Honda Civic Vs Toyota Corolla Vs Skoda Octavia

Moving on to the Toyota Corolla then, and the 'Limited Edition' car we had on test sported a set of add-on skirts and chromed alloy wheels. I understand Toyota would be trying hard to counter the Civic with some freebies and add-ons, but why make it so obvious? The 'normal,' unlimited edition car, with its normal alloys and normal bodywork, looks all right. Nowhere near as good looking as the Civic, but still quite all right. The Corolla is fundamentally a very good, capable car that has always sold on the basis of its established merits. Toyota, till you do an all-new

And finally, the Corolla, which packs 125PS and 158Nm of torque. The Toyota does the zero to 60km/h in 5.15 seconds, 0-100km/h in 11.0 seconds and does a top speed of 202km/h. These numbers aren't far off the Civic's and the Octavia's figures, but the Corolla's power delivery feels more relaxed and laid back when compared with the other two. Like the Honda, the smooth, refined Toyota engine also features variable valve timing, and returns an overall fuel efficiency of 12.75kmpl overall. On the road, even with four occupants on board and the AC running full blast, the Corolla never really feels underpowered - it's just that the other two cars always feel tangibly more powerful, more responsive and sportier. The Civic and the Octavia are always in a rush. The Corolla is happier taking it easy. But do remember, Toyota's reputation for making supremely reliable and long-lasting engines is legendary, which does count for something in my book. Ride Away

The Civic's back seat is a comfortable place to be in. Cabin is bright and spacious. Ride is firm but doesn't get uncomfortable

 

 

 

The Corolla has more legroom in the back than the Octavia. It's a refined and comfortable car that's put together very well

 

 

 

 

The Octavia's rear seats are relatively cramped, but boot space is huge. Build quality is high - the car looks and feels substantial

 

 

 

Ride and handling? Well, the Civic leads the way yet again. Some of us here at CAR India were of the opinion that t he Civic's ride is too stiff, but I don't agree. Sure, the Honda feels firm and taut, but that's quite in keeping with its overall sporty character. It corners nicely, keeping a neutral stance most of the time. Turn in is quick and precise and I really appreciate the steering feel and feedback. Like all the cars here, the Civic rides on 15-inch alloys and like with all the other cars here, 16-inchers would look so much better, and will probably improve handling by another notch. Still, while pushing hard on wet roads and around some twisty ghat sections near Pune, I never ran out of grip in the Honda. The Civic is great fun in the twisties - brake late (nice, powerful brakes, sharp and progressive...), downshift (the gearbox is utterly brilliant), accelerate hard out of corners, shift up, keep the throttle pinned till the next bend - I could keep doing this all day.

Coming to the Skoda, the Octavia's natural tendency is to understeer when pushed hard, but its ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) system keeps things from going awry. It works in an unobtrusive manner, and helps keeps you in maximum attack mode for as much of the time as possible. Like the Civic, the Octavia also feels taut, but ride quality is still all right - noticeably better than what you get on an Octavia RS, with its 16-inch wheels and lower-profile tyres. Steering feel is notably better than the Corolla's, and the Octavia definitely is more of an enthusiast's car.

Pushed hard, the Toyota can feel a bit flighty. The ride is softer than the other two, but not by much. The thing is, the Corolla's steering doesn't provide as much feedback as the Civic's, and its chassis setup doesn't inspire as much confidence as the Octavia's. On wet, twisty roads, you don't enjoy pushing the Corolla as hard as you can with the Civic or the Octavia. Not the Corolla doesn't behave - it's just that it's more in its element when driven in a more relaxed manner.

Source: Car India September 2006.