Compare the2025 Subaru WRXVS 2025 Acura TLX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
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 TLX 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 TLX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The WRX Limited Auto/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 TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Both the WRX and the TLX 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, 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 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 Acura TLX:

	WRX	TLX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	358
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	203/285 lbs.	416/473 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 Acura TLX:

	WRX	TLX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	165 lbs.	188 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	464

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

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 TLX has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

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

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the WRX’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The TLX’s redline is at 7000 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The WRX has a 6000 RPM redline.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated lower.

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 Acura With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru WRX is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	WRX	TLX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	14.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101 MPH	97 MPH
Top Speed	134 MPH	131 MPH

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 TLX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

The WRX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the TLX are solid, not vented.

The WRX stops much shorter than the TLX:

	WRX	TLX
100 to 0 MPH	317 feet	362 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the WRX tS’ turning circle is 4.1 feet tighter than the TLX’s (36.1 feet vs. 40.2 feet). The WRX’s turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the TLX’s (36.7 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 650 pounds less than the Acura TLX.

The WRX is 10.8 inches shorter than the TLX, 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 TLX is rated a Compact.

The WRX has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (98.9 vs. 93.4).

The WRX has 2.6 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the WRX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 7% lower rating, Acura is ranked 9th.

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’s exterior PIN entry system. The TLX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the WRX Limited/GT/tS has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The WRX’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The TLX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Economic Advantages

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 TLX only retains 45.75% to 49.71%.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Acura TLX by 48% during 2023.

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