If you’re in the market for a four-door sports sedan, then you have probably looked into buying a Subaru WRX. And why not? The rally-inspired sedan is fast, practical, and affordable, but there are also other high-performance alternatives like the Honda Civic Type R, for example. If you think that might be a weird car to compare the WRX to then here are five reasons you should consider buying the Civic Type R over a WRX.

It’s a Honda

What does “it’s a Honda” really mean? In our minds, it means that the Civic Type R still has the same reliability that you can expect from any Honda on the road now or 20 years ago. Despite the Civic Type R’s high-strung nature, it still uses a steel timing chain like all of the other Civics in the lineup and is relatively low maintenance as fluids are likely the only things that will need to be replaced for at least the first few years of ownership. Well, that and tires, since you’ll probably be going through them quickly since it will be hard to keep the right pedal off the floorboard when driving it.

It has more horsepower

The Subaru WRX is powered by a 268-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine while the Honda Civic Type is also powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine but it’s rated at a stout 306 hp. It even produces more torque as the Civic is rated at 295 lb-ft compared to the WRX’s 258 lb-ft rating. What does that mean? According to Motor Trend, the Civic Type R can get to 60 mph in 5 seconds as opposed to the WRX’s 5.7, and it can get down the quarter-mile 0.6 seconds quicker as well.

Better fuel economy

If you’re shopping for a high-performance sports sedan, then chances are that you really don’t care about fuel economy. But in case you do, then you’ll be happy to know that the Honda Civic Type R is rated at an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. Compare that to the Subaru WRX’s rating of 21 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway and it’s a no-brainer that the Civic is just a tad more fuel-efficient.

Better stopping power

While both of these cars are able to get down the road and around a race track fairly quickly, their stopping power is equally as important as their performance figures. As such, the Honda Civic Type R is outfitted with 13.8-inch rotors in the front and 12 inches in the rear while the WRX has 12.4-inch rotors up front and 11.3 inches in the rear. It might not seem like a huge difference, but considering your ability to stop a car sooner can mean the difference between life or death, we would say that every inch counts.

Adjustable suspension

While the Honda Civic Type R does cost more than the Subaru WRX, you can rest assured that the extra money isn’t only being spent on the acceleration and stopping performance of the car, but also it’s well-rounded handling. We are fully aware that the WRX has an all-wheel drivetrain that can outgun the Civic in the corners, but it’s worth it to consider that the Civic Type R does have an adjustable suspension while the WRX does not.

With the flick of a switch, you can put the Civic Type R into “comfort mode” for long trips, “sport mode” for when you get to the twisty canyons, or “R Mode” for when you want to get more serious at a race track. Or just put it in whatever mode whenever you want, either way, you’re sure to get what you paid for the Civic Type R one way or another.