Sports cars like the 2022 Subaru WRX can provide a fun driving experience for drivers, but sports cars generally come with some problems. One of the most annoying problems that sports cars like the WRX can have is that they tend to be very loud for both drivers and passengers, and this can hurt the driving experience. That being said, according to Consumer Reports, there is one fan-favorite sports car that actually has worse noise levels than the 2022 Subaru WRX and every other sports car on the market.

An overview of the 2022 Subaru WRX 

According to Consumer Reports, the Subaru WRX is not a great sports car overall, and while it certainly can be fun to drive, it has a few flaws. One of the most important ones is its predicted reliability rating, which is not great. On top of that, while the Subaru sports car can get 25 mpg combined from its 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it has a terrible smog rating.

The WRX also did poorly in terms of its comfort and convenience features. Its fit and finish and its rear seat comfort are mediocre at best. The Subaru’s ride quality is bad, and what’s also bad are its noise levels. While a sports car like the WRX may be quick on highways, it gets very loud when it speeds up, hurting the highway driving experience. 

Consumer Reports wrote that folks who drive the WRX at highway speeds will probably need to turn the volume up to hear any music. If you have passengers, then you’ll probably have to raise your voice, too.

The 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata has a worse noise score though

While the Subaru WRX has some noise issues, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has it worse. In general, the Miata has worse scores in the comfort and convenience section than the WRX does. In terms of noise, the Miata has the lowest possible score. The Miata’s noise problems will be there if you put the top up or down.

Just like the WRX, the Miata gets very loud at highway speeds, and this hurts its great driving dynamics. Unlike the Subaru, however, the Mazda can also get loud at low speeds. This is because there’s just not that much protection from noise. As a result, Miata drivers and passengers can hear a lot of road noise, wind noise, and tire noise.

The RF version will get a retractable hardtop that does reduce some wind noise. It’s not going to make a big difference, though; customers who get annoyed by the Miata’s noise levels should consider getting a different sports car. 

These two sports cars have the best noise ratings

The good news is that there are two sports cars with much better noise ratings than the Subaru WRX. On top of that, these two sports cars will still be relatively affordable. The Volkswagen Golf GTI, for example, starts at about $30,000, and it has a great noise score while still being fun to drive. Consumer Reports wrote, “The GTI is reasonably quiet overall, especially considering its sporty pretense, making it more livable and sophisticated compared to other sporty rivals.”

Another option is the BMW 2 Series, which starts at about $36,000 and provides a great balance of features, including comfortable noise levels. Consumer Reports has not tested the 2022 model year extensively yet, but the car critic gave a great review to the 2021 version. Like the Golf GTI, the 2 Series is quiet for a sports car, especially with high-performance tires.