I've always thought the subaru wrx 2024 premium represents the absolute sweet spot for anyone who actually enjoys driving but still has to live a normal, adult life. It is that rare middle ground where you get all the performance hardware you actually need without paying for the "track-ready" bells and whistles that usually just make a daily commute more uncomfortable. If you're looking at the current WRX lineup, the Premium trim is likely where you'll end up, and for good reason.
Let's get straight to the point: the 2024 model year brought some big changes, most notably the fact that Subaru finally decided to play nice with manual transmission fans. For the first time, you can get the EyeSight safety suite on the 6-speed manual versions. This used to be a dealbreaker for a lot of people who wanted the safety tech but refused to give up their three pedals. Now, you don't have to choose between lane-keep assist and the joy of rowing your own gears.
What Makes the Premium Trim Different?
When you're standing on the dealership lot, the jump from the Base to the Premium is pretty obvious. While the Base model is a great "blank canvas" for tuners, the subaru wrx 2024 premium feels like a complete car. You get 18-inch alloy wheels in a dark gray finish that fill out the wheel wells much better than the 17s on the base. It also adds a subtle rear spoiler and LED fog lights, which give the car a much more aggressive stance without looking like it's trying too hard.
Inside, the upgrades are even more noticeable. You get the 11.6-inch Starlink touchscreen, which dominates the center stack. Some people find it a bit much, but it's fast, responsive, and finally supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That might sound like a small thing, but once you stop fumbling with USB cables every time you hop in the car, you won't want to go back. You also get dual-zone climate control and, perhaps most importantly for those of us in colder climates, the All-Weather Package. That means heated seats, heated mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer.
The Heart of the Beast: Performance
Under the hood, every subaru wrx 2024 premium is powered by the 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine. It puts out 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Now, on paper, those numbers might look similar to WRXs of the past, but the way this engine delivers power is totally different. The old 2.0-liter engines were "peaky"—you had to wait for the turbo to spool up, and then everything happened at once. This 2.4-liter feels much more muscular and linear. It pulls hard from low in the rev range, which makes it way more usable for merging onto highways or darting through traffic.
The handling remains the WRX's superpower. Thanks to the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a chassis that is incredibly stiff, the car just stays flat through corners. There's a level of mechanical grip here that most front-wheel-drive hot hatches just can't match, especially when the weather turns sour. Whether it's heavy rain or a light dusting of snow, the WRX feels planted. It gives you a level of confidence that's honestly a bit addictive.
Manual vs. the Subaru Performance Transmission
This is usually where the debates start. The subaru wrx 2024 premium comes standard with a 6-speed manual, and honestly, that's how most people should buy it. The clutch is light enough for traffic but has enough feel to let you know what's going on. The shifter is "notchy" in a good way—it feels mechanical and sturdy.
However, Subaru also offers the "Subaru Performance Transmission" (SPT), which is their fancy name for a heavily tuned CVT. Before you roll your eyes, I should mention that it's actually pretty impressive for what it is. It mimics gear shifts quickly and stays in the powerband better than you'd expect. If you have a brutal commute through a city like LA or DC and just can't deal with a clutch pedal anymore, the SPT isn't the "penalty box" it used to be. Plus, it comes with extra cooling and some paddle shifters that are actually fun to click.
Safety Is No Longer an Afterthought
As I mentioned earlier, the big news for the subaru wrx 2024 premium is the inclusion of EyeSight on manual models. This includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and lane-departure warnings. It's a huge win for enthusiasts who also happen to be parents or just safety-conscious drivers.
Subaru's system uses dual cameras mounted near the rearview mirror, and it's surprisingly unobtrusive. It's there when you need it, but it doesn't constantly beep at you for no reason. Having adaptive cruise control on a manual transmission car is a bit of a trip at first—you still have to downshift if the speed drops too low—but for long highway slogs, it's a total game-changer.
The Reality of Daily Driving
Let's be real for a second: the WRX is not a luxury car. If you're coming out of an Audi or a Lexus, you're going to notice more road noise. The suspension is firm. You will feel the bumps in the road, and you will hear the tires hum on the highway. But that's the trade-off for a car that feels this alive.
The seats in the subaru wrx 2024 premium are upholstered in a premium cloth that's grippy enough to hold you in place during hard cornering but comfortable enough for a four-hour road trip. The trunk is surprisingly deep, and the rear seats fold down, making it much more practical than a dedicated sports car like a BRZ or a Miata. You can easily fit a set of golf clubs or a week's worth of groceries back there without thinking twice.
Fuel economy is well, it's okay. You're looking at about 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. If you're heavy-footed (which you probably will be), those numbers will dip. It also requires premium fuel, so keep that in mind for your monthly budget. It's the "tax" you pay for having a turbocharged AWD system at your disposal.
Why Choose the Premium over the Others?
You might be wondering if you should just save the money and get the Base model, or splurge for the Limited or the new TR. To me, the subaru wrx 2024 premium is the sweet spot because of the features-to-dollar ratio. The Base model lacks the big screen and the heated seats, which are things you'll miss every single day.
On the flip side, the Limited adds things like a sunroof, Ultrasuede seats, and a Harman Kardon sound system. While those are nice, they push the price significantly higher. The new TR (which stands for Tuner Ready) is awesome with its Brembo brakes and Recaro seats, but it also lacks a sunroof and costs a lot more. For most people who want a fun, fast, and reliable daily driver, the Premium gives you exactly what you need without the fluff.
Final Thoughts
The subaru wrx 2024 premium remains one of the last "analog" feeling cars on the market that doesn't cost a fortune. In a world where everything is moving toward electrification and numb steering, the WRX feels like a throwback in the best way possible. It's raw, it's mechanical, and it's genuinely fun to drive every time you turn the key—or rather, push the start button.
It isn't perfect. The infotainment takes a second to learn, and the fuel bills will be higher than a Corolla's. But the first time you take it down a curvy backroad or power out of a snowy driveway while your neighbors are still shoveling, you'll realize why this car has such a cult following. It's a tool built for a specific purpose, and in the Premium trim, it's a tool that's polished enough to use every single day.