Verdict
The Honda Civic costs RM133,900, RM10,900 below the RM144,800 Toyota Corolla, yet supplies 180 hp and 240 Nm against 137 hp and 172 Nm. Its RM90 annual road tax is RM189 lower, while the 497-litre boot adds 27 litres for family luggage. Honda Sensing brings autonomous braking and steering correction, too. The Corolla answers with a 360-degree camera, seven airbags, 17-inch wheels and dual-zone climate control, but its higher price asks Malaysian buyers to value those cabin and parking extras over output and running cost.
Pick the Honda Civic if you want 180 hp, 240 Nm, a larger 497-litre boot and substantially lower annual road tax for less money.
Pick the Toyota Corolla if seven airbags, a 360-degree camera, dual-zone climate control and a power-adjustable driver’s seat matter more than performance and price.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Civic RM133,900; Toyota Corolla RM144,800.
- Power and torque: Honda Civic 180 hp and 240 Nm; Toyota Corolla 137 hp and 172 Nm.
- Road tax: Honda Civic RM90 per year; Toyota Corolla RM279 per year.
- Boot space: Honda Civic 497 litres; Toyota Corolla 470 litres.
- Airbags: Honda Civic 6; Toyota Corolla 7.
- Wheel size: Honda Civic 16-inch alloys; Toyota Corolla 17-inch alloys.
Civic
- 180 hp and 240 Nm from the 1.5-litre turbo engine.
- Honda Sensing includes autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction.
- 497-litre boot and RM90 annual road tax.
- Six airbags versus the Corolla’s seven.
- Manual front-seat adjustment versus an eight-way power-adjustable Corolla driver’s seat.
- No 360-degree camera or dual-zone climate control.
Corolla
- Seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag.
- 360-degree camera and 17-inch alloy wheels.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.
- RM10,900 more expensive than the Civic.
- 137 hp and 172 Nm trail the Civic’s 180 hp and 240 Nm.
- RM279 annual road tax and a smaller 470-litre boot.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM133,900✓ | RM144,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM279 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,798 cc |
| Horsepower | 180 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 137 hp at 6,400 rpm |
| Torque | 240 Nm at 1,700 rpm✓ | 172 Nm at 4,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 73 mm × 89.4 mm | 80.5 mm × 88.3 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.3 | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 7 Speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.3 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,678 mm | 4,630 mm |
| Width | 1,802 mm | 1,780 mm |
| Height | 1,415 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,735 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 1,349 kg | 1,365 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 47 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 497 litres✓ | 470 litres |
| Front Tyre | 215/55R16 | 225/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/55R16 | 225/45R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full-size 17" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Continental MaxContact MC5 | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 16" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam | Bi-LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-fold | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 9.0" Advanced Display Audio Touchscreen with Google Services Built-in, 8 Speakers, Wired Android Auto, Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay | 9.0" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Front Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Entry (Push Button Start) | Keyless Push Button Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Civic & Corolla for sale
Civic vs Corolla FAQ
Is the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla better?
The Honda Civic is the stronger buy on these figures: it costs RM10,900 less, has 43 hp and 68 Nm more, carries a lower RM90 road tax bill and has a 27-litre larger boot. Choose the Corolla for its extra cabin and camera equipment.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Corolla costs RM10,900 more than the Honda Civic.
Which has better safety equipment?
The Civic has Honda Sensing with autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction. The Corolla has one extra airbag, for seven in total, plus an airbag disable function. Both have ABS/EBD, stability control, ISOFIX and adaptive cruise control.
