2022 Subaru WRX vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Subaru WRX did not aim to deliver dramatic styling changes, despite being two inches wider than its predecessor. The front end remained subtle, featuring a small hexagonal grille with a decorative bar and sharp-looking LED headlights. While the silhouette of the WRX was cleaner without protruding character lines, it had black plastic cladding designed to improve airflow and pay homage to its rally heritage. The rear fenders flared dramatically with a large plastic bumper and multifaceted taillights designed to resemble illuminated magma. Quad tailpipes and a trunk-mounted lip spoiler were additional elements. Inside, the WRX made significant improvements with better fit and finish, featuring a D-shaped, flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum-alloy pedal covers, carbon-fiber-pattern trim accents, and black cloth seats with red stitching.

Contrasting with the WRX, the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback stood as a practical yet stylish option. The Civic hatch captured market share lost by manufacturers who stopped producing hatchbacks. The front resembled the Civic sedan, but the rear carried a unique design. Although the rear-quarter view suggested balanced weight distribution, from other angles, the Civic still seemed visually front-heavy. Inside, the cabin mirrored the Civic sedan with Sport Touring trim adding digital instrumentation and sophisticated infotainment displays. The Civic hatch aimed to maintain a modern appearance with details like metal honeycomb dashboard accents and high-quality control operation.

The 2022 Subaru WRX stepped up its performance game by replacing the outgoing 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine providing 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It retained the Boxer layout for a distinct engine performance profile. The new engine was paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT dubbed Subaru Performance Transmission. The WRX's smooth shifting manual was a delight to drive, complementing the car’s newly tuned suspension which reduced body roll and allowed for better handling on uneven surfaces. The move to the Subaru Global Platform significantly enhanced the overall driving dynamic.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came with two engine options. The LX and Sport trims were powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims boasted a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine generating 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard across all trims. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, while the six-speed manual offered an engaging driving experience. The Civic Hatchback handled well thanks to a firm suspension and responsive steering but was limited by the all-season tires and brakes that faded under prolonged stress.

The 2022 Subaru WRX showcased practicality with its sedan body style, offering a cargo capacity of 12.5 cubic feet with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat to expand the space. Comfort was emphasized with supportive sport seats and quality upholstery options, enabling this performance vehicle to serve well as a commuter car. The inclusion of all-wheel drive as standard added significant appeal for those seeking additional traction and drivability.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emphasized cargo space with an impressive 24.5 cubic feet trunk capacity, and Honda provided a versatile two-piece cargo shade. The rear seats also had a 60/40 split-folding capability, though Honda did not provide a maximum cargo volume official measurement. The Civic Hatchback offered ample legroom across all seating positions, although the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The driver enjoyed an 8-way power-adjustable seat, with front seats being heated. The hatchback design provided superior cargo and passenger flexibility compared to the WRX's sedan layout.

The 2022 Subaru WRX advanced technologically with its 11.6-inch touchscreen on premium trims and higher, showcasing Subaru’s Starlink system. The interface was user-friendly with physically accessible climate and volume controls but had quirks like suboptimal Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. The base trim featured a rather unconventional stacked dual 7-inch display. Optional technology upgrades included an 11-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback revamped its technology offerings with a new infotainment system. Lower trims (LX, Sport, EX-L) had a 7-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Sport Touring trim included a 9-inch display with wireless integrations, SiriusXM, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose system. This optimized hands-on control with physical knobs for volume and tuning and a steadier hand operation with a shelf below the screen. Digital instrumentation varied from a 7-inch screen with analog speedometer in lower trims to a full 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring, ensuring a modern interface.

Safety features on the 2022 Subaru WRX varied significantly with the transmission choice. CVT models came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight suite, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-tracing assist, along with new features like an electronic brake booster and automatic steering assist. Manual WRX models, however, did not have EyeSight due to the potential of stalling during emergency stops. Limited and GT trims included blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Subaru Global Platform enhanced crash energy absorption, with seven airbags standard, including a driver’s-side knee airbag.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with Honda Sensing across all trims, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Additional features like Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Keeping Assist were also included. New functionalities like Traffic Jam Assist and low-speed following were exclusive to CVT models. Blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts featured on EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Honda incorporated advanced frontal airbags and improved impact structure, earning the Civic hatchback a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from IIHS.