2026 Subaru WRX: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Subaru WRX gets 21 to 22 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd) at 22 mpg.
How the WRX ranks in its class
In the Midsize Cars class for 2026, the WRX ranks 22nd of 26 for combined mileage (22 mpg), 22nd of 24 for yearly fuel cost ($3,500 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 24th of 26 for tailpipe CO2 (412 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 28 mpg, costs $2,400 a year and puts out 282.5 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 148 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 WRX's best version, 18 other models get the same and 68 get less. The 2026 WRX's cheapest version costs $3,500 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 169 cost less, 8 the same and 48 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 19 to 25 of 26)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 2026 BMW 8 Series | 2026 840i Gran Coupe | 24 | $3,200 | 368 |
| 20 | 2026 Audi A6 | 2026 A6 Sedan | 23 | $3,350 | 387 |
| 20 | 2026 Audi S5 | 2026 S5 Sport Sedan | 23 | $3,350 | 386 |
| 22 | 2026 Subaru WRXThis car | 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd) | 22 | $3,500 | 412 |
| 23 | 2026 Lexus LS | 2026 LS 500 AWD | 21 | $3,700 | 434 |
| 24 | 2026 Bentley Flying Spur | 2026 Flying Spur | 19 | - | 161 |
| 25 | 2026 Audi RS | 2026 RS 7 | 16 | $4,850 | 545 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd), 4-cyl 2.4 L: 19 mpg city, 26 highway, 22 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 WRX version is $3,500 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Midsize Cars class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The A6 costs $285 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the A6 costs $1,425 less to fuel than the WRX (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 Audi A6
- 2026 Audi S5
- 2026 Lexus LS
The WRX against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the WRX (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the WRX | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Audi A6 | 2026 A6 Sedan | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 1 higher | $150 less a year | - |
| 2026 Audi S5 | 2026 S5 Sport Sedan | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 1 higher | $150 less a year | - |
| 2026 Lexus LS | 2026 LS 500 AWD | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 1 lower | $200 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2026 Subaru WRX
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd) | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Manual 6-spd | All-wheel | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,500 | 412 | cheapest |
| 2026 WRX (Automatic (AV-S8)) | 4-cyl 2.4 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,700 | 422 | +$200 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 WRX; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd) puts out 412 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 412 to 422.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd): fuel economy score 4, greenhouse gas score 4.
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the WRX gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 23 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 23 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 23 mpg | 4 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 23 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 23 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 23 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 22 mpg | 2 | same as 2026 | |
| 2023 | 22 mpg | 2 | same as 2026 | |
| 2024 | 22 mpg | 2 | same as 2026 | |
| 2025 | 22 mpg | 2 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 22 mpg | 2 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 22 to 22 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd), 4-cyl 2.4 L | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | no change |
| 2026 WRX (Automatic (AV-S8)), 4-cyl 2.4 L | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | no change |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 SUBARU WRX 4 DR N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 1 complaint, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Owner complaints, 2026
1 complaint for the 2026 Subaru WRX are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 |
0 of the 1 report says the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Subaru WRX (as WRX). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Subaru WRX on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More Midsize Cars for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The WRX itself is at 22 mpg.
Other Subaru models of 2026
More Subaru models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Subaru WRX gets the best mileage?
The 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd) with 22 mpg combined (19 city, 26 highway).
How much does a 2026 Subaru WRX cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Subaru WRX costs between $3,500 and $3,700 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 WRX (Manual 6-spd) at $3,500; the dearest is the 2026 WRX (Automatic (AV-S8)) at $3,700. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2026 Subaru WRX rank among 2026 Midsize Cars models?
The 2026 Subaru WRX is 22nd of 26 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Prius at 57 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 28 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Audi S5 at 23 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Lexus LS at 21 mpg.
Did the WRX change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 2 tested versions and the 2026 model has 2. The best figure went from 22 to 22 mpg (no change).
How did the 2026 Subaru WRX do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 SUBARU WRX 4 DR N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 5.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Subaru WRX?
1 complaint for the 2026 Subaru WRX are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Engine (1 report). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2026 Subaru WRX have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Subaru WRX on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Subaru WRX: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Subaru WRX: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Subaru WRX: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Subaru WRX: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Subaru WRX: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.