Compare the2023 Subaru WRX VS 2023 Lexus IS

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 IS doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 IS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Both the WRX and the IS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the WRX’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the IS’ camshafts. If the IS’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 30 more horsepower (271 vs. 241) than the IS 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (271 vs. 260) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 236) than the IS 300 AWD’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

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 IS 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 IS requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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

The WRX stops shorter than the IS:

	WRX	IS
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	159 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	117 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the WRX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the IS (245/40R18 vs. 235/40R19).

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the IS 300 AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the IS 300 AWD (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Lexus IS.

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

The WRX has 8.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS (98.9 vs. 90.2).

The WRX has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

The WRX has a much larger trunk than the IS (12.5 vs. 10.8 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 IS doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.