Honda Civic 1.6 i-VTEC vs Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Elegance
13 Oct 2017|59,940 views
Honda Civic
More stylish design
Higher-quality interior
Much more fun to drive
Toyota Corolla Altis
More powerful engine
More fuel economical at 13.4km/L
Not as great a package as the Civic
When Singaporean car buyers shop for a sensible family sedan, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Altis are names that they'll immediately gravitate towards. And it's no surprise because for decades, these archrivals have been known for their Japanese reliability, low running costs as well as outstanding resale values.
With the current generation Civic, Honda is looking to right the wrongs of its predecessor and it has done a mighty fine job doing so.
However, wanting to maintain a competitive edge, Toyota has responded with a facelift of the 11th generation Altis, giving it a new engine, subtle interior tweaks and improved safety.
The 11th generation Toyota Altis has been given a facelift and has grown to be a little more youthful-looking
Are the Altis' updates enough to make it a better buy than our sgCarMart Car of The Year 2016 winner?
First impressions
With its recent nip and tuck, the Altis has grown to be a little more youthful, thanks to a more streamlined grille and slimmer headlamps.
They make a small but significant enough difference to the car's once fuddy duddy image but side-by-side, the Civic does exude more presence with a meaner-looking face, lower stance and fancier sportback design.
The Civic exudes more presence thanks to its meaner-looking face, lower stance and fancier sportback design
The Civic, too, is easily perceived as the more executive-looking car because of its larger dimensions, masking the fact that it's actually cheaper and rides on smaller 16-inch wheels than its rival at time of writing.
With the current generation Civic, Honda is looking to right the wrongs of its predecessor and it has done a mighty fine job doing so.
However, wanting to maintain a competitive edge, Toyota has responded with a facelift of the 11th generation Altis, giving it a new engine, subtle interior tweaks and improved safety.
Are the Altis' updates enough to make it a better buy than our sgCarMart Car of The Year 2016 winner?
First impressions
With its recent nip and tuck, the Altis has grown to be a little more youthful, thanks to a more streamlined grille and slimmer headlamps.
They make a small but significant enough difference to the car's once fuddy duddy image but side-by-side, the Civic does exude more presence with a meaner-looking face, lower stance and fancier sportback design.
The Civic, too, is easily perceived as the more executive-looking car because of its larger dimensions, masking the fact that it's actually cheaper and rides on smaller 16-inch wheels than its rival at time of writing.
Inner workings
The Civic continues to impress on the inside with a more futuristic and higher quality fit and finish than the Altis. While both cars are made in Thailand, the Civic will easily fool anyone into thinking that it was built in Japan or even Europe.
There is less use of tacky plastics throughout its interior, while the overall look and feel afforded by more soft-touch materials is also a notch more superior.
The high-quality interior of the Civic will easily fool anyone into thinking that it was built in Japan or even Europe
At the same time, the Civic's more driver-focused seating position means that you get a sportier experience behind the wheel, while passengers at the back get to enjoy rear air-conditioning, a feature not found in the Altis.
Space wise, both cars offer a comparable amount of legroom although the Altis does have significantly more headroom, especially at the rear. The Civic's comeback is 519 litres of cargo capacity, an impressive volume over the Altis' 470 litres.
The Altis compensates for its less appealing interior with nice-to-have features like an electric driver's seat
That's not to say the Altis doesn't have its merits. It recoups some lost points in the features department with the availability of an electric driver's seat and navigation system, which the Civic unfortunately doesn't have.
The Civic continues to impress on the inside with a more futuristic and higher quality fit and finish than the Altis. While both cars are made in Thailand, the Civic will easily fool anyone into thinking that it was built in Japan or even Europe.
There is less use of tacky plastics throughout its interior, while the overall look and feel afforded by more soft-touch materials is also a notch more superior.
At the same time, the Civic's more driver-focused seating position means that you get a sportier experience behind the wheel, while passengers at the back get to enjoy rear air-conditioning, a feature not found in the Altis.
Space wise, both cars offer a comparable amount of legroom although the Altis does have significantly more headroom, especially at the rear. The Civic's comeback is 519 litres of cargo capacity, an impressive volume over the Altis' 470 litres.
That's not to say the Altis doesn't have its merits. It recoups some lost points in the features department with the availability of an electric driver's seat and navigation system, which the Civic unfortunately doesn't have.
 |
Toyota has also made good effort to freshen up things a bit, redesigning the car's air-conditioning vents at either side of the dashboard to be round in shape, and the controls for the air-conditioning to mimic the ones in the Toyota Prius.
Do it for the drive
Thanks of its new engine, the Altis is a tad more powerful with 129bhp and 160Nm of torque as compared to the Civic, which has 123bhp and 152Nm. This allows the Altis to inch quicker ahead of the Civic from the lights, but not drastically.
The Altis is the more powerful car of the two with 129bhp and 160Nm of torque from a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine
The Civic's powertrain, however, is considerably more refined, making its rivals' seem a generation older. Neither cars will grant you much straight-line propulsion but when put under pressure, the Altis' engine is more audible and more strained, becoming slightly unpleasant if you have the habit of a heavy foot.
Steering in the Civic is more communicative and has a nicer, well-weighted feel
In terms of driving dynamics, the Altis, too, is easily outshined by the Civic. The steering in the Civic is sharper, more direct and has a meatier feel that's a pleasure to have on spirited drives. Driven back-to-back, the undesirable vagueness and weightlessness of the Altis' is apparent.
When hurrying through corners, the Civic again proved to be the more planted and balanced car, rolling less from turn to turn. Tested over pockmarked tarmac, it's also more settled, translating into a more comfortable ride.
Do it for the drive
Thanks of its new engine, the Altis is a tad more powerful with 129bhp and 160Nm of torque as compared to the Civic, which has 123bhp and 152Nm. This allows the Altis to inch quicker ahead of the Civic from the lights, but not drastically.
The Civic's powertrain, however, is considerably more refined, making its rivals' seem a generation older. Neither cars will grant you much straight-line propulsion but when put under pressure, the Altis' engine is more audible and more strained, becoming slightly unpleasant if you have the habit of a heavy foot.
In terms of driving dynamics, the Altis, too, is easily outshined by the Civic. The steering in the Civic is sharper, more direct and has a meatier feel that's a pleasure to have on spirited drives. Driven back-to-back, the undesirable vagueness and weightlessness of the Altis' is apparent.
When hurrying through corners, the Civic again proved to be the more planted and balanced car, rolling less from turn to turn. Tested over pockmarked tarmac, it's also more settled, translating into a more comfortable ride.
Then again, the Altis has never been a sporty car to drive, and it makes no pretensions to be. What it does excel in is fuel economy, which at the end of our drive was an averaged 13.4km/L. The Civic was slightly thirstier, clocking an average of 12.8km/L.
Paired to an efficient VVT-i Valvematic engine, the CVT tranny in the Altis helps clock an averaged fuel economy of 13.4km/L
Decisions, decisions
Not too long ago, the Civic was the more expensive car to put on the road, costing a good couple of grand more than the Altis. That alone, was good reason enough for most buyers to settle for the latter despite the former being the better put-together car. After all, in this segment, priority goes to affordability over emotional appeal.
That's now changed, though, because at time of writing (as of 10th October), Kah Motor is listing the Civic at $108,999, while the Altis goes for $109,988. Unlesss you're a fuel economy nerd or a die-hard Toyota fan, deciding between them is now a more obvious, easier choice.
The Civic wins the war this time, thanks to a sportier styling, a posher interior and a more rewarding drive for less money
Sportier styling, a posher interior and a more rewarding drive for less money? Well, thank you Honda.
Decisions, decisions
Not too long ago, the Civic was the more expensive car to put on the road, costing a good couple of grand more than the Altis. That alone, was good reason enough for most buyers to settle for the latter despite the former being the better put-together car. After all, in this segment, priority goes to affordability over emotional appeal.
That's now changed, though, because at time of writing (as of 10th October), Kah Motor is listing the Civic at $108,999, while the Altis goes for $109,988. Unlesss you're a fuel economy nerd or a die-hard Toyota fan, deciding between them is now a more obvious, easier choice.
Sportier styling, a posher interior and a more rewarding drive for less money? Well, thank you Honda.
Honda Civic
More stylish design
Higher-quality interior
Much more fun to drive
Toyota Corolla Altis
More powerful engine
More fuel economical at 13.4km/L
Not as great a package as the Civic
When Singaporean car buyers shop for a sensible family sedan, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Altis are names that they'll immediately gravitate towards. And it's no surprise because for decades, these archrivals have been known for their Japanese reliability, low running costs as well as outstanding resale values.
With the current generation Civic, Honda is looking to right the wrongs of its predecessor and it has done a mighty fine job doing so.
However, wanting to maintain a competitive edge, Toyota has responded with a facelift of the 11th generation Altis, giving it a new engine, subtle interior tweaks and improved safety.
Are the Altis' updates enough to make it a better buy than our sgCarMart Car of The Year 2016 winner?
First impressions
With its recent nip and tuck, the Altis has grown to be a little more youthful, thanks to a more streamlined grille and slimmer headlamps.
They make a small but significant enough difference to the car's once fuddy duddy image but side-by-side, the Civic does exude more presence with a meaner-looking face, lower stance and fancier sportback design.
The Civic, too, is easily perceived as the more executive-looking car because of its larger dimensions, masking the fact that it's actually cheaper and rides on smaller 16-inch wheels than its rival at time of writing.
With the current generation Civic, Honda is looking to right the wrongs of its predecessor and it has done a mighty fine job doing so.
However, wanting to maintain a competitive edge, Toyota has responded with a facelift of the 11th generation Altis, giving it a new engine, subtle interior tweaks and improved safety.
Are the Altis' updates enough to make it a better buy than our sgCarMart Car of The Year 2016 winner?
First impressions
With its recent nip and tuck, the Altis has grown to be a little more youthful, thanks to a more streamlined grille and slimmer headlamps.
They make a small but significant enough difference to the car's once fuddy duddy image but side-by-side, the Civic does exude more presence with a meaner-looking face, lower stance and fancier sportback design.
The Civic, too, is easily perceived as the more executive-looking car because of its larger dimensions, masking the fact that it's actually cheaper and rides on smaller 16-inch wheels than its rival at time of writing.
Inner workings
The Civic continues to impress on the inside with a more futuristic and higher quality fit and finish than the Altis. While both cars are made in Thailand, the Civic will easily fool anyone into thinking that it was built in Japan or even Europe.
There is less use of tacky plastics throughout its interior, while the overall look and feel afforded by more soft-touch materials is also a notch more superior.
At the same time, the Civic's more driver-focused seating position means that you get a sportier experience behind the wheel, while passengers at the back get to enjoy rear air-conditioning, a feature not found in the Altis.
Space wise, both cars offer a comparable amount of legroom although the Altis does have significantly more headroom, especially at the rear. The Civic's comeback is 519 litres of cargo capacity, an impressive volume over the Altis' 470 litres.
That's not to say the Altis doesn't have its merits. It recoups some lost points in the features department with the availability of an electric driver's seat and navigation system, which the Civic unfortunately doesn't have.
The Civic continues to impress on the inside with a more futuristic and higher quality fit and finish than the Altis. While both cars are made in Thailand, the Civic will easily fool anyone into thinking that it was built in Japan or even Europe.
There is less use of tacky plastics throughout its interior, while the overall look and feel afforded by more soft-touch materials is also a notch more superior.
At the same time, the Civic's more driver-focused seating position means that you get a sportier experience behind the wheel, while passengers at the back get to enjoy rear air-conditioning, a feature not found in the Altis.
Space wise, both cars offer a comparable amount of legroom although the Altis does have significantly more headroom, especially at the rear. The Civic's comeback is 519 litres of cargo capacity, an impressive volume over the Altis' 470 litres.
That's not to say the Altis doesn't have its merits. It recoups some lost points in the features department with the availability of an electric driver's seat and navigation system, which the Civic unfortunately doesn't have.
Toyota has also made good effort to freshen up things a bit, redesigning the car's air-conditioning vents at either side of the dashboard to be round in shape, and the controls for the air-conditioning to mimic the ones in the Toyota Prius.
Do it for the drive
Thanks of its new engine, the Altis is a tad more powerful with 129bhp and 160Nm of torque as compared to the Civic, which has 123bhp and 152Nm. This allows the Altis to inch quicker ahead of the Civic from the lights, but not drastically.
The Civic's powertrain, however, is considerably more refined, making its rivals' seem a generation older. Neither cars will grant you much straight-line propulsion but when put under pressure, the Altis' engine is more audible and more strained, becoming slightly unpleasant if you have the habit of a heavy foot.
In terms of driving dynamics, the Altis, too, is easily outshined by the Civic. The steering in the Civic is sharper, more direct and has a meatier feel that's a pleasure to have on spirited drives. Driven back-to-back, the undesirable vagueness and weightlessness of the Altis' is apparent.
When hurrying through corners, the Civic again proved to be the more planted and balanced car, rolling less from turn to turn. Tested over pockmarked tarmac, it's also more settled, translating into a more comfortable ride.
Do it for the drive
Thanks of its new engine, the Altis is a tad more powerful with 129bhp and 160Nm of torque as compared to the Civic, which has 123bhp and 152Nm. This allows the Altis to inch quicker ahead of the Civic from the lights, but not drastically.
The Civic's powertrain, however, is considerably more refined, making its rivals' seem a generation older. Neither cars will grant you much straight-line propulsion but when put under pressure, the Altis' engine is more audible and more strained, becoming slightly unpleasant if you have the habit of a heavy foot.
In terms of driving dynamics, the Altis, too, is easily outshined by the Civic. The steering in the Civic is sharper, more direct and has a meatier feel that's a pleasure to have on spirited drives. Driven back-to-back, the undesirable vagueness and weightlessness of the Altis' is apparent.
When hurrying through corners, the Civic again proved to be the more planted and balanced car, rolling less from turn to turn. Tested over pockmarked tarmac, it's also more settled, translating into a more comfortable ride.
Then again, the Altis has never been a sporty car to drive, and it makes no pretensions to be. What it does excel in is fuel economy, which at the end of our drive was an averaged 13.4km/L. The Civic was slightly thirstier, clocking an average of 12.8km/L.
Decisions, decisions
Not too long ago, the Civic was the more expensive car to put on the road, costing a good couple of grand more than the Altis. That alone, was good reason enough for most buyers to settle for the latter despite the former being the better put-together car. After all, in this segment, priority goes to affordability over emotional appeal.
That's now changed, though, because at time of writing (as of 10th October), Kah Motor is listing the Civic at $108,999, while the Altis goes for $109,988. Unlesss you're a fuel economy nerd or a die-hard Toyota fan, deciding between them is now a more obvious, easier choice.
Sportier styling, a posher interior and a more rewarding drive for less money? Well, thank you Honda.
Decisions, decisions
Not too long ago, the Civic was the more expensive car to put on the road, costing a good couple of grand more than the Altis. That alone, was good reason enough for most buyers to settle for the latter despite the former being the better put-together car. After all, in this segment, priority goes to affordability over emotional appeal.
That's now changed, though, because at time of writing (as of 10th October), Kah Motor is listing the Civic at $108,999, while the Altis goes for $109,988. Unlesss you're a fuel economy nerd or a die-hard Toyota fan, deciding between them is now a more obvious, easier choice.
Sportier styling, a posher interior and a more rewarding drive for less money? Well, thank you Honda.
Photos by Low Fai Ming
Car Information
Honda Civic 1.6 i-VTEC (A)
CAT A|Petrol|14.9km/L
Horsepower
92kW (123 bhp)
Torque
152 Nm
Acceleration
11.6sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Honda CivicToyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Elegance (A)
CAT A|Petrol|16.3km/L
Horsepower
96kW (129 bhp)
Torque
160 Nm
Acceleration
-
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Toyota Corolla Altis
Thank You For Your Subscription.
