Head to Head

While crossovers and MPVs seem to dominate the scenery these days, there's always room for the good old compact sedans. Now positioned more upmarket, the compact sedan class now boasts of equipment unimaginable in its segment in the past.

Honda and Toyota have been butting heads in this class for over two decades now with the Civic and the Corolla Altis. The Honda Civic received a major redesign last year and has been highly acclaimed since. Not to be outdone, Toyota updated the Corolla Altis to go head to head with the newer competition. It's the clash of the compact sedans for this week's head to head.

This head to head episode pits the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis for compact sedan supremacy. It's time to take an in-depth look at the stalwarts of the segment.

Let's first take a look under the hood. The Honda Civic is available with two engine options. The first is a 1.8 liter i-VTEC engine with Earth Dreams Technology. It produces 141 PS and 174 Nm of torque which powers the front wheels. Powering the top of the line model is a turbocharged 1.5 liter i-VTEC engine, also with Earth Dreams Technology. The size may be smaller but it makes 173 PS and Nm of torque.

Over to the Corolla Altis, it too is available with two engine choices. The range starts with a 1.6 liter Dual VVT-i engine that puts out 122 PS and 154 Nm of torque. Top-spec models meanwhile get a 2.0 liter Dual VVT-i engine with 145 PS and 187 Nm of torque.

All Honda Civics shift via a continuously variable transmission with the range-topping model benefiting from paddle shifters. The Toyota Corolla Altis meanwhile is still available with a six-speed manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission is also available and is standard on the 2.0 liter model.

When it comes to their interiors, the Civic and Corolla Altis take different approaches. The Corolla Altis has a more upright look to the dash which is complemented by circular vents at the corners. Gloss black accents give the Altis a more upmarket look along with silver inlays. Faux wood trim can also be seen on the gear selector. Depending on the trim level, the Altis comes with either fabric or leather seats. 2.0 liter models add power adjustable seats. Automatic climate control is standard on the premium models while the entry-level variant has manual air-conditioning. The instrument cluster is composed of Toyota's signature Optitron gauges with a TFT screen for vehicle status display.

Moving to the Honda Civic, it follows a sportier look. The dashboard and the door panels wrap around the driver and front passenger. Silver inlays can also be seen throughout the cabin of the car and instead of piano black trim, the Civic gets faux aluminum.

Entry level Civics come with fabric seats while the Turbo models get leather. The turbo model also gains power seats for the driver and all models get automatic climate control. Honda went for a digital display for the all-new Civic and integrates vehicle status all in one screen.

For their infotainment systems, the Honda Civic comes with a 7-inch Display Audio Touchscreen. The touchscreen handles entertainment features, wireless telephone connectivity via Bluetooth. The system also supports mirror linking with a mobile device. Sound is channeled through six speakers throughout the cabin.

Over to the Corolla Altis, entry-level and mid-spec models come with a 2-DIN audio system with CD and MP3 player. Move up the range and it is upgraded to a touchscreen system that houses all entertainment functions. These include USB-in, Aux-in and Bluetooth. All models get a six-speaker sound system.

The tenth-generation Civic breaks away from the traditional family sedan look. Featuring the "Solid Wing Face" design, it gets an aggressive front fascia with the sharp LED headlamps. The new Civic is shaped now more like a fastback with a roofline that merges into the trunk. The aggressive look of the new Civic is further highlighted by contoured front fenders, sculpted hood and a sporty bumper. Breaking traditional sedan looks, the rear section gets C-shaped taillights that now extend over to the trunk, a new rear bumper and revamped trunk design.

For the Corolla Altis revamp, it now follows the 'Keen Look' design philosophy, giving Toyota's sedan a bolder front fascia. The bumper is new for 2017, and so are its headlights. These units now incorporate daytime running lights for better visibility. Also new is the grill, replacing the old three-bar design with a slimmer, single bar unit. Completing the exterior revisions are the tweaked LED taillights, chrome garnish on the trunk and a new rear bumper.

Moving on to safety, both come with advanced systems to aid the driver in case of an emergency. Both are equipped with Anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control. For passive safety, both cars are equipped with front, side and curtain airbags.

There are only two variants to choose from for the Honda Civic, namely the 1.8 E and 1.5 RS Turbo. Prices range from Php 1,093,000 to Php 1,403,000.

Meanwhile, the Corolla Altis is available in four variants. The lineup starts with the base 1.6 E M/T, followed by the 1.6 G CVT. More equipment can be seen in the 1.6 V CVT and topping the Altis range is the 2.0 V CVT. Corolla Altis prices start at Php 894,000, all the way to Php 1,333,000.