2022 Subaru WRX vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan was available in familiar trim levels: LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. The Civic Touring, our primary evaluation vehicle, was finished in the extra-cost Morning Mist Blue, which added $300 to the price, bringing it to $32,396, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with its Platinum White Pearl paint and Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, was estimated at $31,467. The redesigned 11th-generation Civic had a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. The interior featured a minimalistic design with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a maturity the previous Civic lacked.

The 2022 Subaru WRX, while wider than its predecessor, maintained a subtle front end with its signature hood scoop and small hexagonal grille. The side profile was less busy, with black plastic cladding that improved aerodynamics and paid homage to the car's rally heritage. The rear featured flared fenders, a large plastic bumper, and taillights designed to resemble magma when illuminated. The WRX's interior saw significant improvements, with better fit and finish, a D-shaped steering wheel, and sporty accents. The overall design was smoother and more streamlined, though the cladding could be distracting on bright-coloured models like the Solar Orange test car.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The LX, EX, and Sport trims featured a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim came with a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVT), with different CVTs for each engine. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's improved structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel made it enjoyable to drive, with a quieter ride than its predecessor. However, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on a 150-kilometre loop.

The 2022 Subaru WRX featured a new 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer engine, producing 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The WRX came standard with all-wheel drive and offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT. The CVT, dubbed the Subaru Performance Transmission, had eight shift points and faster shift times than the previous generation. The manual transmission was precise and satisfying, with a forgiving clutch. The WRX's suspension, mounted on the Subaru Global Platform, provided a more forgiving ride on rough roads. Despite its performance focus, the WRX's power improvement was minimal, and it felt sluggish compared to competitors like the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined, heated front seats, though the passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's low ground clearance made entry and exit challenging, but the back seat offered ample legroom. The Civic's interior redesign included a new centre console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 419 litres, or 408 litres with the Touring trim, which had a smaller trunk due to premium sound system components.

The 2022 Subaru WRX offered practicality with a cargo capacity increase to 354 litres, expandable with the rear seat's 60/40 split-fold function. The sport seats were comfortable and supportive, with various upholstery options depending on the trim. The WRX's standard all-wheel drive added to its appeal as a performance-focused sedan in its price range. The combination of comfortable seats and a forgiving clutch made the WRX a viable commuter vehicle.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display provided information on the car's lighting status, enhancing safety. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and a navigation system. The system's voice recognition technology was a significant improvement over the previous generation.

The 2022 Subaru WRX's Starlink infotainment system featured an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen in Sport trims and higher. The system had physical controls for essential functions, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration was less seamless. The base trim had a unique dual 7-inch display setup. The WRX was available with an 11-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system, though our test vehicle did not include it.

The 2022 Honda Civic's upgraded Honda Sensing suite included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic replaced its LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert. The car's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and a standard rear-seat reminder system.

The 2022 Subaru WRX's safety features varied by transmission. CVT-equipped models came with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Manual transmission models lacked EyeSight due to potential stalling issues. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Sport and Sport-tech trims. The WRX's architecture absorbed more energy in crashes, and it came with seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag.