional CVT. That automatic gearbox features fixed gear ratios that make themselves known in more enthusiast-oriented driving. Its infinite ratio mode in normal driving allows drivers to tap into ample torque for quick getaways. We still prefer the manual, but the CVT isn’t a bad choice.
The WRX boasts an exceptionally low center of gravity thanks to its low-slung engine. It’s balanced and fun, with rapid-fire steering and a firm but not uncomfortable ride. It’s even reasonably quiet inside, which is something we’ve never been able to say about a WRX until now.
GT models come only with the CVT, but they also include adaptive dampers that work well in their softest setting to provide a more comfortable ride.
Strong brakes are an asset, though the optional Brembos—standard on the new TR trim—provide the best stopping power for on-track use. Speaking of that new model, we’ve yet to drive it, but we’ll update our impressions here once we’ve experienced its retuned suspension and steering. Hopes are high, though.
2024 Subaru WRX Comfort & Quality
The 2024 Subaru WRX packs a spacious, if not especially stylish, cabin.
Subaru bolts on plenty of sporty bits to make the WRX’s cabin feel more special, though our point above average here comes from its great front seats. Rear-seat riders will find decent room, too.
Overall, the WRX is a 6 out of 10.
The zippy bits Subaru has specified include a thick-rimmed, small-diameter, flat-bottom steering wheel, grippy seats in cloth or synthetic suede, and plenty of racy bright trim. Optional Recaro front seats—included in the GT and TR—grip occupants even better, though wider passengers may find them to be a bit too restrictive.
Ample headroom is made helmet-friendly in the TR, which lacks the sunroof widely included otherwise.
At the back, the 12.5-cubic-foot trunk is small for a compact sedan.
2024 Subaru WRX Safety
More standard safety tech this year elevates the 2024 Subaru WRX.
How safe is the Subaru WRX?
It’s a very safe choice this year. We grant it an 8 out of 10 thanks to widely standard crash-avoidance tech, a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, and a five-star NHTSA rating.
All models now include the automaker’s EyeSight suite, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, adaptive LED headlights, rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, and active lane control. Higher-end versions also include an emergency steering system that can avoid lower-speed crashes by moving the car out of the way automatically.
Outward vision is excellent.
2024 Subaru WRX Features
The 2024 Subaru WRX is a good value, so long as you stick to lower-trim versions.
While the 2024 Subaru WRX can get quite pricey when loaded up, it’s overall a decent value. We grant it a 7 thanks to decent standard fare and plentiful crash-avoidance tech across the range.
The WRX lineup starts at $33,855 for the base model, which has two 7.0-inch touchscreens, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, cloth seats with manual adjustment, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Which Subaru WRX should I buy?
Skip the base model and spend up for the Premium. It’s $35,755, which buys keyless access and push-button start, a single 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and 18-inch alloy wheels. You can also add Harman/Kardon audio and a sunroof, should you choose.
How much is a fully loaded Subaru WRX?
The GT version comes in at around $45,000 with its synthetic suede upholstery, Recaro front seats with power adjustment for the driver, 11-speaker audio system, adaptive dampers, and additional drive modes. It comes only with the CVT, though.
2024 Subaru WRX Fuel Economy
The 2024 Subaru WRX is a thirsty beast.
Is the Subaru WRX good on gas?
It’s not great, though all that power underhood has to come from something. We rate it at a 2 due to its 19 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined rating with the manual transmission. The CVT slides to just 19/25/21 mpg.
Premium fuel is needed.
