2025 Honda Civic vs 2025 Subaru Legacy

$24,250 · Sedan

$26,810 · Sedan

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Honda Civic captivates with its unmatched efficiency, boasting a stellar 36 combined MPG and an attractive $24,250 starting MSRP, positioning it as the sharp, economical choice. Conversely, the 2025 Subaru Legacy demands attention with its robust 182 horsepower and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, promising confident handling even though its 30 combined MPG lags behind. While the Civic offers impressive city economy at 32 MPG, the Legacy counters with superior driving power, producing 176 lb-ft of torque compared to the Civic's 133 lb-ft. This comparison boils down to prioritizing financial savings and fuel sipping (Civic) versus accessible all-weather capability and punchier acceleration (Legacy). The Legacy is also a slightly larger vehicle, measuring 191.1 inches in length versus the Civic's 184.8 inches, offering marginally more cargo space at 15.1 cu ft.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Honda Civic

The Civic wins for commuters due to its superior fuel economy, achieving 36 combined MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Subaru Legacy

The Legacy offers better utility with slightly more cargo capacity (15.1 cu ft) and the inherent safety confidence of standard All-Wheel Drive.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Subaru Legacy

The Legacy provides significantly more engine excitement, delivering 182 horsepower against the Civic's 150 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Honda Civic

The Civic delivers better outright efficiency and a lower entry price point at $24,250.

Choose the Honda Civic if...

Your primary goal is maximizing fuel savings, evidenced by its 36 combined MPG rating.
You prefer the lower initial investment, with an MSRP starting $2,560 less than the Legacy.
You appreciate nimble handling characteristics associated with its slightly smaller 184.8-inch overall length.

Choose the Subaru Legacy if...

You require superior traction due to standard All-Wheel Drive capability.
You seek a more engaging drive with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.
You need the marginally increased utility provided by 15.1 cu ft of standard cargo space.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Civic	Subaru Legacy
Length	184.8"	191.1"
Width	70.9"	72.4"
Height	55.7"	59.1"
Wheelbase	107.7"	108.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	—
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	—	✓
Front Multi-Adjustable Headrests	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	flat 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	150 hp @ 6400 rpm	182 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	133 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	176 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	32/41 MPG	27/35 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	36 MPG	30 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	396.8/508.4 mi.	499.5/647.5 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	12.4 gal.	18.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Push Button Start	✓	—
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Infotainment Display	7.0 in	7.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	160W	—
Speaker System	4	4
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Length	—	4 months

Power Feature

Feature	Honda	Subaru
One-Touch Power Windows	2	2
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Front Head Room	39.3 in.	39.4 in.
Front Leg Room	42.3 in.	42.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.0 in.	58.1 in.
Front Hip Room	54.3 in.	55.5 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Rear Head Room	37.1 in.	37.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	37.4 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.0 in.	57.4 in.
Rear Hip Room	48.9 in.	54.8 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Wheel Material	Steel	—
Wheel Cover Type	Full	—
Wheel Diameter	16 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P215/55R	225/55R
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	—	17 x 7.5 in

Suspension

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ 12000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Civic and 2025 Subaru Legacy.

How much better is the Civic's fuel economy than the Legacy's?

The 2025 Honda Civic is significantly thriftier, achieving 36 combined MPG, which is 6 MPG better than the 2025 Subaru Legacy's 30 combined MPG.

Which sedan offers more horsepower for highway merging?

The 2025 Subaru Legacy is the clear winner in raw power, producing 182 horsepower, a notable 32 hp increase over the Civic's 150 hp output.

Is the higher MSRP of the Legacy justified by its standard features?

Yes, the Legacy starts at $26,810 compared to the Civic's $24,250, primarily because the Legacy includes standard All-Wheel Drive, which the FWD Civic lacks.

Do these vehicles use the same type of fuel?

Both the 2025 Honda Civic and the 2025 Subaru Legacy are engineered to run efficiently on regular unleaded fuel, making fueling costs comparable despite mileage differences.

Which sedan provides more practical space inside the trunk?

The cargo capacities are very close, but the Legacy offers a slight advantage with 15.1 cubic feet of storage compared to the Civic's 14.8 cubic feet.

How do the transmissions compare in these two models?

Interestingly, both the Civic and the Legacy utilize a continuously variable-speed automatic transmission (CVT) for their primary powertrain, suggesting similar smooth driving characteristics.