Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Audi S3

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 Audi S3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear 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 S3 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 S3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Subaru WRX is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi S3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

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 S3 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 S3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the WRX and the S3 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, 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 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 S3 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the WRX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S3 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.

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 77 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.

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 S3 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The WRX has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the S3 (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 S3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the S3 (235/45R17 vs. 225/40R18). The WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S3 (245/40R18 vs. 235/35R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the WRX’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the S3 (105.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the WRX is .6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the S3.

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Audi S3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the WRX a Mid-size car, while the S3 is rated a Subcompact.

The WRX has 12.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S3 (98.9 vs. 86).

The WRX has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The WRX has a much larger trunk than the S3 (12.5 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

The engine in the WRX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

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 S3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The S3’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.

The WRX’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Insurance will cost less for the WRX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the WRX will cost $1220 to $5735 less than the S3 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 S3 only retains 53.69% to 55.79%.

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by 81% during 2023.