| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Agile handling | Cheap interior | Premium trim gets a keyless entry and push-start button |
Rapid acceleration | Fuel economy could be improved | No other major changes |
Standard AWD | Excessive outside noise inside the car |
$27,495
price268 hp @ 5600 rpm
horsepower258 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm
torque6-Speed Manual w/od
transmission2.0L 4cyl AWD 6M
engine-
basic warrantyWhen it was introduced in 1992, the WRX was one of the go-to models from Subaru, because of its history in the rally championships. Since then the WRX remains a good choice in the compact sedan segment of Subaru. The car went through 4 generations since 1992, the Japanese brand has planned a generation update for 2022, hence the 2021 WRX will be in the same fourth-generation only with minor changes compared to the previous year model.
Since all three trims come with the same engine, you don’t have to think about the options in the performance of the car. The basic WRX would itself be a good choice since you can choose the additional packages to comfort your car along with the WRX Sport Package which includes optional 17-inch wheels to make your sedan look sportier, besides the base trim is the popular trim among the customers and also saves you more bucks for almost same offerings.
The 2021 Subaru WRX will come with minor changes across the 3 trims namely, WRX, WRX Premium, WRX Limited. Well if you are not satisfied with the power, you can go for the STI and STI Limited models as always. The price range of the base WRX starts from $27,495 and the top Limited trim will cost you a minimum of $32,095. The Subaru WRX has competition in and out of its range like the Kia Stinger, Nissan Altima, and Hyundai Sonata, let’s check out how this model compact sedan still holds up to its name.
The Subaru WRX comes in three trims for the 2021 model year like the previous year model. The trim range starts with the WRX Base trim with a price tag of $27,495, the WRX Premium trim stands at the middle of the range with the price tag of $30,045 and the WRX Limited trim at the top with a $32,095 price tag. All three trims share the same engine and AWD drivetrain. As always the WRX also comes with the STI versions which have a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer-4 engine with a boost in total horsepower.
|
Trims |
WRX |
WRX Premium |
WRX Limited |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (AWD) |
$27,495 |
$30,045 |
$32,095 |
|
Key Features |
2.0-liter turbocharged Subaru boxer 4-cylinder engine with AWD drivetrain |
2.0-liter turbocharged Subaru boxer 4-cylinder engine with AWD drivetrain |
2.0-liter turbocharged Subaru boxer 4-cylinder engine with AWD drivetrain |
|
Fully synchronized 6-speed manual transmission |
Optional - Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) AWD |
LED headlights |
|
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Active Torque Vectoring |
Power-tilt/sliding-glass moonroof |
Optional - Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) AWD |
|
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Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS) |
Optional - Sport Lineartronic transmission with Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology |
Optional - Sport Lineartronic transmission with Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology |
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Quick-ratio electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering (EPAS) |
Optional - Sport Lineartronic transmission with paddle shifters |
Optional - Sport Lineartronic transmission with paddle shifters |
|
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Sport-tuned 4-wheel independent suspension |
18 x 8.5-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, dark gray finish |
245/40 R18 97W summer-performance tires |
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4-wheel disc, ventilated front brakes |
Halogen fog lights |
LED Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH) |
|
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Front and rear under spoilers |
Performance-design front seats |
LED fog lights |
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Rear bumper with integrated diffuser |
Heated front seats (All-Weather Package) |
Optional - Body-color power side mirrors with integrated turn signals |
|
|
Trunk spoiler - low profile |
Keyless Access with Push-Button Start and PIN-code vehicle access |
10-way power-adjustable driver's seat |
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Since all three trims come with the same engine, you don’t have to think about the options in the performance of the car. The basic WRX would itself be a good choice since you can choose the additional packages to comfort your car along with the WRX Sport Package which includes optional 17-inch wheels to make your sedan look sportier, besides the base trim is the popular trim among the customers and also saves you more bucks for almost same offerings.
With a turbocharger and a good number of horsepower, the fuel economy is obviously gonna have a negative impact. The 2021 Subaru WRX offers an average fuel economy of 21 mpg in city limits and 27 mpg on the highways with manual transmission. With the optional Sport Lineartronic transmission, the QRX can offer upto 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, which is way below the average. Apart from the average fuel economy the sedan also got a comparatively small fuel tank in its segment.
|
Model |
Subaru WRX |
Kia Stinger |
Nissan Altima |
Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
21 |
22 |
25 |
23 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
27 |
29 |
34 |
32 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
23 |
25 |
29 |
26 |
|
Fuel Tank Capacity (gallons) |
15.9 |
15.9 |
16.2 |
18.5 |
|
Range (City/Highway/ Combined) |
334/430/366 |
350/461/397 |
405/551/470 |
426/592/481 |
As mentioned earlier, the WRX has the least fuel economy among the other sedans in comparison. The Nissan Altima has the best fuel economy followed by the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Stinger. The Hyundai Sonata offers the largest fuel tank of 18.5 gallons followed by the Nissan, the Subaru WRX, and Kia Stinger share the third spot with a 15.9-gallon fuel tank.
Subaru offers a good number of interior options in the 2021 WRX to keep you comfortable during the drive but takes a big dig at the material quality used in the interior.
As a standard option, you get a 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat in the base and Premium trim and a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat in the Limited trim. Cloth upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 60/40 split-folding seats are on offer along with a decently spacious interior in the new Subaru WRX.
|
Model |
Subaru WRX |
Kia Stinger |
Nissan Altima |
Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Passenger Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Front (Head/ Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
39.8/55.6/43.3 |
38.2/55.9/44.8 |
38.0/58.2/43.8 |
40.4/57.9/45.5 |
|
Rear (Head/ Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
37.1/54.2/35.4 |
36.9/53.4/32.2 |
36.7/57.1/35.2 |
38.0/56.5/35.6 |
|
Cargo Capacity (ft3) |
12.0 |
23.3 |
15.4 |
16.0 |
The WRX offers quite a spacious interior but not as much the rivals in comparison here. The Hyundai Sonata leads the table with the spacious front and rear seats, the Nissan Altima follows the lead to second place, while the WRX comes in third place by pushing the Kia Stinger to the last. But the Kia Stinger packs a humongous trunk with a 23.3 cu-ft capacity followed by the Nissan and Hyundai in second and last third place, which pushes the 12 cu-ft trunk of Subaru to the last position. Apart from the mediocre interior quality, the Subaru WRX offers quite a decent number of interior and convenient features, some of them are:
Subaru may not have equipped the WRX with a comfortable interior, but sure they have fitted some of the important infotainment features to make your journey fun and navigated. In the Base trim, you get a 6.5-inch touchscreen display when you move on to the Premium and Limited trim, there you will get a 7-inch touchscreen with an optional Navigation system.
You also get a 6-speaker sound system in all three trims, which can be updated to an optional 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system only in the Limited trim. The 2021 WRX also gets some other informative features including:
With a striking 17-inch or 18-inch standard wheels and a hood scoop, the 2021 WRX looks the same as its previous model. There are no major changes in the exterior design of the 2021 WRX but the sedan already looks good with its side skirt-like design and low ground clearance.
The Base trim gets the 17-inch wheels while the Premium and Limited trim gets 18-inch wheels, they also get a Power-tilt/sliding glass moonroof which is not available in the Base trim. The WRX looks sporty yet simple as a daily-driven family sedan, the car doesn’t kiss the ground yet doesn’t stand tall and give a family car look.
|
Model |
Subaru WRX |
Kia Stinger |
Nissan Altima |
Hyundai Sonata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3,294 |
3,611 |
3,213 |
3,120 |
|
Length (in.) |
180.9 |
190.2 |
191.1 |
191.7 |
|
Width (in.) |
70.7 |
73.6 |
73.4 |
75.6 |
|
Height (in.) |
58.1 |
55.1 |
58.1 |
58.1 |
|
Ground Clearance (in.) |
4.9 |
N/A |
5.3 |
7.8 |
|
Wheelbase (in.) |
104.3 |
114.4 |
110.4 |
112.1 |
As mentioned earlier, the Kia Stinger is the heaviest sedan in comparison while the Hyundai Sonata is the lengthiest and the WRX is the shortest car. The Subaru is comparatively smaller than all three rivals in most of the aspects but equals the height with every car. Apart from the styling ques, there are some features that make the WRX looks cool, some of them are:
Subaru may have left down the WRX in some aspects, but they have nailed the safety of the car with the top-class build quality and safety features. The NHTSA awarded 5-stars for the 2021 WRX based on their crash tests, only the front driver side scored 4 stars while breaking down the tests from NHTSA. Not just NHTSA, IIHS has also awarded the 2021 WRX with the “Top Safety Pick” award, which is the second-highest score from IIHS. Apart from the crash tests, Subaru has also equipped the WRX with a number of safety features including:
First things first, the Kia Stinger costs almost six thousand dollars more than the basic Subaru WRX. For the extra price, you are not getting a sedan that performs more than the WRX yet little underpowered and slower.
The fuel economy is a bit good but the interior is not spacious as the Subaru, overall the WRX is a better choice if it is compared with the Kia Stinger.
The Nissan Altima is roughly two thousand dollars costlier than the Subaru WRX, and also comes with a slightly underpowered engine. But the fuel economy and interior space are better than the Subaru.
The Altima would be a good choice if you are looking for the comfort and convenience of the family more than power and speed, which it is capable of but not as good as the WRX.
Like its corporate cousin Kia Stinger, the Hyundai Sonata also costs more than the WRX, but it is less powerful than the Kia as well.
The Sonata also does not offer spacious seating in the rear row, and the fuel economy is more than the WRX but it could be even better for a less powerful car. Overall the Subaru is a far better choice than the Sonata.
Yes, you shall buy the Subaru WRX, but the base trim would be a better choice if you are looking for a sporty compact sedan at this price range. If you want to be more comfortable and would like to have a good interior then the WRX might not be a good choice for you. The WRX nails the safety aspect, and the handling of the sedan is also good, and if you like driving a stick then you’d love the Subaru.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #1 | 5.3 sec | 14.0 sec | 145 mph | |||
2021 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #2 | 7.7 sec | - | - | |||
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #3 | 8.1 sec | 16.0 sec | 120 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #2 | 20 mpg | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | 15.9 gal. | 318/429.3 mi. | |||
2021 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #1 | 27 mpg | 38 mpg | 32 mpg | 14.8 gal. | 414.4/562.4 mi. | |||
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #1 | 28 mpg | 39 mpg | 32 mpg | 16.2 gal. | 453.6/631.8 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #2 | 180.9 in. | 70.7 in. | 58.1 in. | 4.9 in. | 104.3 in. | |||
2021 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #1 | 192.9 in. | 73.2 in. | 56.9 in. | 5.3 in. | 111.8 in. | |||
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #1 | 192.9 in. | 72.9 in. | 56.7 in. | 4.9 in. | 111.2 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #1 | 12 cu.ft. | 96.6 cu.ft. | 74 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #2 | 15.4 cu.ft. | 100.8 cu.ft. | 15.4 cu.ft. | |||
2021 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #3 | 16 cu.ft. | 104.4 cu.ft. | 14.5 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #1 | 74 cu.ft. | 12 cu.ft. | 74 cu.ft. | - | |||
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #2 | 53.2 cu.ft. | 15.4 cu.ft. | 15.4 cu.ft. | 98 ft. | |||
2021 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #3 | 14.5 cu.ft. | 16 cu.ft. | 14.5 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Subaru WRX Ranked #1 | 1115 lbs. | 3294 lbs. | |||
2021 Hyundai Sonata Ranked #1 | 1234 lbs. | 3120 lbs. | |||
2021 Nissan Altima Ranked #1 | 1121 lbs. | 3208 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: July 19, 2024
Super sedan family car. One of the fastest for the purpose. Has great handling sports tuned suspension.twin scrolled turbo so barely any lag. Gets about 17 to 23mpg. Great safety comes with starlink, airbags surround airbags, great brakes. Front collision and rear cam brakes automatically brakes when its near a obstacle.
