Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2024 Lexus IS

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 IS 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 IS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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 IS doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the WRX and the IS 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, 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 Lexus IS:

	WRX	IS
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24.5%	35%
Neck Stress	348 lbs.	429 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	284/524 lbs.	599/675 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	282
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34.4%	41%
Leg Forces (l/r)	203/285 lbs.	399/459 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 Lexus IS:

	WRX	IS
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	1 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	165 lbs.	203 lbs.
Hip Force	388 lbs.	406 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	208	293

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

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the WRX’s warranty.

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 IS’ camshafts. If the IS’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 30 more horsepower (271 vs. 241) than the IS 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (271 vs. 260) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 236) than the IS 300 AWD’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

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 IS 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 IS requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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

The WRX stops shorter than the IS:

	WRX	IS
100 to 0 MPH	317 feet	320 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	159 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	117 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the IS (245/40R18 vs. 235/40R19).

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 IS F Sport’s 40 series front tires.

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

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the IS 300 AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the IS 300 AWD (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 25.9 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 400 pounds less than the Lexus IS.

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

The WRX has 8.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS (98.9 vs. 90.2).

The WRX has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

The WRX has a much larger trunk than the IS (12.5 vs. 10.8 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 IS doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Insurance will cost less for the WRX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the WRX will cost $825 to $10600 less than the IS over a five-year period.

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

The Subaru WRX outsold the Lexus IS by 10% during 2023.