Nissan GT-R vs Subaru WRX: Specs Compared
Also searched as Subaru WRX vs Nissan GT-R specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Subaru WRX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 19 mpg for the Nissan GT-R, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $850 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Subaru WRX leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Nissan GT-R | Subaru WRX |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 19 mpg | 24 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 16 mpg | 21 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 23 mpg | 28 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $4,000 | $3,150 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 472 g/mi | 374 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | 3.8 | SIDI, 2.5 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AM6) | Manual 6-spd, Automatic (AV-S8) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Premium |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars | Compact Cars |
| Years covered | 2015–2024 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 9 | 32 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Nissan GT-R vs Subaru WRX dimensions and size
The Subaru WRX is 0.4 inches longer than the Nissan GT-R on a wheelbase 3.9 inches shorter, and 582 lbs lighter. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Nissan GT-R (2024) | Subaru WRX (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 183.5 in | 183.9 in | 0.4 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 74.8 in | 72 in | 2.8 in |
| Height | 53.9 in | 57.9 in | 3.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.4 in | 105.5 in | 3.9 in |
| Curb weight | 3,922 lbs | 3,340 lbs | 582 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Nissan GT-R vs Subaru WRX: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Subaru WRX burns about $3,150 of fuel annually against $4,000 for the Nissan GT-R. That $850 yearly gap compounds to roughly $4,250 over five years and $6,800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Subaru WRX leads in both cycles — 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway against 16 and 23 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Powertrain choice: the Nissan GT-R is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (3.8), the Subaru WRX with 2 (SIDI, 2.5). Across 9 recorded Nissan GT-R configurations and 32 for the Subaru WRX, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Nissan GT-R is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Subaru WRX with All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Compact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Subaru WRX emits 374 g/mile of CO2 versus 472 g/mile for the Nissan GT-R. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
GT-R vs WRX: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Nissan GT-R or the Subaru WRX?
The Subaru WRX is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 19 mpg for the Nissan GT-R, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $850 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Subaru WRX runs about $3,150 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $4,000 for the Nissan GT-R — a difference of roughly $850 per year.
What engines do the GT-R and WRX offer?
Nissan GT-R: 3.8. Subaru WRX: SIDI, 2.5.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Nissan GT-R as Subcompact Cars and the Subaru WRX as Compact Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More GT-R comparisons
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Comparison id: nissan-gt-r-vs-subaru-wrx