Compare the2023 Honda Civic Type RVS 2023 Subaru BRZ

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Honda Civic Type R are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Subaru BRZ doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 BRZ’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 which 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 BRZ Limited offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Civic Type R has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the BRZ Limited has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Civic Type R and the BRZ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Civic Type R for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the BRZ.

There are over 68 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Subaru.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 3 places higher in reliability than Subaru.

The Civic Type R’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 87 more horsepower (315 vs. 228) and 126 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 184) than the BRZ’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Type R gets better fuel mileage than the BRZ 6-speed Manual (22 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Civic Type R uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The BRZ requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Civic Type R 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 BRZ doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 BRZ doesn’t offer launch control.

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

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the BRZ (265/30R19 vs. 215/45R17).

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 BRZ Premium’s standard 45 series tires. The Civic Type R’s tires are lower profile than the BRZ Limited’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Type R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the BRZ Premium. The BRZ’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 BRZ; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Civic Type R has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The BRZ’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Civic Type R has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The BRZ doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Civic Type R’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the BRZ (107.7 inches vs. 101.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the BRZ.

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 BRZ uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the BRZ is rated a Minicompact.

The Civic Type R has standard seating for 5 passengers; the BRZ can only carry 4.

The Civic Type R has 21.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the BRZ (99 vs. 77.2).

The Civic Type R has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.6 inches more rear headroom, 7.5 inches more rear legroom, 3.7 inches more rear hip room and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the BRZ.

The Civic Type R’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The BRZ’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

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 BRZ 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 BRZ 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 BRZ 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 BRZ 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 BRZ doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Civic Type R’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The BRZ’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

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) for the front seat. The BRZ doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Civic Type R was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2018. The BRZ has never been an “All Star.”

The Honda Civic outsold the Subaru BRZ by almost 36 to one during the 2022 model year.