Can the Civic Si Compete with the Rally-Bred 2024 Subaru WRX?

If you’re in the market for a sporty compact sedan, the 2024 Subaru WRX and Honda Civic are great options. And if you’re looking for a thrilling driving experience, the WRX GT and Civic Si offer extra performance features. The Subaru WRX Limited trim is an upscale and superbly equipped choice.

Subaru’s rally heritage and Honda’s racing history guarantee superb performance and handling. Here at Huffines Subaru in Corinth, Texas, we compare the Civic to the WRX to see which of these stylish sport sedans comes out on top.

Civic vs. WRX Exterior Features

The 2024 Subaru WRX’s rally credentials are apparent in its aggressive exterior styling. It sits low and wide on the road, and with its hood scoop, contoured profile, front and rear under spoilers, trunk spoiler, and quad stainless-steel exhaust tailpipes, it’s clearly built to perform.

The Limited and GT trims feature keyless access, LED fog lights, daytime running lights, gray 18-inch alloy wheels, color-keyed heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a power moonroof. LED adaptive headlights move as you steer into curves for better illumination.

The 2024 Honda Civic sedan is available in LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trim levels, but it’s the Si trim that offers more power for the driving enthusiast. It also has an aggressive road stance and creates a sleek profile. The clues to its sporting prowess come from the matte black 18-inch wheels and gloss black decklid spoiler and mirrors. With the Si, you get remote entry, LED automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, a one-touch power moonroof, and dual chrome exhaust finishers.

Subaru vs. Honda Power and Performance

Under the hood of each WRX trim is a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Limited trim comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission or the option of a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The WRX GT comes standard with the CVT with eight-speed manual mode and paddle shifters for fingertip control.

The WRX Limited features the Subaru symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, active torque vectoring, and sport-tuned four-wheel independent suspension. The GT adds the Subaru Intelligent Drive engine performance management system and variable torque distribution. It also has Drive Mode Select that lets you customize the car’s engine and handling characteristics, while the adaptive dampers help enhance the handling and ride comfort.

Base power for the Civic comes from a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter engine, while the EX and Touring trims get a 180-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo. For the Civic Si, the turbocharged engine is boosted to deliver 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching downshifting.

The 3-Mode Drive System lets you choose Normal, Sport, or Individual modes. The Si also features a limited-slip front differential and sport-tuned suspension. Active sound control amplifies the engine tones through the sound system for a sportier feel, something the WRX doesn’t need. However, the Civic is only available with front-wheel drive.

Interior Features

In the cabin, the Subaru WRX GT looks and feels like the performance car it is, with upscale materials and sporty features throughout. The Subaru has slightly more headroom and legroom in the front than the Civic but slightly less in the back. The roomy trunk can be extended by folding flat the 60/40-split rear seat backs so you can carry longer items if necessary.

You’ll find push-button start, stylish Ultrasuede upholstery, heated Recaro front sports seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel with red contrast stitching, a tilting and telescoping steering column, aluminum pedal covers, and sport-design gauges. Dual-zone automatic climate control ensures a comfortable temperature in the hot Texas summers. The Limited trim has performance-design front seats and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat.

The Civic Si also has many sporty touches in the cabin. It offers push-button start, leather-trimmed upholstery, Si-embroidered sports front seats, a manually adjustable driver’s seat, a fold-down rear seat back, automatic climate control, a tilt and telescopic steering column, and sport pedals.

Technology

For information and entertainment, the WRX GT features the Starlink multimedia system. It has a vertically oriented 11.6-inch touch screen, a voice-activated navigation system, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, satellite and HD radio, and front and rear dual USB ports. The 504-watt, 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system gives you superb sound reproduction for your favorite music. You also get access to Starlink connected services.

In the Civic Si, you’ll find a horizontal dash-top 8-inch infotainment touch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, Bluetooth for hands-free calling and media streaming, and a 160-watt seven-speaker sound system with satellite and HD radio. It also has an MP3 and auxiliary input jack, and you can connect to the features provided by the HondaLink app.

Driver Assistance Features

Helping keep you in control in the Subaru WRX Limited and GT models are features such as Vehicle Dynamics Control, traction control, four-wheel anti-lock braking, and brake assist. The standard Eyesight suite of driver assistance technologies helps keep you safe with features including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, evasive steering assistance, lane-keep assist, and lane departure mitigation. You also get blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic reverse braking, and high beam assist.

The Civic is similarly equipped. It offers Vehicle Stability Assist, traction control, ABS, electronic brake distribution, and brake assist. The Honda Sensing driver-assistance features include adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, collision mitigation, a blind-spot information system with a cross-traffic monitor, and auto high beams.

See the 2024 Subaru WRX in Corinth, Texas

In the Honda Civic vs. Subaru WRX comparison, you can see that both vehicles are great options for sporty sedans. However, the Subaru outperforms the Honda with its standard all-wheel drive and more powerful engine. The WRX also has more advanced technology features. If you want to see the WRX for yourself, contact us today at Huffines Subaru Corinth to schedule a test drive. Don’t forget to check our offers and incentives to get behind the wheel of a WRX for less.