2023 Subaru WRX vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a beacon of opportunity amidst the declining popularity of hatchbacks in North America. As other automakers phased out this body style, Honda seized the moment with a redesigned Civic hatchback, produced in Indiana, aiming to capture the remaining market share. The new model shared its front-end design with the Civic sedan but distinguished itself with unique grille patterns and wheel designs. Despite its modern appeal, the Civic hatchback retained a somewhat unbalanced profile, with a noticeable visual weight over the front wheels. Inside, the Sport Touring trim offered sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, enhancing the overall modernity of the vehicle. However, the CVT shifter operation slightly detracted from the otherwise high-quality feel.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru WRX distanced itself from its Impreza roots, adopting a distinct design on the Subaru Global Platform. The WRX featured a wide-body look with box fender flares and body cladding reminiscent of the Subaru Crosstrek and Outback. Its signature hood scoop remained functional, feeding air to the intercooler. The WRX's exterior styling clearly communicated its performance-oriented nature, aligning with Subaru's current design theme. Inside, the WRX maintained Subaru's reputation for durability, though it lacked the luxurious feel of some competitors. The top Sport-Tech trim offered Ultrasuede upholstery and red stitching, but the absence of Recaro Performance Design seats in Canada was notable. Despite its basic interior, the WRX provided a practical and comfortable driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower. The latter, available in Sport and Sport Touring trims, delivered peak torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, ensuring accessible power. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, offering smooth operation and useful paddle shifters. Enthusiasts preferred the manual transmission for its short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic's suspension provided a balance between comfort and sportiness, though it wasn't suited for aggressive driving. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with real-world testing nearly matching official estimates.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged Subaru boxer engine, delivered 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It sat between the Honda Civic Si and Type R in terms of output. Unlike its mostly FWD competitors, the WRX featured AWD, enhancing grip and confidence on twisty roads. The standard six-speed manual transmission or optional Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT) CVT offered different driving experiences. The SPT/CVT mimicked a conventional automatic transmission, though some found the fake shift shock unnecessary. The WRX's driving experience was competent but muted, with quiet exhaust and laid-back steering. It excelled as a daily driver, offering comfort and confidence without exuberance.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback prioritized functionality with a generous 693-litre trunk and a two-piece cargo shade. The 60/40-split folding rear seat added versatility, though the load floor wasn't flat. Seating comfort was generally good, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and rear passengers missed air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, with heated front seats standard in Canada. The Sport Touring trim featured black leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control, enhancing comfort and convenience.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, as a compact sedan, offered practicality with slightly more front headroom and legroom than the Honda Civic Si. However, the Civic provided more rear-seat space. The WRX's 354-litre trunk was smaller than some competitors, but the 60/40 split-folding rear seat and roof-rack mounts added versatility. Subaru preserved good outward visibility with low window-sill lines and thin roof pillars. However, the cabin lacked a suitable place for a smartphone, with limited storage options and inconvenient USB port placement.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen in LX and Sport trims, offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, SiriusXM, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Physical knobs for sound controls addressed previous criticisms, and the voice recognition system worked well. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring trim.

The 2023 Subaru WRX's Starlink infotainment system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Base models had dual 7-inch touchscreens, while Sport and Sport-Tech trims featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. The larger screen was appreciated for its readability, though physical controls were missed. The interface was generally user-friendly, but SiriusXM required multiple steps and took time to load. The Sport-Tech trim offered an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came equipped with Honda Sensing, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. A blind-spot warning system was standard in Canada, with rear cross-traffic warning available in the Sport Touring trim. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety features and engineering.

The 2023 Subaru WRX offered EyeSight driver assist technology with the CVT, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centring, forward collision warning, and more. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist were available on Sport and Sport-Tech trims. The WRX received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The standard headlights were rated "Acceptable," while the Sport-Tech model's headlights received a "Good" rating.