2023 Subaru WRX vs 2022 BMW 3 Series

The 2022 BMW 3 Series lineup included the 330i, 330e, M340i, and M3, with base prices ranging from $41,450 to $73,000, excluding a $995 destination charge. Each version had a distinct powertrain, with the 330i and 330e featuring a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the latter paired with plug-in hybrid technology. The M340i boasted a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, while the high-performance M3 stood at the top. The M340i test vehicle, priced at $67,390, featured Barbera Red special-order paint, Cognac-color SensaTec upholstery, and several optional packages, including the Driving Assistance Pro and Adaptive M Suspension.

The M340i's exterior design included exclusive grille and bumper designs, Shadowline trim, and blue brake calipers. The optional Cooling and High-Performance Tire package added 19-inch wheels with high-performance tires. Inside, the SensaTec upholstery mimicked leather, and the Cognac color contrasted sharply with the dark cabin. The 3 Series' interior featured quality materials and a technical design, focusing on driving enjoyment rather than luxury.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, no longer resembling the Impreza, featured distinct front and rear styling, wide-body sides, and functional hood scoop feeding air to an intercooler. Base models had 17-inch wheels, while higher trims had 18-inch wheels with standard summer tires. The WRX's exterior styling conveyed its performance capabilities and Subaru heritage, with a tuner aesthetic fitting Subaru's design theme. The interior, typical of Subaru, was basic but durable, with GT models featuring Recaro Performance Design front seats with red contrast stitching and Ultrasuede upholstery.

The WRX GT test car's interior included comfortable and supportive front seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat. The mostly black interior was livened up by red contrast stitching. The WRX's interior was practical, with good outward visibility, but lacked a proper place for a modern smartphone, a surprising flaw for a recently redesigned 2023 model.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, producing 382 horsepower between 5,800 rpm and 6,500 rpm and 368 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm to 5,000 rpm. It paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode, paddle shifters, and launch control, driving the rear wheels through an M Sport differential. The M340i also featured M Sport brakes, variable sport steering, and a standard M Sport suspension, with the test car having the optional Adaptive M Suspension. BMW claimed a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, and the car returned 24.9 mpg on the evaluation route, just shy of the EPA rating of 26 mpg.

The M340i's driving dynamics were impressive, with quick, precise steering response and a taut ride. The car felt hard-wired to the driver's inputs, making it a perfect tool for carving canyons. The transmission behaved flawlessly, and the car's performance was thrilling, making it a strong recommendation for driving enthusiasts. The 3 Series remained the standard against which other sports sedans were measured, with the M340i providing ample performance without the need for the even more capable M3.

The 2023 Subaru WRX featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine producing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It sat between the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R in terms of power, and between the Honda Civic Si and Civic Type R. Unlike its mostly FWD competition, the WRX had AWD, with power routed through a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT, branded as Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT). The SPT/CVT, standard on the GT test car, responded quickly to throttle inputs, feeling more like a conventional automatic transmission.

The WRX GT also had electronically controlled dampers and a drive mode select system with multiple settings for steering, engine, AWD system, driver aids, and climate control. The WRX's well-mannered character made it a pleasant daily driver, with confidence-inspiring grip from its AWD system and standard summer tires. However, the driving experience felt muted, with quiet exhaust, blunted acceleration from the CVT, and laid-back steering, making it competent but lacking exuberance.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series M340i, a traditional four-door sedan, offered driving satisfaction without sacrificing passenger comfort and practicality. The power-adjustable front sport seats provided ample support, and the driving position was perfect, with a thick-rimmed steering wheel for comfort and grip. Rear seat passengers had just enough legroom, with the back seat offering good thigh support but limited center seating. The M340i featured a three-zone automatic climate control system, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel available through the Premium package. The 17 cubic-foot trunk offered roomy cargo space, with a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat for added utility.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, a compact sedan, offered practicality with a bit more front headroom and legroom than a Honda Civic Si, but less rear-seat space. The WRX's 12.5 cubic feet of trunk space was smaller than the Civic Si, Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and Hyundai Elantra N. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat was standard, but Subaru didn't quote a cargo-space number with the seat folded. Roof-rack mounts were standard, and the WRX preserved good outward visibility with low window-sill lines, thin forward roof pillars, and a low dashboard. However, the WRX lacked a proper place for a modern smartphone, with the typical spot under the touchscreen too small, leaving the center console storage bin as the only option.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series came standard with Live Cockpit Professional, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a navigation system. While the digital gauges weren't as impressive as Audi's Virtual Cockpit Plus, the infotainment technology package worked well. BMW iDrive 7.0 was intuitive, with multiple control options, including a center console knob, touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker HiFi sound system were standard, but the 16-speaker Harman Kardon system was no longer available. Connected Package Pro technology included BMW Remote Services and Intelligent Personal Assistant, which responded accurately to various queries. The M340i also had a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, and autonomous parking capability.

The 2023 Subaru WRX's Starlink infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, with base models featuring dual 7-inch touchscreens and higher trims getting an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. The larger screen displayed icons and text in an easily legible size, but physical buttons and knobs would have been appreciated. The menus were mostly easy to navigate, but the SiriusXM interface required too many steps, and the system took a long time to load on startup.

The 2022 BMW 3 Series included Active Guard, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, city-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The optional Driving Assistance package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Driving Assistance Professional package included lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, evasive-steering assist, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, and Emergency Stop Assistant. The 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Subaru WRX featured Subaru's EyeSight safety system, with adaptive cruise control, automated lane-centering, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning, available only with the CVT. Other available safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights. The WRX received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.