SubaruWRX

　　

2024 Subaru WRX Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Manager, Written Content

　　Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at zzdcar and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.

　　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. 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.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Subaru WRX 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　Not Available  for WRX Base

　　WRX Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $32,735 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) (Most Popular) - $34,635 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $35,985 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $39,015 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $40,565 MSRPTR 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $41,655 MSRPGT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $44,215 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: New WRX TR trim level

For 2024, Subaru has expanded the WRX lineup with the new TR. It comes with a few changes meant to enhance the car's handling, braking and steering performance. Starting things off are new Brembo brakes with six-piston front and two-piston rear calipers with larger pads and rotors than what's on the regular WRX. The TR also gets exclusive 19-inch wheels fitted with grippy Bridgestone S007 summer performance tires. Subaru also retuned the suspension's springs and dampers for more precise handling and revised the steering for improved response and feel. Inside, the WRX TR comes standard with Recaro sport seats.

　　

Competitors to consider

The TR model looks promising, though we're a bit disappointed it doesn't make any more power than the standard WRX. 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.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Please note that this rating is based on a prior year and may change slightly once complete information about the 2024 WRX becomes available.

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar 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.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　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 zzdcar' 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.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below