HONDA CIVIC VS TOYOTA COROLLA
ALL BLACKS
Toyota has crowned its compact car with a 2.0-litre engine to go head-to-head with Honda. Can it avoid another defeat?
- Published: 10/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
The popularity of the Honda Civic is not surprising. Ever since its launch four years ago, it has created several benchmarks in the C-segment (compact) car class that remain to be beaten by the competition to this day.
There are aspects such as performance, interior space, design and cabin ergonomics that make the Honda four-door saloon stand out. That's why it won over the Toyota Corolla in a head-to-head comparison conducted by Motoring last year in 1.8-litre forms.
And after Honda facelifted the Civic late last year with some styling tweaks and equipment upgrades, Toyota's riposte came in the guise of a new range-topping 2.0-litre version of the Corolla tested in these pages last week.
Toyota has been rather late coming to the 2.0-litre class of C-segment cars, having previously chosen to leave the field to the Civic, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer and Ford Focus.
Speaking of sales, the Civic is at the top of the game. Sure, 2.0-litre compacts are more of image-boosters, but Honda believes there's a significant number of buyers out there needing a "complete" compact family car.
That's why Toyota was quick in speccing its new top-of-the-line Corolla with features usually found in bigger models like the Camry. Details that separate the Corolla from the Civic are gimmicks like rear sun shade, that Honda counters with side airbags.
Civic has tidy dash, but sat-nav monitor is not intuitive.
It's really going to boil down to personal preference when it comes to specification. But don't get scared with their B1m pricetags - both are more lavishly equipped than the higher-selling 1.8s.
Corolla’s feels more restrained, but has easy-to-use controls.
It is a given that cars in this league must incorporate sportiness which is why Toyota has deliberately tailored the Corolla with aero add-ons, rear spoiler and mesh-like front grille.
Civic’s unit is flexible, yet spirited.
Honda's variation comes in a more subtle manner, thanks to a basic design that already feels sporty in its own right. The only significant upgrade is the 17-inch alloys.
Corolla’s engine is more about torque.
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but the Civic feels sporty in a way that seems natural. The good-looking alloys effectively fill the wheel arches and make the car overall a worthy range-topping compact saloon.
Civic’s looks feel more natural.
Just to refresh your mind, the Civic's mid-life update includes redesigned front bumper. The doughnut-style theme of the rear lights has now been replaced by octagonal shapes.
Corolla has aggressive styling.
The Corolla, by contrast, is like the fruit of an after-market tuner. The aerodynamic kits can clearly be distinguished from the regular 1.6 and 1.8 versions. It may look sporty, but it appears it has taken Toyota too much effort when compared with the Civic.
But the opposite is true inside. The Corolla's dashboard feels better business with classy functions and switches. The three-spoke steering also helps it look different from the lower Corollas.
Civic’s chassis feels sportier.
The Civic has the same rack as the other variants. And while it is minimalist and tidy in looks, the cockpit-like dash is marred by a less user-friendly, cheap-looking interface operating the sat-nav and audio.
Don't think for a moment the Corolla is going to be as good to drive as it looks suggest. As noted last week, the Corolla is more about driving comfort. And that includes an engine tuned for torque tractability rather than power thrills.
Corolla’s chassis is about comfort.
But whatever Toyota had in its mind, the Civic's 2.0-litre engine is still the better one in performance terms. It's flexible enough low down, yet offers that kinds of top-end rush not found in the Corolla.
Spirited drivers who love pushing their cars to the engine's limits will definitely find the Civic more fun and powerful. And while the Corolla's unit is less vocal, there's still a good deal of refinement in the Civic. The five-speed automatic transmission in the Civic also gives better response in the mid-range. The four-speed gearbox of the Corolla feels more taxing on the legs.
The same goes for the chassis. The Corolla maintains the comfort-oriented set-up as found in its lower brothers and has no affiliation with the sporty exterior styling.
The Civic, on the other hand, manages to blend sportiness and comfort. There's enough suppleness at low speeds, yet without the sogginess found in the Corolla. Moreover, the Civic has a more direct and confidence-inspiring steering.
Probably the only area where the Corolla gains is road manners, or refinement. Due to the bigger wheels and thinner tyres, there's more noise and harshness in the Civic.
Even so, the Civic is more balanced overall. It's sufficiently sporty to drive and comfortable enough. The Corolla is about sheer comfort and nothing about fun.
Having said that, the Civic once again emerges as the winner here - and more deserving as a range-topper that gives that halo effect to the rest of the range.
Relate Search: Toyota Corolla, Civic, Mazda 3
About the author
- Writer: RICHARD LEU
