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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.