2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a level of engineering excellence typically found in more expensive brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its small footprint. The sedan featured a sleek roofline similar to the coupe, with body panel creases and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over into 2020. The Civic Si sedan and coupe received new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and standard LED headlights, among other enhancements. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch rubbers and high-quality switchgear, and the 2020 model introduced new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy, while often overlooked, competed with popular midsize sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Available in six trim levels, it carried over much of the body and mechanics of the Subaru Outback wagon into sedan form. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. The Legacy's design was more subdued compared to its competitors, but it featured high-gloss stainless steel moldings and various wheel options. The interior was a blend of high-quality materials and piano black plastic, with cloth upholstery standard and leather available at extra cost. The Legacy offered a spacious cabin with comfortable seating, though it had some fit-and-finish issues. The trunk space was limited to 15.1 cubic feet, a trade-off for the extra legroom in the second row.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. Higher trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchbacks in Sport or Sport Touring trims making 180 hp. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R boasted 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R came exclusively with a stick-shift. The Civic's engines were smooth and responsive, with the CVT performing well without hesitation. The Si featured adaptive dampers and a stiffer ride, while the Type R was remarkably composed despite its power. The Si's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, slightly lower than other Civic models due to a reduced final-drive ratio.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims, producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with a CVT and featured standard all-wheel drive, a unique offering in the midsize sedan segment. The AWD system provided stability over rough terrain, though the steering became challenging at highway speeds without lane-centering technology activated. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged engine earned 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

The 2020 Honda Civic's interior featured a volume knob and better cupholders, with more sound insulation in the hatchback. The EX hatchback had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, and the center console offered configurable storage. The Civic felt roomy for rear passengers, though it lacked rear air vents. The sedan's trunk had 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the coupe had 12 cubic feet. The hatchback offered 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy improved comfort with a sound-insulation windshield and better seat positioning. The Base model had manually adjustable front seats, while higher trims featured power-adjustable seats. The Legacy provided ample back seat room for adults and a sense of spaciousness akin to a full-size car. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. The trunk space was limited to 15.1 cubic feet, a trade-off for the extra legroom in the second row.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on all models except the base LX. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Garmin-based navigation on top-end trims. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch, a camera system for the right-side blind spot, was also included. Automatic climate control and Honda Sensing were standard on all models, with leather seats on the EX-L and rain-sensing wipers on the Touring trim.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy featured dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays on the base model, with an 11.6-inch screen on higher trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-volt power outlet, USB ports, and a 4.2-inch meter display. Higher trims added more USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and keyless entry. The 11.6-inch screen had an unsophisticated appearance, but menus were easy to navigate. The screen housing attracted fingerprints easily.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy earned top scores in every category from the IIHS and was named a Top Safety Pick. The NHTSA gave the Legacy a five-star overall rating. The Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, which included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and a head-up display. Additional safety features included reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. The EyeSight system was easy to use but could be annoying with its alerts.