How safe is the Subaru WRX?
Drivers of the 2022–2023 Subaru WRX died at a rate of 51 per million registered vehicle years, 32% higher than the average of 37 for all vehicles. That makes it riskier than most vehicles for its driver: it ranks 103rd of 129 vehicles, safer than 20% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
Where the Subaru WRX sits among all 129 vehicles
Subaru WRX (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 37
The rate is based on a moderate amount of data, so treat small differences from nearby vehicles with caution.
Vehicles ranked near the Subaru WRX
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | GMC TerrainSUV · Small | 48 | 23 |
| 101 | Chrysler Pacifica 2WDWagon / minivan · Very large | 51 | 22 |
| 102 | Toyota Corolla hybrid 2WDCar · Small | 51 | 21 |
| 103 | Subaru WRXCar · Small | 51 | 20 |
| 104 | Toyota Camry hybridCar · Midsize | 51 | 20 |
| 105 | Toyota CamryCar · Midsize | 50 | 19 |
| 106 | Chevrolet EquinoxSUV · Small | 52 | 18 |
How it compares with other cars
Among the 23 cars ranked, the Subaru WRX is 4th. The safest cars are below. See all cars.
| Cars rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Civic hatchbackCar · Small | 28 | 36 |
| 2 | Subaru LegacyCar · Midsize | 37 | 27 |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla hybrid 2WDCar · Small | 51 | 21 |
| 4 | Subaru WRXCar · Small | 51 | 20 |
| 5 | Toyota Camry hybridCar · Midsize | 51 | 20 |
Earlier models
In the earlier IIHS study of 2017–2020 models, the Subaru WRX had a driver death rate of 38 (range 19–58) and ranked 76th of 127. The newer rate is higher.
Common questions
Is the Subaru WRX a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Subaru WRX is riskier than most vehicles for its driver. Its driver death rate of 51 per million registered vehicle years is 32% higher than the average, and it ranks 103rd of 129 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Subaru WRX compare with other cars?
It ranks 4th of 23 cars. The safest is the Honda Civic hatchback, with a rate of 28.
Why is this different from the Subaru WRX's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.