Compare the2023 Subaru WRX VS 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

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 Golf R doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru WRX has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the WRX and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the WRX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf R is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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

The WRX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Golf R’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 16 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru WRX is faster than the Golf R Manual (manual transmissions tested):

	WRX	Golf R
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.3 sec

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 Golf R doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The WRX has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Golf R (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Golf R doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the WRX’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf R (245/40R18 vs. 235/35R19).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the WRX’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Golf R (105.1 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the WRX is .7 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Golf R.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the Golf R pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (36.74 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the WRX Limited is quieter than the Golf R (71 vs. 72 dB).

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

The WRX has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Golf R (98.9 vs. 91.9).

The WRX has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 3 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the WRX. The Golf R doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the WRX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf R. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The WRX offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Golf R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Golf R doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The WRX’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Golf R’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Subaru WRX outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by over two to one during 2022.