New Honda Civic will launch next month in an expected price range of Rs. 18-22 lakh; will be pitted against Toyota Corolla Altis and Hyundai Elantra
Honda is close to launching the tenth generation Civic in India as the launch has been scheduled on March 7 and bookings have already begun across the country for initial token of Rs. 31,000. Expected to cost Rs. 18-22 lakh (ex-showroom), the global best-seller will be pitted against the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Hyundai Elantra.
Having received a global facelift late last year, the new Civic is the freshest among the three sedans on its comeback to India. This time around, the Civic even gets a diesel engine and comes pretty loaded with features. Here is a comparison of the new sedan with its biggest competitors.
New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra – Engine, Specs
The new Honda Civic comes with two engine options – 1.8-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel. The petrol engine produces a maximum power of 141 PS and a peak torque of 174 Nm. In comparison, the Hyundai Elantra is fitted with a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 150 PS and 196 Nm.
Even the Toyota Corolla Altis has a 1.8-litre petrol engine but it produces 140 PS and 170 Nm. The petrol version of the Civic will be available only with a CVT automatic gearbox. The Elantra offers a choice of 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions, while the Corolla offers a 6-speed manual and a CVT.
| New Honda Civic | Hyundai Elantra | Toyota Corolla |
| 1.8-litre Petrol, 1.6-litre Diesel | 2.0-litre Petrol, 1.6-litre Diesel | 1.8-litre Petrol, 1.4-litre Diesel |
| 141 PS, 120 PS | 150 PS, 126 PS | 140 PS, 89 PS |
| 174 Nm, 300 Nm | 196 Nm, 265 Nm | 170 Nm, 205 Nm |
| CVT, 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT, 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT | 6-speed manual and CVT, 6-speed manual |
The diesel engine of the new Honda Civic is the same 1.6-litre turbocharged unit that powers the latest CR-V. It produces a maximum power of 120 PS and a peak torque of 300 Nm. It is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Hyundai Elantra too has a 1.6-litre diesel burner, but it produces 126 bhp and 265 Nm. Here, again, transmission choices include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic unit. The Toyota Corolla Altis has a 1.4-litre diesel engine that produces 89 PS and 205 Nm. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
From this comparison, it gets clear that the Toyota Corolla Altis is the least powerful car among the three. While its petrol variant is only marginally less powerful than the new Civic, its diesel engine is easily outclassed by both the rivals. It’s the Elantra that seems to have the best specifications. Not only does it offer both manual and automatic transmissions with each engine variant, but even has the biggest petrol engine. However, its diesel engine is slightly less powerful than that of the new Civic.
New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra Specs Comparison – Mileage
Of course, mileage has been an important factor for all car buyers. While the role of fuel efficiency isn’t as high in the premium segments as it is in the lower categories, one must not forget that the lack of diesel engine and the subsequently higher running costs of the petrol-only last-gen Civic turned out to be the biggest factor that worked against the brilliant sedan.
However, this time Honda is not leaving any stones unturned, for the new Honda Civic. The diesel version of the new model offers an ARAI mileage of 26.8 kmpl, thereby making it offer really low running costs. The petrol version offers 16.5 kmpl. The petrol Hyundai Elantra, which is much more powerful than the Civic, gives a mileage of 14.59 kmpl with the manual transmission and 14.62 kmpl with the automatic.
The Corolla Altis is marginally more fuel efficient than the Civic with an ARAI mileage of 16.7 kmpl. When it comes to mileage from the diesel variant, it’s the Civic that enjoys a huge lead over the competition. In comparison to the 26.8 kmpl offered by the new sedan, the Elantra offers only 22.54 kmpl with a manual transmission and 18.23 kmpl with the automatic gearbox. The Corolla offers 21.3 kmpl.
New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra – Dimensions
| Dimensions (mm) – New Honda Civic | Corolla Altis | Elantra |
| Length – 4,656 mm | 4,620 mm | 4,570 mm |
| Width – 1,799 mm | 1,775 mm | 1,800 mm |
| Height – 1,433 mm | 1,475 mm | 1,465 mm |
| Wheelbase- 2,700 mm | 2,700 mm | 2,700 mm |
The new Honda Civic is much larger than its predecessor. It measures 4,656 mm in length, 1,799 mm in width, and 1,433 mm in height. In comparison, the previous version was 4,545 mm long, 1,750 mm wide, and 1,450 mm tall. However, both the models have a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. Both the cars also have an unladen ground clearance of 170 mm.
Coming to the Hyundai Elantra, it measures 4,570 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, and 1,465 mm in height. It has a ground clearance of 165 mm. On the other hand, the Toyota Corolla Altis measures 4,620 mm in length, 1,775 mm in width, and 1,475 mm in height. It has a ground clearance of 175 mm.
From this part of our New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra comparison, it gets clear that the Civic is the longest car in this company. It’s almost as wide as the Elantra but sits much lower than the rest of the two models. All three share same wheelbase of 2,700 mm.
New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra Price
| Models | Prices (ex-showroom) |
| New Honda Civic | Rs. 18-22 lakh (expected) |
| Toyota Corolla Altis | Rs. 16.45-20.19 lakh |
| Hyundai Elantra | Rs. 13.81-20.17 lakh |
The prices of the new Honda Civic petrol CVT and diesel MT are expected to be similar and the sedan is locally assembled at the brand’s factory in Greater Noida. The Elantra has the less expensive starting price courtesy of the expansive range while the Corolla Altis slots in the middle. The 2019 Civic is expected to come at a premium over its rivals.
New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra – Verdict
Engine & Transmission – While the new Civic is available with both petrol and diesel engines, it’s actually the Hyundai Elantra that offers the best specifications. A factor that works against the Civic is that none of its engine options is available in both manual and automatic transmissions.
Mileage – The new Civic is the clear winner here. While its petrol engine is slightly less efficient than the petrol-powered Corolla Altis, its diesel engine offers a much higher mileage than both its rivals.
Dimensions – Here, again, the Civic emerges as the winner. It is longer than both its rivals and almost as wide as the Elantra.
From our New Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla Altis vs Hyundai Elantra comparison, it is clear that the new Civic has a lot on offer and could become the new king of its segment.