2020 head-to-head · Compact Car

2020 Chevrolet Sonic vs Subaru WRX

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,603/ year to fuel
29 MPG

FWD · 1.4L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed automatic · 29 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$2,576/ year to fuel
23 MPG

The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $1,603 a year to fuel (29 MPG), versus $2,576 for the 2020 Subaru WRX (23 MPG). That's roughly $973 a year, or about $4,863 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Chevrolet Sonic
  • Subaru WRX

Side by side

Chevrolet SonicSubaru WRX
$1,603 Your annual fuel cost $2,576
29 MPG Combined efficiency 23 MPG
26 MPG City 21 MPG
34 MPG Highway 27 MPG
91 cu ft Passenger volume 97 cu ft
12 cu ft Cargo volume 12 cu ft
308 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 382 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 5/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 5/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
1.4L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed automatic Transmission 6-speed manual
FWD Drivetrain AWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Chevrolet Sonic vs Subaru WRX across model years

  • Chevrolet Sonic
  • Subaru WRX

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Subaru WRX has more passenger space (97 vs. 91 cu ft).

Among 34 2020 compact cars, the Chevrolet Sonic ranks 15th and the Subaru WRX 32nd for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic or the 2020 Subaru WRX?

Measured by cost to drive, the Chevrolet Sonic. The Chevrolet Sonic is rated 29 MPG combined and the Subaru WRX 23 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic vs. the Subaru WRX per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.95/gal premium gas, about $1,603 for the Chevrolet Sonic and $2,576 for the Subaru WRX.

Chevrolet Sonic vs Subaru WRX in other years

More 2020 comparisons

Or compare the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic with anything else:

Keep exploring