When it comes to having fun on four wheels, there are plenty of ways to achieve your desires. Whether it’s spending your money on a 500+ horsepower supercar that’ll scare you half to death, or opting for a practical wagon that has similar performance to the fastest machines out there, your needs will be covered somewhere. That includes lower budgets, with vehicles like the Mazda MX-5 standing out as excellent low-priced options.
That said, the current version isn’t as cheap as it once was, especially if you want extra performance from the two-seater. Subaru’s four-door road weapon thus stands out as arguably better value.
The Subaru WRX Provides Approachable Performance
2026 Subaru WRX driving front 3/4Subaru
The WRX is as close as you’ll get to buying a modern-day Impreza WRX STI, a model that Subaru moved away from back in 2021. While the WRX sedan lacks the same level of firepower as the full-fat WRX STI, its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine still has plenty to give. With 271 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque shared among all four wheels, the WRX will move along at a brisk pace, reaching 60 mph in a solid 5.5 seconds.
It provides somewhat of an old-school driving experience too, since it comes with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox. This gives the WRX a rather unusual driving experience compared to most other vehicles on the road, since the Toyota GR Corolla is the only other performance machine on the market that pairs all-wheel drive with a manual transmission. The WRX goes even further though, since it’s the only modern performance car that makes use of a Boxer engine.
Since a Boxer engine features cylinders that are mounted horizontally rather than vertically, the unit ends up being much flatter than a traditional inline or V-configured power plant. This allows it to be placed much lower in the engine bay, improving the center of gravity of the vehicle it calls its host, which helps improve handling. The Boxer engine also emits a unique engine note that’s rougher than more traditional designs, giving it extra presence as it rushes past. This, combined with its approachable handling thanks to the AWD, makes the WRX a tantalizing case for being a performance vehicle that can be used every day and in all conditions.
The Miata Lacks Outright Pace Versus The WRX
2026 Mazda MX-5 MiataMazda
Mazda’s little sports car is built to a different philosophy than the WRX, envisioned as a lightweight, two-door, rear-wheel-drive sports car that prioritizes agile handling over outright traction or straight-line performance. Its small, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four power plant was chosen to help keep weight down, though the penalty is that it produces only 181 hp, around 90 hp short of the WRX. Despite this, the Mazda can hit 60 mph in pretty much an identical time to the Subaru, thanks to it tipping the scales at around 1,000 pounds lighter.
The WRX does get the better of the MX-5 in terms of maximum velocity though, since it can reach an electronically limited top speed of 145 mph, whereas the Mazda runs out of puff at 140 mph in manual form. These numbers illustrate how these two cars differ in approach, with the WRX being the more sure-footed vehicle that compensates for its extra weight by producing more power, while the MX-5 stays competitive by offering agile handling and a lightweight frame that ensures it’s quicker down the straights than you might think.
The MX-5 You’ll Want Is Quite Expensive
2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring. ConvertibleMazda USA
The only trouble with the MX-5 is that, by the time you get the one that you’ll actually want, it’s difficult to call it a bargain. The variant in question is the Club, which brings upgraded Bilstein suspension, a further-tuned chassis, and a limited-slip differential. It’ll cost you $33,930 though, which is a little more than a base WRX. Opt for worthwhile upgrades like the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package, which brings much better brakes and tougher forged wheels, and you’ll be handing over well north of $40k. This leaves it perilously close to entry-level examples of more premium sports cars, which will be better to live with while still providing engaging handling.
By contrast, the WRX manual can be had for just over $32k, leaving an extra $8,000 in your wallet. While the base MX-5 is much cheaper at around $30k, its lack of versatility as a daily driver means it’s only going to generally be usable as a weekend warrior, so you’ll want it to provide an experience that justifies having it as an extra car. As a result, spending the extra cash on the better-equipped Club version with the added performance packages — which truly unlocks the full potential of the MX-5’s chassis and engine — makes sense in this regard.
The WRX Strengthens Its Argument By Being So Usable
2025 Subaru WRX tSJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Subaru’s sedan doesn’t have such problems, pairing its tempting price tag not only with strong performance, but with the kind of practicality that ensures it works well on the weekend and during the working week. It has four doors and seating for five, as well as a more refined fixed roof compared to the MX-5’s folding soft top. This makes it ideal for gearheads who need to transport a family around, since the WRX provides the space and access needed to make this a reality.
In addition, the WRX also offers up considerably more cargo space. Whereas the MX-5’s tiny trunk provides just 4.5 cubic feet of space, you can squeeze 12.5 cubic feet of stuff into the rear of the Subaru, nearly three times more.
With the MX-5, you’d need to spend more money on a more practical vehicle should you have a family in tow, whereas the WRX can serve well as a standalone vehicle. Given the rise in the cost of living across the US in recent times, slimming down to a single car can be an appealing choice for many families. Then, there’s the safety aspect.
The MX-5’s RWD layout means it won’t be as usable for a full year and the different weather conditions that come with it. Many will have to hide it away in a garage during the winter months, whereas the AWD WRX is as much in its element in slippery conditions as it is powering along a bone-dry road at the height of summer.
The WRX Stands Out As The Ideal Affordable, Daily Performance Car
2025 Subaru WRX tSJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Given all these elements, it’s hard to argue against the kind of value the WRX provides in 2026. In a time when running more than one car is more demanding than ever, being able to buy something that provides all the practicality you can need for an average-sized family, while being fun to drive and affordable to buy in the first place, is like gold dust. The WRX answers these calls very effectively indeed. Beyond simply being fast, the WRX also makes sense for enthusiasts since it offers the chance of a more analogue and involving driving experience, since finding such a usable vehicle with a manual gearbox is getting difficult.
Most manufacturers are switching to slicker automatic transmissions in their performance vehicles, since they’re taking the lion’s share of the sales of such cars in most markets. The upshot is that it’s getting harder than ever to buy an affordable, practical, and usable performance car with such a transmission these days, with the WRX’s main rival now being the GR Corolla. Its Japanese rival also has AWD, but it costs about the same as the MX-5 Club. The only other such offering, the Volkswagen Golf R, lost its manual option following its 2024 model year.
Once upon a time, the MX-5 could be justified as an extra car due to how cheap they were, but the $40k Club illustrates that this is no longer the case. This is especially relevant when you can buy a car like the WRX that delivers a similarly engaging drive, along with more practicality and usability, for considerably less cash. The WRX combines a number of crucial attributes that will appeal to dedicated enthusiasts who need to balance family obligations with their passion for driving, and thus stands out as a strong option if you can’t justify spending money on two or three different cars.
If the anticipated manual comeback doesn’t work out, you could also find yourself with a very appealing and rare machine on your hands. Who said being sensible had to be boring?
Sources: Mazda, Subaru.
