2002 Honda Civic Vti-S Vs Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G - Ever since the introduction of the Honda Civic dorsum inward the early 1990s, it became an overnight success. The ‘bug-eyed’ generation seemed to receive got no halt equally it seemed that everyone owned a Civic, whether it was an LXi, VTi or SiR. Funny matter is that when Toyota released its Corolla dorsum inward 1998 it had all the security equipment as well as some of the luxuries similar amend plastics as well as an upgraded stereo system. Nonetheless, the Civic withal ran away amongst the sales lead.
So now, the query is…what makes the Civic, a Civic? It’s difficult to pinpoint precisely what makes it a phenomenon worldwide, but most people practice concord that it has something to practice amongst Honda’s notorious affinity amongst the solid soil of motor sports. The icon of Ayrton Senna as well as Alain Prost driving a McLaren-Honda to fifteen out of xvi grand prix victories inward a unmarried flavor is merely sublime—and Honda merely knows how to capitalize on their success. From this formula, the Tochigi construct has successfully replicated route cars that are easily tuned as well as honed similar its Formula One racers. Until know, the Civic as well as its bigger Accord blood brother are known for their vast array of aftermarket functioning parts from wheels to spoilers to badges to turbochargers. (See The Fast as well as the Furious.)
Now inward 2002, these 2 perennial competitors receive got finally come upwardly up amongst 2 cars that are virtually neck-to-neck inward every conceivable way: dynamics, safety, looks as well as reputation. As Lexus caught upwardly amongst Mercedes-Benz inward the luxury automobile segment, it seemed that Toyota has done the same to Honda inward the 1.6-liter category. Or receive got they? It the end, in that location tin can live solely one.
Exterior (Winner: Honda Civic VTi-S)
Score Card: Civic (1), Corolla Altis (0)
For both of these cars, it’s a hit-or-miss thing. Some people just love the uncomplicated elegance of the Honda Civic VTi-S, but for some, cypher beats the Brad Pitt-like gender activity appeal that the novel Corolla Altis has. Bottom delineate is, inward this category, we’d opt for the Honda. Here’s why.
The Corolla comes inward dressed amongst 195/60 VR fifteen tires as well as side-skirts equally standard—but all of these are in that location to disguise the car’s tall-boy stature. Sure most folks won’t detect the difference, but when taken equally an overall package, the Corolla looks a chip soiled specially on the side profile mainly because of the numerous plastic parts stuck on the sail metal. Moreover, the headlamps as well as the taillight clusters facial expression great, but the drooping trial of the headlamps dipping into the bumper may receive got some getting used to.
On the other side of the equation, the Honda Civic is 1 construct clean looking car. The roofline is elegantly uncomplicated as well as the automobile is devoid of whatsoever sort of garnishing that ruins the overall catamenia of the body.
At start it does facial expression a lot similar the previous generation Civic, but receive got a longer facial expression at the automobile to appreciate the outside details. The hidden-seal nurture drinking glass for instance is a technological measuring forrad inward pattern (this technology scientific discipline is commonly reserved for hatchbacks only). The abrupt gradient of the nurture drinking glass imparts a sportier as well as much to a greater extent than youthful appearance to the Civic.
In addition, the Civic’s panel gaps are amazingly as well as consistently small, the most controversial of which has got to live the tail light design. Regarded past times some equally a Lancer rip-off, the taillights stretch from the middle of the body lid all the way to the nurture fenders, as well as all the way to the attain of both body lid as well as fenders. This way that it comes into contact amongst the sail metallic inward 3 planes—assembling something similar this is no slowly feat. Subsequently, solely the Civic shows pattern elements similar this.
For those dressing upwardly their Civics, nosotros highly advise to avoid the spoiler as well as the chrome garnishing equally these ruin the car’s overall simplicity. We’d rather opt for the body skirt kit, fog lamps as well as 215/40 ZR17 tires to give it a man child racer look.
Interior (Winner: Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G)
Score Card: Civic (1), Corolla Altis (1)
Our chief complaint amongst the previous generation Civic was that its switchgear looked also dated already past times the fourth dimension the SiR came out. Unfortunately, cypher has changed amongst the all-new Honda Civic. VTi-S may sport nifty ergonomics (again, instant to none inward its class); it suffers real much from pitiful cloth experience as well as consistency inside.
For instance, the centre silvery console that extends through the entire cabin suffers from inconsistencies inward shade as well as appearance. The centre surface area is inward a shade of gold-silver, made from difficult scratch-prone material. The side vents as well as the other accents on the other manus are made of gray-silver based plastic materials that facial expression haphazardly painted.
Moreover, the criterion MP3 stereo perhaps a nifty leap forrad inward features, but the Kenwood lacks the ergonomic intuitiveness making it difficult to operate. It also takes nearly forever to search for the side past times side track.
On the other side of the equation, the Corolla Altis sports a real European-styled interior. Although non everything is within slowly achieve of the driver, at to the lowest degree it is positioned inward a way that makes it learnable, specially if you’d consider the Toyota equally a long-term investment.
The cloth experience is excellent, instant solely to the Nissan Exalta’s plastics as well as the switchgear feels great. The gated shift lever is to a greater extent than intuitive as well as easier to purpose than the Honda’s ‘Cobra’s head’ design. It comes criterion amongst features such equally variably-intermittent wipers as well as musical instrument illumination control, things which the Honda Civic doesn’t receive got fifty-fifty equally optional equipment. The Optitron gauges are slowly to read whether inward direct sunlight or at night.
The woods cut back is non to our gustation equally it makes us experience equally if the solely matter fit to play inward the Altis’ CD histrion would live David Benoit’s greatest hits. While we’re discussing stereos, the 2-DIN unmarried CD stereo cassette comes out equally a negative holler for against the Corolla because similar the Civic’s MP3 player, it is clunky as well as confusing to use.
Engine (Winner: Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G)
Score Card: Civic (1), Corolla Altis (2)
What? The Honda Civic loses despite having a 130-bhp 1.6-liter VTEC-3 engine? On paper, the Honda Civic’s ability found looks as well as hence proficient that you’d live willing to pass the nighttime amongst it. However, inward reality, it’s non that great. It tin can perform, but nosotros expected a to a greater extent than lively functioning from a 3-stage VTEC.
The occupation amongst the VTEC ability found is that it needs to live revved difficult to gain some grade of acceleration as well as power. As a result, the engine doesn’t experience relaxed—it’s equally if it e'er has to live on its toes on every stretch of highway waiting for the gasoline pedal to live floored. The newly reprogrammed transmission as well as engine combination is miles ahead of the previous Civic, but it withal has a long way to popular off to popular off a refined-enough motor to live used for a relaxed cruising environment.
At start-up the VTEC-3 engine sounds similar a sardine can—as if reminding the owner: don’t force me inward a higher house 5,000-rpm today, please. After it warms up, punch it as well as the VTEC-3 tin can withal generate that racing-engine soundtrack at higher revs. Because of the heavy acceleration as well as high revs involved, don’t hold back to practice 49 kilometers per liter inward everyday urban center driving. During our test, nosotros solely squeezed out 7.28 km/L, a figure similar to a 2.0-liter Toyota RAV4 or fifty-fifty an eleven-year former Galant GTi!
If the Civic’s VTEC engine sounds similar a man child racer, the Corolla’s 145-bhp VVTi is perfect for a small-sized luxo-cruiser. It performs direct off the delineate solely marginally amend than the smaller- displacement Civic engine (if you lot force them to the edge, the Civic truly does better), but it’s inward the surface area of refinement that the Corolla wins out.
It is the perfect companion to comfort you lot subsequently a long day’s go at the office—smooth, consistent, barely audible. Think of it equally the mechanical version of Louie Armstrong singing the blues, though its vocalism may cleft upwardly if you lot crank it past times 5000 rpm. It prefers to sing inward the lower range, give thank you lot you real much. In addition, the transmission is a perfect check for the engine’s character. It shifts at a lower RPM attain giving the Corolla a decisive wages inward fuel economy: roughly 8 km/L.
The Corolla’s extra displacement also offers to a greater extent than low-end grunt than the Civic making overtaking as well as highway cruising an easier undertaking for the Toyota than the Honda.
Overall Handling (Winner: Honda Civic VTi-S)
Score Card: Civic (2), Corolla Altis (2)
Despite dropping the famed double-wishbone upwardly front, the Honda Civic VTi-S withal has an border over the Corolla. The all-new suspension geometry inward the Honda imparts stable, accurate as well as precise handling. Humps as well as route imperfections are filtered out, resulting inward a smooth, jolt-free ride.
Although the Civic may seem a chip over boosted as well as numb at tiresome speeds, in that location is no denying that this automobile corners apartment through the tightest bends as well as is easily squeezable through gaps inward traffic. The Civic’s body construction is bedrock solid. This gives the Civic a distinct wages over the Corolla when going over the larger potholes.
The solely downside to the Civic’s treatment is the suspension move of the nurture double wishbone. With the flat-rear flooring design, Honda had to motility the springs as well as shocks closer to center. Aside from making the Civic a chip awkward to facial expression at from the nurture (your suspension arms are showing), it makes the Civic experience to a greater extent than nervous when pushing the automobile to its limits, specially on large hamlet speed bumps.
Like the Honda Civic, the Corolla has a shake-free body structure. Toyota made proficient purpose of its enquiry as well as evolution skills to come upwardly out amongst a automobile that’s equally enterprise as well as structurally audio equally European rivals similar the Volkswagen Golf. Thus, the 1.8G has proficient overall command as well as handling.
When pushed to the limit, the Altis exhibits a lot to a greater extent than body coil than its Honda rival. It’s non something you’d similar to race on a street circuit. In addition, the Corolla withal suffers from uncommunicative steering. Although improved from the previous generations, it’s withal no check for the Honda Civic that communicates its limits real good to the driver.
Safety as well as Security (Winner: Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G)
Score Card: Civic (2), Corolla Altis (3)
Though both of these cars receive got popular off groundbreaking inward price of security as well as security, the Toyota Corolla wins out mainly because of the functioning of its active security system. Carrying four-wheel disc brakes equally standard, it results inward a to a greater extent than responsive brake feel.
It stops to a greater extent than sure-footedly than the VTi-S whether on a dry out or moisture surface. In addition, the Corolla carries Brake Assist equally criterion making it to a greater extent than composed as well as user-friendly specially for those rather unaccustomed to the workings of ABS (it helps the driver tap the total braking strength inward a panic stop).
Dual airbags, side-impact beams as well as EBD consummate the security package.
If the brakes on the Altis were equally every chip equally good, the Civic’s withal leaves much to live desired. Although an improvement over the previous VTi, the front-disc / rear-drum combination gives a vague braking experience that’s overly spongy specially inward high-speed braking. In addition, the original-equipment tires lacked the handgrip needed past times the Civic to win this battle.
The solely wages of the Civic is its Electronic Brakeforce Distribution arrangement which operates amend than the Toyota’s. The Civic’s EBD eliminated virtually all body dive during heavy braking—making it the most effective EBD arrangement of whatsoever automobile we’ve tested as well as hence far.
Like the Corolla, the Civic rounds upwardly the security category amongst dual airbags, side-impact beams as well as a security rating that’s equal to the Volvo S80 inward the US crash tests.
Value for Money (Winner: Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G)
Score Card: Civic (2), Corolla Altis (4)
Alas, the Corolla Altis just had to win. Even amongst a higher cost tag, the G-spec Altis (whether inward 1.6 or 1.8-liter displacements) trounce the Civic VTi-S merely because the Toyota carries as well as hence much to a greater extent than equipment for a pocket-size premium. The 1.6G for instance has four-wheel discs, dual airbags as well as EBD equally criterion already.
The Civic deserves proficient credit because of the technological advancements it has introduced inward this category, as well as it has a nifty warranty parcel (three years/100,000 km vs. 2 years/50,000 km for the Corolla), but it loses dearly on the areas of overall refinement as well as safety.
The Altis is merely to a greater extent than comfortable to drive as well as purpose on an everyday footing thank you lot to its amend engine, cabin experience as well as topographic point support. For long-haul trips, the Altis proves to a greater extent than practical thank you lot to its deeper, flatter as well as wider kicking infinite plus the fact that the engine is to a greater extent than relaxed, to a greater extent than fuel efficient as well as quieter than its Honda rival.
Undoubtedly, the Toyota Corolla Altis is at 1 time the yardstick past times which all cars inward this segment must compare themselves to. Although non quite the racer’s dream, the Altis is the pick for the everyday driver inward all of us.
Car Review - 2002 Honda Civic Vti-S Vs Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G Features & Specifications
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