2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2021 Subaru Legacy was a midsize sedan that often flew under the radar, competing with popular models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Available in six trim levels, it carried over much of the body and mechanics from the Subaru Outback wagon, featuring a matching fascia, headlight design, and dashboard setup. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. While its looks weren't particularly stylish, they stayed true to Subaru's branding, offering a safe and assuring design with high-gloss stainless steel side-window and shoulder-line moldings for a bit of flash. The Legacy came with standard 17-inch steel wheels, with options to upgrade to 17-inch alloy or 18-inch black or machine-finished wheels.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture a significant share of the hatchback market, which was dwindling as consumers flocked to small crossover SUVs. The redesigned Civic hatchback, produced in Indiana, shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured a different grille pattern and unique wheel designs. The Sport Touring trim added sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, giving it a modern appearance. However, the Civic hatch still suffered from a "stubby butt" design when viewed from certain angles. Inside, the Sport Touring trim offered more advanced features, including a 9-inch touchscreen display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system, enhancing the overall sense of sophistication.

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 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Legacy's all-wheel-drive system was standard, providing excellent stability over rough terrain. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged engine earned 24 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque in the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque in the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, providing a smooth driving experience. The Sport Touring trim with a six-speed manual transmission offered a more engaging driving experience. The Civic hatchback's suspension tuning was firm yet comfortable, and the steering and brakes provided a satisfying driving experience. The Sport Touring trim achieved 33 mpg in combined driving with the CVT and 31 mpg with the manual transmission.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy improved comfort with a sound-insulation windshield and better seat positioning. The Legacy offered a spacious cabin with plenty of back seat room for adults, making it feel more like a full-size car. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. However, the Legacy's trunk space was limited to 15.1 cubic feet, sacrificing cargo space for additional legroom in the second row.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality with a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space and a 60/40-split folding back seat. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, while the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The Civic hatchback's interior featured black fabric seats in the LX and Sport trims, and black leather upholstery in the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. The car also included automatic climate control, with a dual-zone system in the EX-L and Sport Touring trims.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy featured dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays in the base model, with an 11.6-inch infotainment screen in higher trims. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12-volt power outlet, two USB ports, and a 4.2-inch meter display. Higher trims added more USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 11.6-inch infotainment screen had an unsophisticated appearance, but menus were easy to navigate.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came with a new infotainment system. The LX, Sport, and EX-L trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the Sport Touring trim offered a 9-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Civic hatchback also included digital instrumentation, with a 7-inch screen in lower trims and a 10.2-inch display panel in the Sport Touring trim. The voice recognition system worked well, and the inclusion of physical knobs for sound system controls addressed previous criticisms.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy earned top scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). The Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, including 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 Legacy's seat-belt monitoring system was very sensitive, and the EyeSight system could be annoying with its beeps and flashing alerts.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured the Honda Sensing collection of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. New features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available in the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS. The Honda Sensing system worked well but could be overly cautious, sometimes braking too hard when other motorists cut in.