2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Subaru WRX

The 2020 Honda Civic was celebrated as a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a blend of affordability and engineering excellence typically associated with luxury brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elongated, elegant body with a svelte roofline, while the hatchback had a quirky tall rump. The Civic's exterior was visually stimulating, with body panel creases, wide headlights, and sweeping LED taillights accentuating its low and wide stance. The interior was simple yet refined, with soft-touch materials and high-quality switchgear, complemented by gloss-black trim and pleasing design elements like the metal shift knob and symmetrical air vents. For 2020, the Civic received updates such as new wheels, bumpers, and lighting, enhancing its already appealing aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru WRX was often seen as having an adolescent aesthetic, with a wedge-like front end and short trunk lid that gave it a speedy appearance. Its aerodynamic bodywork and functional hood scoop added to this impression. Inside, the WRX shared similarities with other Subaru compacts, featuring a function-first cockpit that prioritized practicality over refinement. The interior was criticized for its abundance of hard plastics, which contributed to its less mature reputation compared to rivals like the Civic Si and VW GTI. The WRX offered trims like Base, Premium, and Limited, with features such as aluminum alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims added amenities like leather upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and advanced driver-assistance features, though the WRX's interior remained less polished than its competitors.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims featured 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, including the EX, came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchback variants offering up to 180 hp. The Civic Si boasted a 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R delivered an impressive 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Civic's powertrains were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, with the Si and Type R offering thrilling driving experiences. The Si featured adaptive dampers and a stiffer ride, while the Type R was noted for its composure despite its power. The Civic's fuel economy was commendable, with most models achieving at least 30 mpg city and up to 42 mpg highway.

The 2021 Subaru WRX was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT. Despite being the most powerful in its class, the WRX required skillful rev management to fully exploit its potential. The CVT, though not ideal for enthusiasts, kept the engine in the powerband effectively. The manual transmission was criticized for its vague clutch feel, making the CVT a more practical choice for some. The WRX featured Vehicle Dynamics Control with Active Torque Vectoring, enhancing its cornering precision. While the WRX excelled on winding roads, its stiff ride was less comfortable compared to the Civic Si and GTI, which balanced sportiness with comfort more effectively.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior, with the hatchback featuring additional sound insulation and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on EX models. The steering wheel housed controls for the central display and digital instrument panel, while the center console provided configurable storage options. The Civic's rear seats were roomy, though lacking rear air vents. The sedan's trunk offered 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback provided 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down, making it a practical choice for carrying larger items.

The 2021 Subaru WRX had a conventional sedan layout with a trunk offering up to 12 cubic feet of cargo space. While this was more than the Civic coupe, it fell short of the sedan and significantly behind the VW GTI. The WRX's interior packaging was less accommodating, with limited in-door bottle holders and center console cupholders that could obstruct shifting. The WRX provided a comfortable driving position with good visibility, and the rear seats could accommodate four adults comfortably, highlighting the advantages of a sedan layout over a coupe.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured an outdated infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, standard on all models except the base LX. It supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing users to bypass the factory interface. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, which could be turned off, and came with a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo. Standard features included push-button start, keyless entry, and heated front seats. Honda Sensing, with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control, was standard on Si models, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2021 Subaru WRX came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen running Subaru's Starlink infotainment system, with a 7-inch screen available on higher trims. Both screens supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering a sensible layout and easy-to-use controls. The Limited trim offered an option package with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium stereo, providing excellent sound quality. Despite updates, the WRX's infotainment system remained less advanced compared to newer competitors.

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, which wasn't tested. It received the top "Good" rating in all six crash tests. 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 WRX did not come standard with the latest safety features. Subaru's EyeSight system, with adaptive cruise control, emergency automatic braking, and lane-departure warning, was available on Premium and Limited trims with the CVT. Adaptive high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking were optional on the Limited trim. All WRX trims included a tire-pressure monitoring system and traction control.