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Honda Civic vs Subaru XV

What's the difference?

VS
Honda Civic
Honda Civic

$49,900 - $74,100

2025 price

Subaru XV
Subaru XV

$21,990 - $35,990

2021 price

Summary

2025 Honda Civic
2021 Subaru XV
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 2.0L

Flat 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded/Electric

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
4.2L/100km (combined)

7.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Engine sounds harsh under heavy acceleration
  • Cabin tech fiddly and hard to quickly understand
  • Middle seat in the back mostly ornamental

  • Thrashy 2.0L engine
  • Hybrid not super efficient
  • Small boot
2025 Honda Civic Summary

I’m just going to cut to the chase here. This Honda Civic hybrid is a good car. A great one, even.

But for some reason, nobody is really buying it. And it’s not just because it’s not an SUV – it has been outsold in its segment this year by the the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes A-Class, the MG4 EV, and the VW Golf. Premium and non-premium alike, they’ve all got the little Honda licked.

So, what’s going on? A CarsGuide investigation is required. Stick around and we’ll try to figure this out together.

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2021 Subaru XV Summary

Subaru has always been a good fit for Australia.

Since the '90s, when the brand made a big splash with its rally derived Impreza and Liberty, Subaru’s rugged appeal has suited Australia’s tough conditions and recreationally adventurous buyers.

Cars like the Forester and Outback solidified the brand’s place amongst SUVs before SUVs were really a thing, and the XV is the logical progression of the Impreza range, slotting nicely into the brand's offerings of lifted all-wheel-drive wagons.

It’s been a few years since the XV launched, however, so can its latest 2021 update keep it in the fight in a quickly evolving and notoriously competitive segment against many newer rivals? We’ve taken a look at the whole range to find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Honda Civic 2021 Subaru XV

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