Compare the2025 Honda Civic Type RVS 2025 Subaru WRX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Honda Civic Type R 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 Type R 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 Type R’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 Type R 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/tS offers a blind spot warning system.

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

Both the Civic Type R 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 Type R is safer than the Subaru WRX:

	Civic Type R	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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Civic Type R is much safer than the WRX:

	Civic Type R	WRX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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 Type R is safer than the Subaru WRX:

	Civic Type R	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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda Civic Type R is safer than the WRX:

	Civic Type R	WRX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.38 in	1.42 in
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	357 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.46 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Honda Civic Type R has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The WRX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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 Type R’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The Civic Type R’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (315 vs. 271) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 258) than the WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Civic Type R is faster than the Subaru WRX (manual transmissions tested):

	Civic Type R	WRX
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	5.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.1 sec	14.2 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	14 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	106 MPH	99 MPH
Top Speed	169 MPH	145 MPH

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Honda Civic Type R Touring was clocked 12.8 seconds faster than the Subaru WRX Limited (178.8 sec. vs. 191.6 sec.).

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Civic Type R
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
WRX
	Manual	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.4 turbo flat-4	18 city/25 hwy

Transmission

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the Civic Type R has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The WRX doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The Civic Type R’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The WRX doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Civic Type R’s brake rotors are larger than those on the WRX:

	Civic Type R	WRX	WRX tS
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.4 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	11.4 inches	12.8 inches

The Civic Type R stops shorter than the WRX:

	Civic Type R	WRX
100 to 0 MPH	307 feet	319 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	159 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	112 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the WRX (265/30R19 vs. 245/40R18).

The Civic Type R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the WRX’s standard 40 series tires. The Civic Type R’s tires are lower profile than the WRX tS’ 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Type R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the WRX.

The Civic Type R offers an available space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the WRX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Civic Type R’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the WRX (107.7 inches vs. 105.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the WRX.

The Civic Type R Touring handles at 1.04 G’s, while the WRX Limited pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Civic Type R Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the WRX tS (24.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

Chassis

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

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Civic Type R Touring is quieter than the WRX Limited (44 vs. 49 dB).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the WRX is rated a Mid-size.

The Civic Type R 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.

Ergonomics

The Civic Type R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The WRX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Civic Type R’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.

If the windows are left open on the Civic Type R the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the WRX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Civic Type R has a standard rear wiper. The WRX doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Civic Type R has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The WRX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 10 more times in the last 41 years. The WRX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Civic as the 2025 North American Car of the Year. The WRX has never been chosen.

The Honda Civic outsold the Subaru WRX by over 13 to one during 2024.

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