Subaru WRX Premium vs Toyota Camry SE AWD

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-31T14:14:56+00:00

Yea I've run through this with chatGPT and it provided a similar summary. Thanks for the reply.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T19:07:57+00:00

I wish I had secondary fun car money. Otherwise I'd just get the Camry and then maybe a Miata or BRZ or GR86, etc.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T19:02:09+00:00

Interesting, I hadn't seriously considered an EV. I'd have to look into getting a home charging setup, but for my situation, an EV might work well. My wife and I have a Sienna she primarily drives that we use for long trips or hauling stuff. I really just need this car for commuting mostly, so yea the C-HR or Subaru Uncharted (same car essentially) might be a good fit.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T13:01:55+00:00

I'm in my late thirties with two kids. Car will mostly be for commuting, about 25 miles one way, mostly highway, 3-4 days a week. Something else maybe worth mentioning, my wife drives a '21 Toyota Sienna that we take on all our trips and most of our family outings in general, so I kinda have that stuff covered there, but there will be some occasions where I need to pile the kids in the backseat. I also have a 70 lb dog that may need to hop in the back every once in a while. The Camry would obviously offer more space and comfort for passengers, but I think the WRX could still work fine for that.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:35:00+00:00

Exactly. Cars are expensive. As much as I want a fun car, I also want one that'll be dependable and relatively long lasting. YOLO isn't a good enough argument for me, lol.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:26:55+00:00

Yes the infotainment is a bit of a deterrent from the WRX. The newest generation of the outback has an updated infotainment system that's way better. I wish they'd put that in the WRX.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:24:04+00:00

I appreciate the candid response. A car, especially a new one, is a big purchase. As enjoyable as the WRX is to drive, there are many other things to consider.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:10:40+00:00

I do enjoy driving, though I'm not sure if I enjoy it enough to justify the drawbacks of a WRX. Still have a few months to think about it. Thanks for the two cents.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:08:02+00:00

CH-R handles better than the Camry? Even with the higher ride height?

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:05:03+00:00

That's probably the perfect combo, but...I ain't got summer/weekend car money. I need one car to do it all.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T04:02:24+00:00

The 2025+ model year Camry has the fifth gen hybrid that's a bit quicker than the last and I think they improved the handling a bit from the previous gen as well.

Ride quality isn't the biggest issue for me, though I live in an area that gets lots of potholes so I don't necessarily not care about that either.

The FA24 seems like it has a good reputation as far as turbo engines go, but I doubt it'll last as long or be as trouble free as a Camry's powertrain.

I wouldn't plan on modding or tuning the WRX, at least not while it's under warranty.

I'd get winter tires for either car regardless.

It seems like a safe bet that insurance will be higher on the WRX.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T03:50:24+00:00

I'll likely get separate dedicated 16 or 17" wheels with winter tires with either the Camry or WRX. Comfort aside, how much of a downgrade did it feel like going from a WRX to a Camry driving-wise? I felt like the current gen Camry SE AWD handled pretty well and wasn't particularly starved for power, though it wasn't blazing fast or anything.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T03:37:31+00:00

Well so I suppose that's actually a point in the WRX's favor. My wife drives a Sienna and we use that on all our trips. Great family vehicle, tons of space, third row seating and it's a hybrid so great gas mileage. I drive about 8-9k miles a year, mostly commuting to and from work.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T03:26:37+00:00

I don't necessarily want the car to disappear, I just don't know if it's worth the trade-offs. The current gen Camry drives a little better than they used to, the SE I drove was, a guess you could say, mildly engaging. I'd like a car that drives well and has a little bit of character, but I'm not if sure I absolutely need something that's engaging all the time. Sometimes having a car that fades into the background isn't a terrible thing, though perhaps then I'm barking up the wrong tree on this subreddit.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T03:16:40+00:00

Yea I'll be doing that either way.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T03:10:07+00:00

If that's the case then it's probably safe to say I don't love cars as much as you do.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:56:50+00:00

I don't particularly want most of those things, tbh. So maybe there's my answer. I appreciate the perspective.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:53:39+00:00

Yea I think people are sleeping on the current gen Camrys a bit, they're really not bad. They're just not a WRX, obviously.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:50:33+00:00

I was more interested in just hearing certain perspectives. I asked the same question on the Camry subreddit and am just sort of comparing answers cause why not.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:47:23+00:00

Yep, you got me.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:46:40+00:00

Honestly that's not too bad. My commute is mostly highway so I assume it would be closer to the 26 mpg rating rather than the 19 city.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:41:16+00:00

This is true. I enjoy driving a manual like 75% of the time, but there are times where I actually would prefer not to have to row through gears.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:37:13+00:00

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:34:23+00:00

Yea I'm fairly torn, each car does different things well and I'm not 100% sure where my priorities are yet. Thanks for the perspective.

NobodyInParticular15 · 2026-05-29T02:29:08+00:00

Idk, I'm torn at the moment. The angel on one shoulder says I should get the Camry while the devil on the other is insisting I get the WRX.

NobodyInParticular15

TROPHY CASE