Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 BMW 3 Series Sedan

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

Safety

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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 BMW 3 Series Sedan 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the WRX. But it costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The WRX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

Both the WRX and the 3 Series Sedan 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	WRX	3 Series Sedan
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	156	252
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	203/285 lbs.	200/338 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 BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	WRX	3 Series Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	165 lbs.	179 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	270

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 3 Series Sedan has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the WRX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 3 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 80 percent more Subaru dealers than there are BMW 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 19 points higher than the 3 Series Sedan.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 3 places higher in reliability than BMW.

Engine

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (271 vs. 255) than the 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru WRX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The 3 Series Sedan requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The WRX has a gallon more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan (16.6 vs. 15.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The WRX offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The 3 Series Sedan 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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The WRX stops much shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

	WRX	3 Series Sedan
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	129 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the 3 Series Sedan (235/45R17 vs. 225/45R18). The WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (245/40R18 vs. 225/40R19).

The WRX TR’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 3 Series Sedan’s optional 40 series front tires.

Suspension and Handling

The WRX Limited handles at .95 G’s, while the 330i xDrive pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the 330i xDrive (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (36.74 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 400 pounds less than the BMW 3 Series Sedan.

Passenger Space

The WRX has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the 3 Series Sedan.

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports rated the WRX’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the 3 Series Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru WRX and the BMW 3 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.