Subaru WRX vs Volkswagen GLI: Specs Compared
Also searched as Volkswagen GLI vs Subaru WRX specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Volkswagen GLI is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 24 mpg for the Subaru WRX, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $1,100 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Volkswagen GLI leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2022–2027
Volkswagen GLI
Compact Cars · 11 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Subaru WRX | Volkswagen GLI |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 24 mpg | 30 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 21 mpg | 26 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 28 mpg | 37 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $3,150 | $2,050 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 374 g/mi | 297 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, 2.5 | SIDI |
| Transmissions | Manual 6-spd, Automatic (AV-S8) | Automatic (AM-S7), Manual 6-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars | Compact Cars |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2022–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 32 | 11 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Subaru WRX vs Volkswagen GLI: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Volkswagen GLI burns about $2,050 of fuel annually against $3,150 for the Subaru WRX. That $1,100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $5,500 over five years and $8,800 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 Volkswagen GLI leads in both cycles — 26 mpg city and 37 mpg highway against 21 and 28 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Powertrain choice: the Subaru WRX is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 2.5), the Volkswagen GLI with 1 (SIDI). Across 32 recorded Subaru WRX configurations and 11 for the Volkswagen GLI, 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 Subaru WRX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen GLI with Front-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 Compact 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 Volkswagen GLI emits 297 g/mile of CO2 versus 374 g/mile for the Subaru WRX. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
WRX vs GLI: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Subaru WRX or the Volkswagen GLI?
The Volkswagen GLI is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 24 mpg for the Subaru WRX, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $1,100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Volkswagen GLI runs about $2,050 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,150 for the Subaru WRX — a difference of roughly $1,100 per year.
What engines do the WRX and GLI offer?
Subaru WRX: SIDI, 2.5. Volkswagen GLI: SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Subaru WRX and the Volkswagen GLI as Compact Cars, so they compete directly.
More WRX comparisons
More GLI comparisons
Comparison id: subaru-wrx-vs-volkswagen-gli