BMW M4 vs. Subaru WRX
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW M4 and Subaru WRX contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW M4 and the Subaru WRX.
In comparing the BMW M4's and the Subaru WRX's specifications and ratings, the BMW M4 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. The Subaru WRX has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, resale value and interior volume. Based on this comparison of the BMW M4's and the Subaru WRX's specifications and ratings, the Subaru WRX is a better car than the BMW M4.
Pricing: For a new model, the BMW M4's price is between $87,444 and $107,873, with the Subaru WRX priced between $37,369 and $50,192.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW M4 loses 44.1 percent of its value and the Subaru WRX loses 35.3 percent of its value. This means the Subaru WRX retains 8.8 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW M4.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW M4’s base engine makes 473 horsepower, and the Subaru WRX base engine makes 271 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Subaru WRX, a compact car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The BMW M4, a sports car, has the advantage in the areas of front head room cargo space.
Safety Ratings: The Subaru WRX has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
87444 - 107873
Starting MSRP:
81300
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
87986
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
56100 - 224900
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
37369 - 50192
Starting MSRP:
37750
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
28470
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
21590 - 47100
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
67227
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
67227 - 67227
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
40036
Price Range:
34130 - 47543
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
30314
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
22070 - 52316
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
35585
Depreciation %:
0.43769887
Resale Value $:
45715
Residual Value %:
0.56230113
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
0.32185613
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
0.25230078 - 0.50263852
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
13443
Depreciation %:
0.35610694
Resale Value $:
24307
Residual Value %:
0.64389306
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact Cars)
0.3979908
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact Cars)
0.31796157 - 0.42854561
BMW M4 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.2 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Subaru WRX Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.5 / 10
Reliability:
7.6 / 10
Retained Value:
8.8 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW M4
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
19.2
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Sports Cars)
13.0 - 29.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Subaru WRX
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11.6
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
12.4
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
8.8 - 16.2
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.059
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
5.78046553314381
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
2.6
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
1.8 - 28.7
BMW M4 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 39Ranking
1 out of / 3Ranking
2 out of / 39Ranking
3 out of / 8Ranking
5 out of / 39Ranking
5 out of / 39Ranking
6 out of / 39Ranking
10 out of / 24Ranking
15 out of / 39Ranking
18 out of / 39Ranking
20 out of / 39Subaru WRX Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 4Ranking
1 out of / 4Ranking
3 out of / 31Ranking
4 out of / 31Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
5 out of / 31Ranking
6 out of / 31Ranking
7 out of / 31Ranking
7 out of / 31Ranking
7 out of / 7Ranking
8 out of / 31Ranking
9 out of / 31Ranking
10 out of / 31Ranking
13 out of / 21Ranking
15 out of / 21Ranking
20 out of / 31Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW M4 Trim Levels
Base, Competition, Competition xDrive
Subaru WRX Trim Levels
GT, Limited, Premium, tS
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
473 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque:
406 foot-lbs @ 2650 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.124 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
271 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque:
258 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.081 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Flat/Horizontally Opposed
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
19 / 26 / 22
Range (city/hwy):
315 / 432 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.7 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
35.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.7 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
51 inches
Cargo Space:
15.5 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
87.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.8 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.7 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
55.6 inches
Cargo Space:
12.5 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
111.4 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3829 lbs
Width:
81.9 inches
Height:
54.8 inches
Length:
189.1 inches
Wheelbase:
112.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.7 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3351 lbs
Width:
79.3 inches
Height:
57.8 inches
Length:
183.8 inches
Wheelbase:
105.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.4 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 9.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
275/40R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
245/40R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic
Blue
Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Gray
Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Green
Isle of Man Green Metallic
Red
Aventurin Red Metallic / Toronto Red Metallic
White
Alpine White / Frozen Brilliant White Metallic
Yellow
Sao Paulo Yellow
Purple
Not available
Silver
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Crystal Black Silica
Blue
Sapphire Blue Pearl / WR Blue Pearl
Gray
Magnetite Gray Metallic
Green
Not available
Red
Ignition Red
White
Ceramic White
Yellow
Not available
Purple
Galaxy Purple Pearl
Silver
Ice Silver Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Blue
Fjord Blue/Black / Yas Marina Blue/Black w/ Yellow Accent
Brown
Tartufo
Gray
Silverstone/Black
Orange
Kyalami Orange/Black
Red
Fiona Red/Black
White
Ivory White
Interior Colors
Black
Black with Red Stitching
Blue
Not available
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
Orange
Not available
Red
Not available
White
Not available
