Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Audi A4

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 A4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 A4 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The WRX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the WRX and the A4 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, all wheel drive, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Audi A4:

	WRX	A4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24.5%	26%
Leg Forces (l/r)	284/524 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	236
Chest Compression	.5 inches	1 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	203/285 lbs.	324/341 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Audi A4:

	WRX	A4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	152	172
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	165 lbs.	219 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	333

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the WRX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the WRX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the WRX’s reliability 36 points higher than the A4.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 13 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 70 more horsepower (271 vs. 201) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 236) than the A4 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (271 vs. 261) than the A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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 A4 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The WRX has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 (16.6 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 A4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The WRX stops much shorter than the A4:

	WRX	A4
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	155 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the A4 (235/45R17 vs. 225/50R17).

The WRX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4’s standard 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The WRX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The A4’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the A4 Premium (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the A4’s (36.74 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The WRX is 3.7 inches shorter than the A4, making the WRX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the WRX a Mid-size car, while the A4 is rated a Compact.

The WRX has 6.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 (98.9 vs. 92).

The WRX has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4.

Cargo Capacity

The WRX has a larger trunk than the A4 (12.5 vs. 12 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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 A4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the WRX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The A4’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru WRX and the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru WRX outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 82% during 2023.