The WRX has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Civic Si doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Subaru WRX is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda Civic Si, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
|
WRX |
Civic Si |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Crossing Child - DAY |
|
12 MPH |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
25 MPH |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
|
Crossing Adult - NIGHT |
|
12 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
12 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-10 MPH |
25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
-22 MPH |
25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-21 MPH |
|
Parallel Adult - NIGHT |
|
25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
37 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
Warning Issued-Brights |
3.3 sec |
2 sec |
Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The WRX Limited Auto/GT has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Civic Si doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.
The WRX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Civic Si doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
Both the WRX and the Civic Si 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, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Honda Civic Si:
|
WRX |
Civic Si |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
250 |
325 |
Neck Injury Risk |
24.5% |
30% |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
156 |
444 |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 Subaru WRX is safer than the Honda Civic Si:
|
WRX |
Civic Si |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
152 |
195 |
Abdominal Force |
165 lbs. |
286 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Spine Acceleration |
66 G’s |
79 G’s |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
208 |
260 |
Spine Acceleration |
48 G’s |
51 G’s |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.