Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Genesis G70

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 Genesis G70 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 G70 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 G70 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the WRX. But it costs extra on the G70.

Both the WRX and the G70 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

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 33 points higher than the G70.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Genesis vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 12 places higher in reliability than Genesis.

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 G70 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru WRX uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The G70 2.5T requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The WRX offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The G70 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 G70 doesn’t offer a CVT.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The WRX has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The G70 doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

For better traction, the WRX has larger standard tires than the G70 (235/45R17 vs. 225/40R19). The WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the G70 (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 G70’s 40 series front tires.

The WRX has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The G70’s suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the G70 Sport Advanced pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the G70 Sport Advanced (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the WRX a Mid-size car, while the G70 is rated a Compact.

The WRX has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the G70 (98.9 vs. 95.9).

The WRX has .5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the G70.

The WRX has a much larger trunk than the G70 (12.5 vs. 10.5 cubic feet).

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 G70 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Connected Care can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru WRX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Genesis G70 isn't recommended.

The Subaru WRX outsold the Genesis G70 by 86% during 2023.