When it comes to finding the perfect compact car, many potential buyers find themselves comparing the Honda Civic and the Subaru Impreza, two highly popular vehicles in this segment. With their distinct characteristics, features, and capabilities, both models have much to offer.
This comprehensive comparison dives into the details of what sets these cars apart, examining various aspects that will help you make the best choice for your unique needs and preferences.
Exterior Design
The Honda Civic builds upon its already sleek and sporty design language. The sharp, angular body lines give the car a modern and aggressive look, while the bold front fascia, featuring a large grille and slim LED headlights, adds to its presence. The Civic’s coupe-like roofline and C-shaped taillights further enhance its sporty appeal.
The Impreza, on the other hand, opts for a more subdued and mature design approach. The Impreza features a wide, hexagonal grille, flanked by distinctive LED headlights, giving the front end a broad and assertive appearance. Its strong shoulder lines and prominent wheel arches emphasize its all-wheel-drive capabilities, while the rear taillights follow a clean, horizontal design, contributing to its overall sense of stability and poise.
Interior Design
The Civic’s interior continues to impress, with a minimalist and uncluttered design that emphasizes functionality and ease of use. High-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces create a premium atmosphere, while the floating infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster provide a modern touch. Ambient lighting and sporty, contrasting accents are available on higher trims, adding an additional layer of sophistication.
The Impreza’s cabin is similarly focused on practicality, but with a more rugged and utilitarian feel. The dashboard layout is straightforward and user-friendly, with large physical buttons and knobs for essential controls. Soft-touch materials and comfortable seats ensure a pleasant driving experience, while the available two-tone upholstery and metallic trim accents add a touch of style.
Seating
The Civic offers seating for up to five passengers, with ample headroom and legroom in both the front and rear rows. The seats are well-bolstered and supportive, ensuring comfort during long drives. Heated front seats and power-adjustable driver’s seat are available on higher trims, further enhancing passenger comfort.
Like the Civic, the Impreza also seats up to five passengers comfortably. The seats are well-cushioned and offer a good amount of support, with slightly more headroom and legroom than the Civic. Heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat are also available, ensuring a cozy ride even in colder climates.
Storage
The Civic offers a spacious and practical trunk with 14.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the sedan version, while the hatchback version boasts an impressive 24.5 cubic feet of space. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats further increase versatility and storage options, making the Civic an excellent choice for those seeking a compact car with ample cargo capacity.
The Impreza follows suit with a generous trunk, offering 12.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the sedan version and 20.8 cubic feet in the hatchback. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats add flexibility for larger items, though the overall cargo capacity falls slightly short of the Civic.
Performance
The 2023 Civic offers two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines provide brisk acceleration and a smooth, responsive driving experience. The Civic’s well-tuned suspension and precise steering make it enjoyable to drive, with a comfortable ride and excellent handling around corners.
The Impreza comes with a single engine option: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine that generates 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. While not as powerful as the Civic’s engines, the Impreza’s standard all-wheel drive system ensures impressive traction and stability in various driving conditions. The Impreza’s suspension is tuned for comfort, resulting in a smooth and composed ride, though it may not feel as agile as the Civic when pushed to its limits.
Fuel Efficiency
The Civic boasts impressive fuel efficiency numbers, with the base 2.0-liter engine achieving an EPA-estimated 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. Opting for the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine results in slightly better fuel economy, with ratings of 33 mpg city and 42 mpg highway.
The Impreza’s fuel economy is respectable but falls short of the Civic’s impressive figures. The Impreza’s 2.0-liter engine with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is rated at 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Its standard all-wheel drive system contributes to the slightly lower efficiency compared to the Civic.
Safety
The Civic comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance technologies. This includes features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims also offer blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors.
The Impreza is equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, which includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims add features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. Both vehicles have excellent safety ratings, ensuring peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.
Trim Levels
The Honda Civic is available in four trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring. The base LX trim offers a solid list of standard features, while the Sport adds performance-inspired styling elements and a few additional amenities. The EX trim introduces the more powerful turbocharged engine and additional comfort features, while the top-of-the-line Touring trim includes a full suite of luxury and technology upgrades.
The Impreza comes in four trim levels as well: Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited. The Base trim offers a decent set of standard features, while the Premium trim adds comfort and convenience upgrades. The Sport trim includes sporty styling elements and a retuned suspension for a more engaging driving experience. The range-topping Limited trim provides a host of luxury features and advanced safety technologies.
Pricing
The Civic’s pricing starts at $21,700 for the base LX sedan, with the Sport, EX, and Touring trims priced at $23,100, $24,700, and $28,300, respectively. The hatchback version is slightly more expensive, with prices starting at $22,900 for the base model and going up to $29,600 for the range-topping Touring trim.
The Impreza’s pricing begins at $19,295 for the base sedan, with the Premium, Sport, and Limited trims priced at $22,595, $24,095, and $26,695, respectively. The hatchback version carries a small premium, with prices starting at $19,795 for the base model and reaching up to $27,195 for the top-tier Limited trim.
Key Differences
Engine Options and Performance:
The Civic offers two engine options, including a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that delivers 180 horsepower. In contrast, the Impreza comes with a single 2.0-liter Boxer engine producing 152 horsepower. The Civic generally provides better acceleration and sportier handling, while the Impreza prioritizes stability and traction with its standard all-wheel-drive system.
Fuel Efficiency:
The Civic holds an advantage in fuel efficiency, with the base 2.0-liter engine achieving 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, and the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine offering 33 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. The Impreza, with its 2.0-liter engine and CVT, has slightly lower ratings at 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.
Cargo Space:
The Civic provides more cargo space, with 14.8 cubic feet in the sedan and 24.5 cubic feet in the hatchback. The Impreza offers 12.3 cubic feet in the sedan and 20.8 cubic feet in the hatchback. Both vehicles have 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added versatility.
All-Wheel Drive:
One of the most significant differences between the two models is the availability of all-wheel drive. The Impreza comes standard with Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, providing better traction and stability in various driving conditions. The Civic, however, does not offer an all-wheel-drive option.
Final Thoughts
After comparing the Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza across various categories, it’s clear that both vehicles excel in their own ways, with the Civic standing out for its sporty design, performance, and fuel efficiency, and the Impreza shining with its standard all-wheel drive and more rugged appearance.
Ultimately, the decision between these two compact cars comes down to individual priorities and tastes. It’s crucial to test drive both models, and consider the specific features and driving experiences they offer, to ensure you make the best choice for your lifestyle and requirements.
Features Breakdown
Honda Civic:
- Exterior Design:
- Sleek and sporty design
- Angular body lines
- Bold front fascia with large grille and slim LED headlights
- Coupe-like roofline
- C-shaped taillights
- Interior Design:
- Minimalist and uncluttered layout
- High-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces
- Floating infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster
- Ambient lighting and contrasting accents on higher trims
- Seating:
- Comfortable seating for up to five passengers
- Ample headroom and legroom
- Heated front seats and power-adjustable driver’s seat on higher trims
- Storage:
- 14.8 cubic feet of cargo space in sedan; 24.5 cubic feet in hatchback
- 60/40 split-folding rear seats
- Performance:
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower, 138 lb-ft of torque)
- Turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (180 horsepower, 177 lb-ft of torque)
- Smooth and responsive driving experience
- Excellent handling and comfortable ride
- Fuel Efficiency:
- 2.0-liter engine: 31 mpg city, 40 mpg highway
- 1.5-liter turbocharged engine: 33 mpg city, 42 mpg highway
- Safety:
- Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance technologies
- Available blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors
- Trim Levels:
- LX, Sport, EX, and Touring
- Pricing:
- Starting at $21,700 for the base LX sedan, up to $29,600 for the top-tier Touring hatchback
Subaru Impreza:
- Exterior Design:
- Subdued and mature design
- Wide hexagonal grille and distinctive LED headlights
- Strong shoulder lines and prominent wheel arches
- Clean, horizontal rear taillight design
- Interior Design:
- Rugged and utilitarian layout
- Soft-touch materials and comfortable seats
- Large physical buttons and knobs
- Two-tone upholstery and metallic trim accents on higher trims
- Seating:
- Comfortable seating for up to five passengers
- Slightly more headroom and legroom than Civic
- Heated front seats and power-adjustable driver’s seat on higher trims
- Storage:
- 12.3 cubic feet of cargo space in sedan; 20.8 cubic feet in hatchback
- 60/40 split-folding rear seats
- Performance:
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine (152 horsepower, 145 lb-ft of torque)
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Smooth and composed ride
- Fuel Efficiency:
- 2.0-liter engine with CVT: 28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway
- Safety:
- Subaru EyeSight suite of advanced safety features
- Available blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking
- Trim Levels:
- Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited
- Pricing:
- Starting at $19,295 for the base sedan, up to $27,195 for the top-tier Limited hatchback
