Compare the2022 Subaru WRXVS 2022 BMW 3 Series Sedan

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru WRX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru WRX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the WRX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the WRX. But it costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

Both the WRX and the 3 Series Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the WRX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 3 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 81 percent more Subaru dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 4 places higher in reliability than BMW.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (271 vs. 255) than the 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the WRX lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru WRX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The 3 Series Sedan requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The WRX has a gallon more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan (16.6 vs. 15.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The WRX offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The WRX offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the 3 Series Sedan (235/45R17 vs. 225/45R18). The WRX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (245/40R18 vs. 225/35R20).

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The WRX’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan xDrive’s (36.8 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 450 pounds less than the BMW 3 Series Sedan.

The WRX has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the 3 Series Sedan.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s exterior PIN entry system. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.