2020 Honda Accord vs 2021 Subaru WRX

Mary Walton’s “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace” details the development of the 1996 Ford Taurus from sketch to series production. The car was a legendary flop, a collage of compromise. Walton’s book explains why, and in juicy detail.

Bringing a new or redesigned vehicle to market isn’t easy, even if Honda makes it look that way. The 2020 Honda Accord Touring is the family sedan perfected, from its rakish good looks and delightful driving dynamics to its huge back seat and giant trunk. The 2020 Honda Accord also boasts plenty of tech, including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and adaptive cruise control.

Sure, you can quibble with a few things related to the 2020 Accord. After all, no car is perfect. But the Honda Accord Touring sure does come close in so many of the ways that matter most, from usability to mpg.

With few exceptions, it’s become harder and harder to find an affordable sports car. Sure, you could get a base-model Mustang or Camaro, but they are cosplaying at being muscle cars. True low-cost, nimble sports cars like the Mazda Miata, Toyota 86, and Subaru BRZ just don’t make as much sense for as many shoppers.

That’s the appeal of hot hatches and sports sedans. Cars like the Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Si, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Veloster N, and the vehicle you see here: the 2021 Subaru WRX. It provides sharp cornering and brisk acceleration, but in a sedan package that makes it more sensible than a true, dedicated sports car.

The WRX is no longer just a hotted-up version of the Subaru Impreza, as it's based on an older version of that compact car. This means many of the same positives, like standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and negatives, such as a low-grade cabin, apply. So is it worth paying the price of a very well-equipped economy car or even a midsize sedan for daily driving enjoyment? Read on to find out.