Text by Tom Appel
2024 Subaru WRX TR
Specs
Class: Sporty/Performance Car
Color: Sapphire Blue
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 159
Real-world fuel economy: 22.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B |
| Power and Performance | A- |
| Fit and Finish | B |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | B |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 271-horsepower |
| Engine Type | 2.4-liter turbo |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 19/26/22 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Premium gasoline
Base price: $41,665 (not including $1120 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: None
Price as tested: $42,775
Pros and Cons
The great: Thrilling to drive, standard manual transmission
The good: Decent fuel economy, standard AWD
The not so good: Glitchy Bluetooth connectivity
Overview
I’ve gotten past the demise of the manual transmission. If you count the cars my wife and I owned together, I’ve slapped city stickers on at least eight stick-shift rides, each of which I was—on some level—delighted by. But the time for manuals is past. The public doesn’t want them, they are incompatible with many mandated safety systems, and they no longer provide a performance or efficiency advantage over automatics. But yes, driving stick is fun—or—was fun.
Fun fact: My wife and I owned a 1999 Subaru Forester equipped with a 5-speed manual. Great vehicle. Sadly, the Forester has been auto-only since 2019. Subaru still sells two models that can be had with a manual transmission, however, the BRZ sport hatchback, and the near-legendary WRX.
For those not in the know, the WRX is a performance vehicle based on the same architecture as the brand’s Impreza compact car and Crosstrek subcompact crossover. Interestingly, for 2024, the Impreza can only be had as a hatchback, and the WRX only as a sedan. The WRX STI, a higher-performance WRX variant which was treated by Subaru as a separated model was dropped after the 2021 model year.
Manual Transmission
But back to the manual transmission: The WRX lineup is actually defined by stick shift, and in an interesting way. For 2024, the WRX is offered in five trim levels, and each is assigned a specific transmission. And, like the lunch specials at your dad’s favorite coffee shop, there are no substitutions.
Prices and Trim Levels
For ’24, the WRX is offered in Base ($33,855), Premium ($35,755), Limited ($40,135) TR ($42,775), and GT ($45,355) trim levels. And while these prices ascend in manner typical of many trim levels, there is an interesting twist. While the Premium, Limited, and GT come only with what the maker calls its Subaru Performance Transmission, the base and TR are offered only with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The delineation here is interesting. In terms of equipment and presumed owner intent, the Base and TR are treated as hardcore performance models, while the other WRX offerings are considered grand-touring models, i.e., sporty and at least a little luxurious—but perhaps not overtly sporty.
And it’s the penultimate WRX offering, the TR, that offers the most opportunity for serious motoring fun.
WRX TR Equipment
The TR, for example, comes standard with 19-inch wheels and tires, while other trim levels make do with 18s. But there’s more. Here a list of upgrades exclusive to the TR:
- Brembo-brand high-performance brakes
- Recaro-brand performance front seats
- 19-inch alloy wheels and high-performance tires
- Revised suspension with stiffer springs and retuned dampers
- Moonroof delete
Moonroof Delete
Per Subaru, the moonroof is deleted not only to reduce the overall weight of the WRX TR (about 50 pounds), but also to lower the car’s center of gravity (the moonroof’s weight sits high on the car) for improved handling. The impact of pulling a few pounds from a street car may seem trivial, but it does speak to Subaru’s dedication to making the TR a serious performance ride, and we suspect that experience track drivers appreciate the effort.
Engines
Regardless of trim level or transmission, power comes from a turbocharged 2.4-liter “flat” four rated at 271 horsepower. Subaru does want you to feed your WRX premium-grade gasoline, which is a bummer, but we did see surprisingly good fuel economy during our evaluation, which helps mitigate the cost. All WRX trim levels, as you likely know, come equipped with AWD.
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2024 WRX TR in Sapphire Blue. Our optionless test car came to $42,775.
Cabin
Inside, the TRX is treated to better seat and surface materials than are other small Subarus. We’ve complained that the Crosstrek, for example, though nicely put together, trails other small crossovers in terms of finish. That’s not the case with the WRX, which feels trimmed in a manner appropriate for a $40,000 automobile. We especially appreciate the use of red stitching to sport things up a bit.
Connectivity
The WRX’s Starlink interface is oriented horizontally, and integrates well into the dash and console. Touchscreen icons are large and easy to read, and the system is generally easy to use. And, at this point, we’d like to add that the TR’s standard Harman Kardon-brand audio systems is an unexpected pleasure in a car of this price. Excellent sound quality. That said, as with almost every Subaru we’ve evaluated in recent months, our phones would not remain Bluetooth connected to the WRX, necessitating reconnecting, a process which can take several minutes.
Room and Comfort
As for space, the WRX offers about average adult space in the front seating row. It’s not roomy, but even this big driver found himself comfortable once situated. Rear-seat space is less generous than that found in other compact sedans, but most adults will fare well enough for short jaunts.
Ride and Handling
But enough about the stuff most manual-transmission shopping WRX aren’t worrying about. Let’s talk about performance. Here’s the good news: The WRX TR is absolutely satisfying to drive in exactly the way great sporty cars used to be satisfying.
Turn into a slow corner, lift off the excellent, firm-feeling brakes, release the clutch, and press hard on the accelerator pedal. Lord if it all just doesn’t work as God intended. The meaty torque supply delivers near immediate pull, and the gravelly sounding engine snarls as revs climb and speeds rise. There is magic in a car that knows what it wants to be, and the WRX TR is as honestly a sports car as anything on the market right now. And while the shifter isn’t as slick as that found in, say, a Mazda MX-5 Miata, it is refined and easy to flick through the gate. Additionally, the clutch is light and precise, and very easy to engage accurately.
Ride and Handling
Also, the heavy-feeling steering recoils after corners with surprising pull, a boon to driver’s who enjoy knowing what’s going on underneath them. Let off the pace, and the WRX settle down obediently, though never to the level of, say, a base Impreza. That said, the car is plenty civilized in daily commuting. And, despite our best efforts, we could not drive our observed fuel economy below 22 mpg.
Quietness
Likewise, the WRX settles in nicely on the highway. While the car isn’t exactly quiet at freeway speeds, it’s refined enough to not be fatiguing on long drives, and ride quality is likewise decent given the cars athletic potential.
Reviews
Driving the WRX TR serves as a reminder of what we as a car culture are losing as we move forward. There’s no question that the manual transmission has outlived its usefulness, and even super-car makers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini have stopped offering them. But, dang, in the right car, stick shift is still a blast to employ. Thanks to Subaru, there is still an outstanding example of the breed to be had.
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2024 Subaru WRX TR Pictures
Click below for enlarged images
