Compare the2023 Subaru WRX VS 2023 Genesis G70

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 Genesis G70 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The WRX has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The G70 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The WRX Limited SPT/GT has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The G70 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the WRX. But it costs extra on the G70.

Both the WRX and the G70 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Genesis 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 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Genesis.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (271 vs. 252) than the G70 2.0T’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru WRX is faster than the G70 2.0T 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

	WRX	G70
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101 MPH	96 MPH

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 G70 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the WRX gets better mileage than the G70:

			MPG
WRX
AWD	Manual	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
G70
AWD	Auto	3.3 turbo V6	17 city/26 hwy

The WRX offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The G70 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 G70 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The WRX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the G70 2.0T are solid, not vented.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The WRX has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The G70 doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The WRX stops much shorter than the G70:

	WRX	G70
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	164 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	146 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the G70 (235/45R17 vs. 225/40R19). The WRX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the G70 (245/40R18 vs. 225/40R19).

The WRX has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The G70’s suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the G70 Sport Advanced pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the G70 Sport Advanced (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 350 pounds less than the Genesis G70.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the WRX a Mid-size car, while the G70 is rated a Compact.

The WRX has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the G70 (98.9 vs. 95.9).

The WRX has .5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the G70.

The WRX has a much larger trunk than the G70 (12.5 vs. 10.5 cubic feet).

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 G70 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Connected Care can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Subaru WRX outsold the Genesis G70 by 48% during 2022.