2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2021 Subaru Impreza showcased a more conservative design compared to its predecessors, which had taken some bold styling risks. The current generation featured sleek headlights and taillights, a nicely-tapered front end, and toned-down wheel arch sheetmetal. The Impreza Sport models stood out with specific styling touches, including 18-inch alloy wheels, while the base models came with 16-inch steel wheels. The interior, though not the most exciting, was typical for compact cars, with a split dashboard housing the infotainment touchscreen and various forms of plastic. The Impreza Sport added contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, while the Limited trim offered standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was praised for its excellent proportions, stance, style, and detailing. Minor front styling changes included a new grille, revised bumper, and new headlights. The Touring trim level featured new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. The Lunar Silver exterior of the test vehicle had a dark undertone that avoided the typical drab brightness of silver metallic paint. The interior of the Accord Hybrid was remarkably upscale, with simulated matte-finish wood trim, robust controls, and polished metallic accents. However, the hard plastic upper rear door trim was a slight disappointment. The controls were logically arranged and easy to use, with excellent outward visibility.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine configuration allowed for a lower center of gravity. Most Impreza models came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while a five-speed manual transmission was available on the base sedan and hatchback, as well as the Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport trim also featured model-specific suspension tuning and torque vectoring for the all-wheel-drive system. The Impreza was a solid and refined daily driver, though it lacked the engagement of competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3. The Sport trim offered a good balance between ride quality and handling, but the noncommunicative steering and the engine's relative lack of power kept it from being a true driver's car.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a generator/starter motor and a separate electric drive motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, with torque available immediately and remaining constant up to 2,000 rpm. The Accord Hybrid could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and achieved 48 mpg in combined driving for most trim levels, with the Touring trim earning a 43-mpg rating due to its larger wheels and tires. The powertrain control module determined the appropriate operational mode—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, or Engine Drive—based on driving conditions. The Accord Hybrid's refined powertrain offered improved throttle response and a more natural sound and feel during acceleration. The Touring trim's 19-inch wheels and 235/40 tires provided excellent grip and handling, while the brake-by-wire regenerative braking system was praised for its feel, modulation, and response.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza offered reasonable legroom in both the hatchback and sedan models, though headroom was slightly below average. The sedan had a 12.3 cubic-foot trunk, the smallest among current compact sedans, but featured a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The hatchback provided 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, more than the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchback, but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza offered 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Higher trim levels included an All-Weather Package with heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated exterior mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry with pushbutton start, while the Limited trim featured a six-way power driver's seat and automatic climate control. A power moonroof was available as an option on most trims.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid impressed with its spacious interior, competing as a midsize sedan but offering full-size sedan space. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and enormous back seat provided excellent leg support, with the Touring trim adding heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin, a covered compartment with an available wireless smartphone charger, and large door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid's 16.7 cubic-foot trunk was the largest in its segment, accommodating full-size suitcases on their sides and featuring 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added utility.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base and Premium trim levels, offering Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with an option package for the Limited trim adding TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. A secondary display housed in a hood over the main touchscreen provided information like estimated range, though it seemed redundant given the small LCD display in the gauge cluster. The infotainment system was easy to use, with large touchscreen icons and minimal menu digging required for important functions.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid made its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard on all trims, including the base model. This system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless connectivity available on the EX trim. Honda improved USB port access for front-seat occupants and added 2.5-amp quick-charge USB ports for rear-seat passengers on EX trim and higher. Wireless smartphone charging was also standard on EX trim and higher. The EX-L trim featured a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot. The system worked well, though voice commands required specific prompts and pathways for success.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback both received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick" award, with the highest "Good" score in all crash tests. However, they missed out on a "Top Safety Pick+" award due to the standard headlights receiving a "Marginal" rating. The Limited trim's headlights received a "Good" score. The NHTSA awarded the Impreza sedan and hatchback a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in all crash tests. Subaru's EyeSight safety tech was standard on CVT-equipped models, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights were available as options.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid aimed to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS by redesigning its LED headlights and making them standard on all trims. The Accord Hybrid also included a standard rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder system. The Touring model gained low-speed braking control, a front and rear automatic emergency braking system that worked at speeds up to 6 mph. The Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) was refined for smoother and more accurate operation, with easier access to the settings menu. However, the system's operation remained somewhat intrusive, and the lane departure warning could benefit from a steering wheel vibration instead of a wobble. The low-speed automatic braking system also needed recalibration, as it was overly sensitive to changes in payload.