The Subaru WRX Keeps Its Long-Term Value Best Of All Small Sports Cars

Is the 2022 Subaru WRX a good value for performance car buyers? As soon as you drive them off the dealers’ lot, all cars depreciate, but some models drop in value much less than others. The Subaru WRX and STI drop in value the least of all small cars, according to a new iSeeCars study.

iSeeCars ranked all small cars on how much they depreciate on average over five years and found the Subaru WRX drops in value less than all small cars in its segment. The average new vehicle depreciates 40.1 percent, while the Subaru WRX has an average 5-year depreciation of 29.4 percent.

How does the Subaru WRX compare with other compact sports cars?

In contrast, the Honda Civic (including Civic Si and Type R) depreciates 30.4%, Hyundai Veloster (38.3%), and Volkswagen GTI (39.8%).

How do the Subaru WRX and BRZ compare with all sports cars?

The Ford Mustang depreciates the least of all sports cars at 21.0%, followed by the Chevrolet Corvette (22.7%), Chevrolet Camaro (26.6%), Dodge Challenger (24.4%), Corvette Convertible (27.7%), Subaru BRZ (28.0%), Subaru WRX (29.4%), Mazda MX-5 Miata (31.2%), Camaro Convertible (31.4%), and Mustang Convertible (39.3%).

Why are the Subaru WRX and BRZ a good value? “If you plan on trading in or selling your vehicle after a few years, a car that retains most of its value can put more money in your pocket for your next car purchase,” iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said.

The next-generation 2022 Subaru WRX and STI should be an even better value for sports car shoppers. Last year the study found the previous generation WRX and STI depreciated 39.8 percent, while in 2021, the sports cars retain their value even better, declining 29.4 percent, over 10 percent less.

More best resale value awards

According to Kelly Blue Book’s (KBB) 2020 Best Resale Value Awards, Subaru has the least depreciation of any automaker. Subaru also earned five individual awards in the 2020 KBB awards. Subaru won the KBB Best Brand award five times in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2020.

What is the price of the 2022 Subaru WRX?

The current price of the 2021 WRX is $28,420, including the destination fee. Subaru has not announced 2022 model year pricing, but the next-generation WRX will likely get a significant bump in price. The base model will still be less than $30,000, making it a good performance value.

When will the 2022 WRX be available in the U.S.?

Look for the all-new 2022 Subaru WRX to be in Subaru showrooms in early 2022. With the recent production shutdowns and microchip shortages, there are more delays.

All Subaru models hold their value well over the first five years, and the latest iSeeCars study says the Subaru WRX and WRX STI depreciate the least of all other small sports cars in their category. The 2022 Subaru WRX is still one of the best sports car values.

You Might Also Like: Expect Delays On New Subaru WRX And STI - Huge Markups On Used Models

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.

Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers!

Photo credit: Subaru USA