Ratings: 2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Most spacious but not the most fuel efficient
Arif · Sep 19, 2020 02:00 PM
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Cars competing in the C-segment saloon category include the Toyota Corolla Altis, the Mazda 3, and the Honda Civic. The 1.5-litre turbocharged Civic is assembled in Malaysia and is competitively priced. To commence the WapCar ratings of our C-segment saloons, we begin with the Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P.
Looking at the scoring matrix, the Honda Civic is a rather balanced all-rounder, with good scores in all departments.
Driving Performance (36.5/50 pts) - Powerful engine & good brakes
Like the Toyota Corolla Altis, the Honda Civic 1.5 turbo transmits power to the wheels via a CVT automatic transmission. With 173 PS of maximum power at 5,500 rpm, the turbocharged Civic is more powerful than both the Toyota and Mazda.
Proportional to its output figures, the Civic is the fastest in the century sprint, completing it in 8.6 seconds (as per WapCar test). All three cars (Mazda 3, Honda Civic, & Toyota Corolla Altis) are equipped with full airbags and their respective ACC systems. (Mazda – MRCC, Honda – Sensing, Toyota – TSS)
Braking distance of the Civic from 100-0 km/h is 35.1 metres which is one of the best we've ever seen. Steering is very responsive but has less weight and feel in comparison to the Mazda 3. Manoeuvrability is decent.
Ride comfort (35/50pts) - Balanced damping, not so quiet cabin
Damping is balanced and the Civic rides smoothly. Compared to the Honda Accord, the Civic is not that far off in terms of comfort.
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Noise Level
60 km/h
61 dB
90 km/h
66 dB
110 km/h
69 dB
With 69 dB at 110 km/h, cabin noise levels of the Civic are on the higher side. The Mazda 3 is the quietest among the three C-segment sedans at 67 dB @ 110km/h.
Quality and Features (35/50 pts) - well-equipped car, decent build quality
Exterior materials on the Honda Civic are standard. "Premium" features like bonnet gas struts and a power tailgate are not available. Essential sound proofing is present but cabin noise levels at 110 km/h are at 69 dB.
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Exterior Material Used
Bonnet
Soundproofing Material
Thin
Struts
Manual
Front Fenders
Soundproofing Material
Yes
Doors
Front Windows
Single glazed
Rear Windows
Single glazed
Construction
Multiple-piece
Tailgate/boot
Opening
Manual
Panel gap difference on the Civic are minimal. The maximum difference is a mere 1 mm. Judging by the panel gaps, the Honda Civic is built better than the Honda CR-V.
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Panel Gaps (mm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Difference
Bonnet
3.0
3.0
0
Front Fender
3.5
4.0
0.5
Front to Rear Door
4.0
5.0
1.0
Rear Door to C-Pillar
3.5
4.5
1.0
Tailgate
4.5
5.0
0.5
Average difference: 0.6
Paint thickness irregularities are also minimal. All readings are above 100 µm. Topping the C-segment saloon in this criterion is the Toyota Corolla Altis.
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Paint thickness (µm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Front Bonnet
119
Front Fender
103
100
Front Door
115
114
Rear Door
105
107
C-pillar
115
120
Tailgate
109
Roof
115
Average paint thickness: 110 µm
Inside the cabin, the use of materials is as expected for a car of today. The use of soft plastics on top and hard plastics below is conventional.
The cabin is not shouty, but there are some design elements (white stitching, stripes, etc.) incorporated to make things more interesting. The leather upholstery on the front seats have a moderate fit. Overall, the cabin materials are conventional and the finish is decent.
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Cabin Material Use
Seat
Seat Cover
Leather
Armrest
Armrest Cover
Leather
Dashboard
Upper Section
Soft plastic
Lower Section
Hard plastic
Front Doors
Upper Section
Soft plastic
Middle Section
Leather
Lower Section
Hard plastic
In terms of exterior and interior finish, the Civic scores well.
Other good scores of the Civic are in the areas of safety and ADAS. ADAS components like AEB, ACC, and Lane keep assist are all available.
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Quality & Features Breakdown
Exterior
Paint Finish
4/5
Panel Gaps
3/5
Interior
Build Quality
3/5
Materials Used
3/5
Features
Safety
9/10
ADAS
5/5
Luxury
2/5
Convenience
3/5
Infotainment
3/5
Total
35/50 pts
Space and Practicality (34.5/50 pts) - most generous in its class?
There's generous headroom and legroom in the Honda Civic. Even the boot space is the biggest compared to the Corolla Altis and Mazda 3.
Honda Civic - Interior Space Breakdown
Front Row
8 / 10
Middle/Back Row
7 / 10
Third Row
0 / 5
Boot Space
4 / 5
Practicality
4 / 5
Storage Space
4 / 5
Visibility
3.5 / 5
Storage Flexibility
4 / 5
Total
34.5 / 50 pts
Using the official WapCar standard of measurement, headroom is one tennis ball and legroom is almost four tennis balls.
Fuel Consumption (13.5/20 pts) not the best in its class
With a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, the Honda Civic records the highest fuel consumption compared to its naturally aspirated counterparts with bigger engine displacements.
Fuel consumption of the C-segment saloons are as such (WapCar test):
Do take note that our tests are done with the "eco mode" turned off. The Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Altis are equipped with "eco mode". The Mazda 3 is not.
Honda Civic - Fuel Consumption Test Breakdown
Fuel Consumption
10 / 15
Eco Mode
2 / 2
Indicator Accuracy
1.5 / 3
Total points
13.5 / 20 pts
Purchase & Cost - 24/30 pts,
Being a CKD model, the Honda Civic is more attractively priced than both the Altis and the Mazda 3. The Civic also comes with a 5 year and unlimited mileage (within 5 years) warranty which is a plus point in our books.
In terms of maintenance cost, the Civic can't top the Mazda 3's 5-year free maintenance. The Honda is also not the most fuel-efficient car, so those are the downsides, in case you were looking for them.
Honda Civic - Purchase & Cost
Purchase
Car Price
13 / 15
Warranty
4 / 5
Cost
Maintenance
4 / 5
Fuel Cost
3 / 5
Total
24 / 30 pts
Conclusion
The Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P is a balanced all-rounder. The price is attractive and the performance is appealing. The Civic loses out to its rivals when it comes to fuel efficiency. Build quality and features of the Civic make it a worthy choice in the C-segment saloon category.
Previously an engineer in an automotive manufacturing company and a highway concessionaire. A part-time research student on biofuels and diesel engines. Obsessed with vehicle electrification and the future of transportation.