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Those hyped up about the 2022 Subaru WRX might not care about poor fuel economy, but how does it not beat the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz? People dissed the Santa Cruz for its fuel economy numbers even though it is a compact pickup truck, but the WRX isn’t that big.

The 2022 Subaru WRX got an extra three horsepower this year

The 2022 Subaru WRX gets better fuel economy than the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
The 2022 Subaru WRX and the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz on the road | Subaru, Hyundai

Subaru is known for a few things, depending on who you ask. These days, the automaker is known for safe cars capable of going off-road. It is also known for its flat-engine layout. Subaru isn’t known for its fuel-efficient vehicles, and the 2022 Subaru WRX isn’t going to change that anytime soon.

People were excited about the release of the 2022 WRX, and a lot probably still are. However, the fuel economy of this new sedan is a bit shocking. The WRX uses a 2.4L turbo motor which only added about three more horsepower. This is also a bit disappointing.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Subaru fuel economy does not deliver.

How does the Subaru WRX compare to the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

The 2022 Subaru WRX automatic version gets 21 mpg combined. That’s 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. If you opt for the manual version, it gets a bit better. The manual WRX gets 22 mpg combined. That’s 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Looking at the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz stats, it gets 23 mpg combined with the all-wheel drive and non-turbo versions. That’s 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The turbo Santa Cruz all-wheel drive gets very similar mileage to the manual WRX. It gets 22 mpg combined, with 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

According to fueleconomy.gov, the average 2022 vehicle gets 27 mpg. So neither of these vehicles is up to par with the “average” new car. When asked how much a buyer would save or spend with these vehicle options, both the Subaru and Santa Cruz would cost you. The turbo automatic WRX will cost you an extra $5,250 in fuel over the first five years. The turbo Santa Cruz will run you an additional $2,000.

Why does it matter?

People would accept this with a huge power bump for the most part. However, the 2022 WRX only added three horsepower. This isn’t exactly news to Subaru fans, though, as these vehicles aren’t known for being fuel-efficient. A few other sports cars might be a little more fun and get better fuel economy but might not be capable of going off-road. So you have to pick your priorities with this one.

For the most part, newer cars tend to get better with each new year. While Subaru updated the WRX from a 2.0L engine to a 2.4L turbo engine, it didn’t see much change. The torque remains at 258 to the 271 hp. If you want to go another route entirely, the 2021 Ford F-150 four-wheel drive gets 20 mpg overall and can probably do more.

You probably aren’t buying the 2022 Subaru WRX for fuel efficiency, and it is clear why. If you want fuel economy, get a Toyota Prius! If you want….271 hp and 22 mpg overall, get a WRX.

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Amanda Cline

Amanda Cline is an avid fan of Formula 1 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2021. A Southwest Floridian, she easily and often finds automotive events to attend in the Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas.
Amanda is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Technical Communication. Combining her editorial and digital media expertise, Amanda served as a content creator for FanSided and now provides our readers with a variety of automotive subject matter like pickup trucks and SUVs, including valuable consumer advice.

Amanda closely follows many F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Her all-time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.