How Does the New Subaru WRX Compare to Cars in its Class?

Looking at today's automotive landscape requires a much larger, and much more carefully defined lens that has ever been used before. No matter how you slice it - whether it be about performance, luxury, fuel economy, environmental sustainability, overall comfort, or simple brand loyalty, these are amazing but very overwhelming times for both the daily driver and the rabid car enthusiast. Less than 60 years ago, the average consumer began to see a sudden surge of "performance ready" car models rolling off the assembly line to be displayed in the local car dealership. This may sound silly to say today, but at some point in Suburbia's boring history, the average consumer was given a choice to buy more than just a car to drive from point A to point B - home to work, work to home, home to the store, the store to the doctor, the doctor to home, and so on. The script was pretty cut and dry. Before the mid to late 1950s, roadways around the world were not heavily peppered with a collection of the commonly accepted and factory-built "performance" vehicles readily available to anyone today that has a wallet and good credit. Other than the rare iron and glass beasts that roamed the land in the early to mid 1950s, like Oldsmobile's 135hp Rocket 88, the 300hp Chrysler C-300, or Studebaker's 275hp Golden Hawk, you were either a rebellious motor head, an inventive mechanic, or an industrious criminal modifying your car to run at the local dirt track, run illegal contraband, or feed your need for speed. What a different world it has become. No one in those days would have thought that someone like your mom, your doctor, or English teacher could walk into a car dealership and finance a 271 horsepower, turbocharged (turbo what?) Japanese-designed (no!) 4-door sedan to use as a daily driver. Speaking out crazy notions like this then would surely guarantee loud laughter and a chat with a medical professional. In today's world, you can't turn your head in traffic without seeing auto rockets to the left and to the right. 

First, if we are looking towards the offerings of another Japanese manufacturer in this space, the Honda Motor Company enters the ring with the Honda Civic Si, the sporty, performance version of their popular platform that has saturated the streets of America since it's global release decades ago and proudly moving forward with over ten generations of creative styles and levels of performance since 1972. The 2024 Honda Civic Si gives its driver some competitive styling, but at a lower, overall power rating than what is available from Subaru with the new WRX. The Civic Si leaves the showroom with a 200hp, Turbocharged, 1.5L four-cylinder engine, a 6-Speed Manual Transmission , and a limited slip differential which shines as a big benefit for the driver who needs more grip and handling power in all driving scenarios. At a price point MSRP of $29,500 for the base package, Honda has a popular pony lined up against the WRX. In addition to Honda, those steadfast engineers in Wolfsburg, Germany have proven that Volkswagen has a couple of models of their own that could also be in the site line of today's curious performance sedan buyer. Both the 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn and the Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 are models that flaunt an appeal to those who might crave a sensibility and compact might of a perky hatchback, or the muscle-flexing functionality of the family-friendly modern sedan. As now crowned as a 40 year veteran platform, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn, with a higher MSRP of around $31,000 , features a 228hp, turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine , also with 6-speed manual transmission . Sitting on top of the VW family, the GLI also includes an electronically controlled limited-slip/locking front differential to serve up additional performance, just like the Honda.

On the other end of their showroom sits the base model Volkswagen Jetta GTI 380 at an MSRP a little north of $32,000 , but powered by another turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine , but this one delivers 241 horsepower while leaning on its 6-speed manual tranny for acceleration performance. Lastly, like Subaru, another brand that has come a long way in the industry and has made surprising performance leaps up to the current year is Korean car maker Hyundai. A platform that will certainly be given the side eye by the new Subaru WRX, Hyundai's new Elantra N , marketed bluntly as its "high performance sport sedan" is not the small economy sedan older brother we knew in the 90s. The Elantra N promises a power delivery of up to 276hp out of Hyundai's version of the 2.0L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder motor , which is a five point horsepower jump over the WRX power plant. Hyundai also offers a traditional 6-speed Manual Transmission or their N 8-speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission which would be an immediate attraction for any performance-hungry enthusiast. As Subaru draws the symbolic line of performance comparison in the sand, a number of other brands including Acura, Audi, and even BMW could also be positioned to wave their competitive fists in this direction, but this overview just names a few closely matched and lined up to cross for a challenge. With that said, will a WRX owner need to question their faith knowing the numbers the other brands have thrown on the table?

Without traveling down a long road flanked by every performance sedan on the market with an MSRP between $30,000 and $50,000, we can confidently say that an enthusiast who has either grown to love or have recently been charmed by the brand called Subaru should stay the course and know that the WRX is both a strong performer and a platform with unlimited potential. Along with all the 2024 WRX features mentioned and comparisons to Honda, VW, and Hyundai briefly outlined, the beloved Subaru platform still exists as the best remaining rally-inspired sedan on the market. Again, when placed on a "best all-wheel-drive sedan" list, like the one published by Car and Driver, compared with luxury brands and models including Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo, the Subaru WRX stood alone in the middle of the pack, ranked at 13, but, most importantly, stood alone - not flanked by any other models in its defined "class". It is important to note that Car and Driver calculates their rankings based on a regiment of extensive testing of "more than 400 vehicles" which carefully measure and review everything including, per their findings, "acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and how enjoyable they are to drive." Again, simply doing the math, looking at the numbers, and considering the "direct" competition as a whole across the marketplace, any Subaru enthusiast will need to admit that as a consumer looking for a high-performing vehicle that produces 271hp, 258 lb-ft of torque, and a promised zero to sixty acceleration time of 6.0 seconds off the showroom floor, the WRX lover should keep the faith in the platform and brand that they love so dearly. The team at Subimods, proud owners of the 2022 WRX, can confirm the amazing potential of this platform, as outlined in the articles "The Subaru WRX: 2022 and Beyond, Part 1 and 2" which show how a vehicle with a pre-built aggressive and competitive spirit can morph into a long term joy and emblem for a Subaru lover's heart for true performance. In the grand scheme of things while measuring the important details, comparing delivered features, the investment cost, the alternative offerings, and the potential for long-term joy - the Subaru WRX stacks up just fine.

Subimods continues to concentrate on providing aftermarket innovations and products that take the Subaru platform of your choice to new levels in the present and the future, no matter if you choose a more exciting, dynamic daily drive, a more exhilarating weekend on the track, or a more aggressive adventure overland and in the wild. We would be very interested in your thoughts regarding this article and would encourage your feedback and comments regarding the newest Subaru WRX and how it competes with other cars in its class.

Write your comments below and continue this conversation. We are always thrilled to hear your opinions. THANK YOU!

For more information regarding aftermarket parts for your Subaru WRX, please visit our website and explore the section dedicated to your platform. We would be happy to serve you!