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Honda got severely burned (at least locally) with their lackluster seventh-generation Civic.  It played the “big” and “beautiful” routine, when it was neither.  Despite coming up with new variants (including some garish limited edition ones) and face lifting it more than three times, it didn’t become the darling the SiR-version once was.  Honda went back to the drawing board and put all things high-tech with the all-new Civic.  Launched in 2006, it became a success both commercially and critically.  The Honda Civic was a home run, and the folks over at Honda are now sitting pretty for it.  With the launch of the all-new Toyota Corolla Altis, does the Civic still have the fight left to maintain market supremacy?  Well, it certainly depends on what you’re looking for in a compact car. 

In terms of looks, the Altis and the Civic are equally matched.  At first glance, you’ll be taken aback by the Battlestar Galactica styling of the Civic.  There are some weird angles here and there, but after seeing more than a dozen of them on Manila roads, you begin to like it.  The split-spoke alloys on the 2.0-liter model look great too.  The Toyota Altis is the complete opposite.  It’s easily more palatable, especially on the showroom floor.  There’s not a line wrong with the look, but it’s too much of “been there, done that” in terms of styling.  And that will put off some, who like to either show off their new ride or dress them up with aftermarket parts four or five years down the line.  The same goes for the inside, where the fuddy-duddy styling of the Altis is a big plus for the mid-level executives and daddies who certainly hold the family purse.  Meanwhile, the Civic’s futuristic treatment (down to blue leather seats) may take some more adjustment to.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it’s the experience behind the wheel where the Civic shows its greatest strength.  It trounces the Altis is almost every aspect.  The bigger motor (2.0-liter versus 1.8-liter) means it has around 30 horsepower up.  The i-VTEC engine is certainly punchier whatever the rev range and it sounds sweeter of the two.  The Civic also has an extra gear in hand, making high speed cruising a much more comfortable experience.  This extra gear also helps keep the Civic’s fuel economy up—it averaged around 10 km/L in the city, a commendable figure considering it livelier performance versus the Altis.  If your idea of a good ride is more on the traditional side, then the Altis’s is for you.  It floats around, but doesn’t feel connected to the road in anyway.  The Civic is firmer, but still fairly comfortable.  The Toyota’s sole advantage over the Civic is in the area of sound and NVH insulation.

In the most important aspect: packaging, the Civic and Corolla are split.  The Civic, with its longer wheelbase is roomier, whether you’re in front or at the back.  Plus, the driving position’s much better and the seats offer better comfort.  However, the Corolla, has much better visibility all around plus the trunk is much larger.  And the Corolla even has a 60/40 split-fold rear seat for extra versatility.

Which one's king of the compact car world? It depends on what you're looking for.

More understated, quieter and with the roomier trunk, the Corolla Altis will appeal to the older set.  Remember, they hold the family purse.

Flashy (especially if you get it in optional Pearl White Mica) and roomier inside, the Civic's still the one to beat with a better engine and driving experience.