Civic Vs Corolla

Honda Civic Vs Toyota Corolla

On the surface these two cars are in the same segment and compete globally against each other. While Toyota has sold more than 30 million corollas around the world, the civic has always been a perennial number two in this segment with sales of 3.6 million per year.

In fairness the Current civic was completely redesigned in 2006, the all new corolla will be available in 2009.

This is an interesting comparison since it brings out a major difference in design philosophies between two distinctly different cultures at Toyota and Honda.

First the corolla; The corolla does everything just right. The car is designed to appeal to a broad segment of people. Most people that want a no nonsense people mover that is comfortable modern and safe. Superior NVH performance for a quite ride and comfort. Low powered engine to give higher fuel efficiency. This car is loved by insurance companies. People who buy this are generally conservative in nature. Toyota is a conservative company that tries to perfect what it has, instead of reinventing the wheel. Corolla would be akin to the tried and tested bollywood movies that always end with the couple being happily married ever after.

The civic is a different animal. Globally it has been one of the most modified car in the world. This is a car that has always appealed to young automotive enthusiasts. Honda is an innovative company that thrives on pushing the limit. This is a car that was designed with youth and performance in mind. The civic is definitely more edgy. It is not uncommon to see a civic with ride height lowered,  larger wheels, spoiler and muffler modifications added.

From the drivers vantage: No doubt the civic wins hands down. Stiff chassis and suspension lead to better cornering, feel for road. The driver feels one with the road. The dash and instrument cluster give a futuristic feel. In the rear view mirror the civic appears more threatening by far than any other car in this segment. All this also means a harsher ride when dealing with bumps and potholes.

The corolla suspension is also fairly similar in concept to the civic. However that rates used in the springs and bushings make it much softer and so a better ride and worser handling.

Body: This is where the two do not even compare. The Body in white of the civic is at least a generation ahead of the corolla both in terms of the design and in terms of the materials used. The civic is heavier because there is a lot of structure. Load paths are incredibly well tied. Continuity of structure is excellent. In simple words the whole body is designed as a whole and not as separate front end, roof and floor and rear structure as other cars are. When put side by side the corolla looks skinny and week compared to the Civic. The civic is a global car and so the material grades are restricted to around 540MPA, since availability of the materials may not be the same in different areas. This means they have added material to get the rigidity required.

Safety: Although both cars are safe most of the time, the civic inspires a great deal of confidence. I would want my children in a civic any day.

The irony is that with all of these upgrades the civic still sells less than the corolla. One of the reason is the higher cost. But with the higher cost you get a much better product.

In the end car buying is a personal choice and an emotional one. One probably will not go wrong with either. However if oil flows though your veins, it will be hard to sit in the drivers seat of the civc, look out though the expansive raked windshield and not be excited.