Compare the2025 Honda Civic SiVS 2024 Subaru WRX

The Honda Civic Si has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The WRX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Si deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Si’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The WRX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Civic Si has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the WRX Limited/GT/TR offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Civic Si has standard Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the WRX Limited/GT/TR offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Both the Civic Si and the WRX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Civic Si is safer than the Subaru WRX:

	Civic Si	WRX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	241 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	65 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	189/372 lbs.	284/524 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Civic Si is safer than the Subaru WRX:

	Civic Si	WRX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	286 lbs.	388 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	268	357
Hip Force	516 lbs.	839 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Hip Force	805 lbs.	819 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 67 percent more Honda dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Civic Si’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 1 place higher in reliability than Subaru.

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Si gets better mileage than the WRX:

			MPG
Civic Si
	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
WRX
	Manual	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.4 turbo flat-4	18 city/25 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Civic Si’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The WRX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Civic Si has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The WRX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Civic Si higher (5 out of 10) than the Subaru WRX (3). This means the Civic Si produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the WRX every 15,000 miles.

The Civic Si stops shorter than the WRX:

	Civic Si	WRX
100 to 0 MPH	312 feet	317 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	112 feet	Motor Trend

The Civic Si’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the WRX’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Si has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the WRX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Civic Si’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the WRX (107.7 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Civic Si handles at .97 G’s, while the WRX Limited pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Honda Civic Si may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the Subaru WRX.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Civic Si has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The WRX uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Civic Si has .2 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the WRX.

The Civic Si has a much larger trunk than the WRX (14.1 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

The Civic Si’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The WRX has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

On a hot day the Civic Si’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the WRX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Civic Si has standard Smart Entry that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR offers Keyless Access and Start.

The Civic Si’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The WRX’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Civic Si has standard extendable sun visors. The WRX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Civic Si’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Civic Si will be $5355 to $16961 less than for the Subaru WRX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Civic Si and the Subaru WRX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 9 more times in the last 40 years. The WRX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Civic outsold the Subaru WRX by over 8 to one during 2023.