Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Volkswagen GTI

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 GTI doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru WRX has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GTI doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

Both the WRX and the GTI have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

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 GTI is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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

The WRX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the GTI’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 49 points higher than the GTI.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen With 69 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 21 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 30 more horsepower (271 vs. 241) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru WRX is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (manual transmissions tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru WRX is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (automatics tested):

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 GTI doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The WRX has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GTI (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The WRX has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The GTI’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

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 GTI doesn’t offer a CVT.

The WRX stops shorter than the GTI:

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

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

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the WRX is .9 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GTI.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the GTI Autobahn pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GTI Autobahn (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 25.5 seconds @ .72 average G’s).

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

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the WRX Limited is quieter than the GTI Autobahn (79 vs. 82 dB).

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

The WRX has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GTI (98.9 vs. 91.9).

The WRX has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, 3 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the GTI.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the WRX. The GTI doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The WRX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GTI uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the WRX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GTI. 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 Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 58% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 29th.

The WRX Auto offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GTI doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 GTI doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The WRX’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the GTI’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The GTI’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 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 GTI only retains 52.82% to 55.47%.

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by over two to one during 2023.