2024 Subaru WRX Stickshift Showdown: Limited Vs TR

When it comes to sport sedans with a manual transmission, the 2024 Subaru WRX is a vehicle that ticks a lot of boxes for enthusiasts. It has four doors, gets good fuel economy, looks quite good, and also comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. Throw in Subaru Symmetrical all-wheel drive, and you have a genuine recipe for sales success and performance for a modest price. 

Trim Levels and Performance

With five different trim levels for 2024, including Base, Premium, Limited, TR, and GT, there is something for everyone. All models feature a 2.4-liter Turbocharged Subaru BOXER 4-cylinder engine that produces 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. While the Base, Premium, and Limited are available with either a slick-shifting 6-speed manual or Subaru Performance Transmission CVT automatic, the TR is only offered with the manual, and the GT is only available with the automatic with paddles. Of course, like all Subaru models other than the BRZ, AWD is standard. 

Autoblog Compares The Limited and TR Models

In a recent comparison test conducted by Autoblog.com, they took a look at their long-term WRX Limited and put it up against the brand-new TR to shake them down and see which one customers should buy. Interestingly, both cars are basically identical on the surface, and there are no changes in horsepower or torque. However, the TR, which stands for “Tuner Ready,” is tweaked just enough to make a difference, with Autoblog saying, “What you do get is a series of chassis upgrades designed to aid you in the early days of your track-day aspirations. Subaru fitted some Brembo brakes (six-piston front; two-piston rear) with larger discs and calipers, and a larger master cylinder for improved heat management and track longevity. The steering rack, spring stiffness and damping rates were also tweaked to reduce body motions and improve steering response without sacrificing ride quality, even on the new 19-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza S007 summer performance tires. Inside, you get a set of beefed up Recaro seats with branding to match.”

Award-Winning Safety Tech

For the first time ever on a manual Subaru, the award-winning and legendary EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is standard on all trim levels of the WRX. The EyeSight system includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking System, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. 

What Makes The WRX Limited So Right

Before picking a winner, Autoblog had some very complimentary things to say about each vehicle. After driving the WRX Limited on their test loop, they came away saying, “I just wrapped a six-week stint in this long-term 2023 WRX and thoroughly enjoyed it … this is the kind of do-anything fun car that makes being an enthusiast less of a pain in mixed climates without giving up too much performance. And let’s face it, affordable performance cars are a dying breed. The Volkswagen GTI/GLI, Hyundai Elantra N and Honda Civic Si are all great sport compacts, but it’s difficult to beat the WRX’s all-around appeal at its base price ($33,855).”

Why The TR Is Worth It

While they enjoyed the WRX Limited quite a bit and gave it a lot of praise, it was ultimately the TR that took home the top spot between the two of them. Thanks to its numerous subtle yet thoughtful tweaks and changes, the TR takes the standard WRX to an extraordinary level. Not quite an STI, but also not really a standard WRX: “Subaru pushed the TR as an enthusiast platform with the basics — suspension, brakes, seats and tires — already in place. Remember, “TR” comes from “Tuner Ready.” If you’re like us and you expected the TR to be louder, rougher and rawer, well, nope. The opposite is true. In fact, if ride quality is your highest priority and you still want a manual transmission, skip the standard WRX entirely and go straight for the TR. The more we drove it, the more we broadened that thesis. It’s not just the ride quality that improves with TR, but virtually everything.”

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