2021 Honda Civic vs 2021 Subaru WRX

The 2021 Honda Civic had a long history of segment-defining models, with notable versions released in 1973, 1984, 1992, 2006, and 2016. Each iteration set new benchmarks for compact cars, often requiring a break in between to recharge. The 2021 model continued to be sold in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, though the two-door coupe was discontinued, and the Civic Si was on hiatus. The Civic sedan came in various trims, with the Touring trim in Cosmic Blue Metallic paint being particularly striking, albeit polarizing in its design.

Inside, the Civic's interior, once daring in 2016, showed signs of aging, especially with its 7-inch infotainment screen. However, it still featured quality materials and thoughtful detailing. The Touring trim's 18-inch wheels and Cosmic Blue paint added to its appeal, though opinions on its styling varied. The cabin offered comfort and practicality, with a spacious trunk and a well-designed center console. Despite some drawbacks, such as the lack of rear air conditioning vents, the Civic remained a trendsetter in its segment.

The 2021 Subaru WRX, often criticized for its adolescent aesthetic, had a more subdued look compared to its racier sibling, the WRX STI. The WRX featured a wedge-like front end, a short trunk lid, aerodynamic bodywork, and a functional hood scoop, giving it a sense of speed even when stationary. Inside, the WRX's cockpit was function-first, with a design reminiscent of other Subaru compact cars from the past decade. The interior had plenty of hard plastics, contributing to its less refined reputation compared to competitors like the VW GTI and Honda Civic Si.

The WRX came in Base, Premium, and Limited trims, with the base model offering essential features like 17-inch wheels, cloth upholstery, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Premium trim added 18-inch wheels, heated seats, and a larger 7-inch screen, while the Limited trim included leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and adaptive LED headlights. Despite its functional design, the WRX's interior showed its age, lacking the clever packaging and refined materials found in newer competitors.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The base LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. While adequate, the real excitement came from the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine available in the EX, EX-L, and Touring trims. This engine delivered 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, providing a more spirited driving experience.

The turbocharged engine, combined with the Civic's sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension, offered a delightful driving experience. The steering and suspension were well-tuned, making the Civic quick, composed, and gratifying to drive, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the CVT had its drawbacks, including a sloppy gear lever and a tendency to drone. Despite these issues, the CVT contributed to impressive fuel economy, with the test car averaging 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop, surpassing the EPA estimate of 33 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Subaru WRX featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, producing 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine's unique layout allowed for a low center of gravity and efficient packaging with the all-wheel-drive system. Buyers could choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. Despite being the most powerful in its class, the WRX required precise rev management to fully exploit its performance, making the CVT a surprising but effective choice for maintaining powerband accuracy.

The manual transmission, however, was less impressive, with a vague clutch feel that detracted from the driving experience. The WRX STI offered a more precise manual transmission, but it was not available in the standard WRX. The WRX also featured Vehicle Dynamics Control with Active Torque Vectoring, enhancing cornering precision. While the WRX excelled on winding roads with its well-weighted steering, its stiff ride was less comfortable compared to the Civic Si and GTI, which balanced sportiness and comfort more effectively.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan sat low to the ground, making entry and exit a bit of a workout. Once inside, the driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Leather upholstery was standard from the EX-L trim onwards. The rear seats provided ample space and excellent thigh support, though the absence of rear air conditioning vents was a drawback. The Civic's center console was highly practical, with numerous storage options, and the trunk offered a generous 15.1 cubic feet of space, slightly reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

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 Si coupe, it fell short of the Civic sedan and the VW GTI's impressive cargo capacity. The WRX's interior showed its age, lacking modern conveniences like in-door bottle holders for larger water bottles. The driving position was comfortable and provided excellent visibility, with a decently sized center console tray and compartment. The rear seats could accommodate four adults comfortably, highlighting the advantages of a sedan layout over a coupe or sports car.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology offerings reflected its age. The base LX trim came with a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a 1.0-amp USB port. The Sport trim upgraded to a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a more powerful 1.5-amp USB port. The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim included navigation, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. Despite these upgrades, the Civic's voice recognition system was unsophisticated, and the premium sound system, while nice, was not a significant improvement over the eight-speaker setup.

The 2021 Subaru WRX came standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen running Subaru's Starlink infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. Both screens supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a sensible layout and easy-to-use controls despite dated graphics. The Limited trim offered an option package with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium stereo, providing excellent sound quality. However, the WRX's infotainment system, introduced in 2015, was far from cutting-edge, even with updates to include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Honda Civic came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and a Lane Keeping Assist System. Additional safety features included automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera. The Civic also offered LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system, though it had limitations and did not cover the left side of the car. Despite some unrefined aspects of Honda Sensing, the Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA in every assessment.

The 2021 Subaru WRX did not come standard with the latest safety features. Subaru's EyeSight system, which included adaptive cruise control, emergency automatic braking, and lane-departure warning, was available only on the Premium and Limited trims with the CVT. Other safety features like adaptive high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking were optional on the Limited trim. All WRX trims came standard with a tire-pressure monitoring system and traction control.