Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

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 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer pretensioners for its 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 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 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 Giulia Quadrifoglio 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 Giulia Quadrifoglio 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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The WRX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the WRX and the Giulia Quadrifoglio 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Subaru WRX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Giulia Quadrifoglio has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

There are over 5 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Alfa Romeo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Alfa Romeo is rated below average.

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 Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the WRX gets better mileage than the Giulia Quadrifoglio:

The WRX has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (16.6 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The WRX stops shorter than the Giulia Quadrifoglio:

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 500 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the WRX Limited is quieter than the Giulia Quadrifoglio:

The WRX has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (98.9 vs. 95.4).

The WRX has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The WRX has a larger trunk than the Giulia Quadrifoglio (12.5 vs. 12 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Alfa Romeo. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 10% lower rating, Alfa Romeo is ranked 11th.

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/TR’s exterior PIN entry system. The Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Insurance will cost less for the WRX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the WRX will cost $10095 to $12065 less than the Giulia Quadrifoglio over a five-year period.

The WRX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the WRX will retain 58.98% to 63.86% of its original price after five years, while the Giulia Quadrifoglio only retains 50.59%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru WRX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru WRX outsold the Alfa Romeo Giulia by over seven to one during 2023.