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The Honda Civic is one of the best compact cars on the market right now, but what are some good alternatives to it?
Something Other Than the Best
The Honda Civic has long been one of the best values when it comes to buying a compact car. It’s a great commuter, great value, fuel efficient, and has a history of high-mileage reliability. The current generation only furthers those points while introducing a great look and even better technology. Plus, the Type R version is one of the coolest hot hatches around. It’s hard to look at other cars with how exceptional this model is – but it isn’t perfect. That’s why we’ve looked at the competition and identified several alternative cars that are worth considering if you’re looking at the Honda Civic.
Honda Accord
Compact cars are nice, but you might want a little more room inside. That’s why we suggest looking at the slightly larger Honda Accord. Not only do you get nearly all the same, if not better, features and equipment found on the Civic, but you also get more room all around. In comparison to Honda’s compact, the mid-sized Accord gains over six cubic feet of total passenger volume, three more inches of rear passenger leg room, and two more cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk.
Toyota Corolla
You might also want to look across the aisle at the Honda Civic’s longtime rival, the Toyota Corolla. Toyota makes a great car, and their compact option holds the same qualities that make the Honda option so alluring. For 2024, the Toyota Corolla comes in with a starting price of $22,050 which is over $2,000 less than what a base model Civic starts at. Past the price difference, the Corolla is a little smaller and more about functionality inside rather than style, but it’s otherwise a nice little commuter option.
There’s also the matter of the exciting GR Corolla. This Toyota hot hatch boasts a 300-horsepower turbocharged 1.6L three-cylinder engine powering all four wheels and features a “drift mode” for when you want to get sideways. The Type R may produce 15 more horsepower, but it’s limited to just front-wheel drive and won’t be properly drifting without those rear wheels spinning.
Mazda3
Mazda’s compact car entrant may not see the same sales volume as the Civic, but their Mazda3 is a great option to consider. Like Honda, the Mazda3 is available as either a sedan or hatchback. What you gain from this purchase is a heightened cabin space and noteworthy handling for a starting price of $23,950, which is on par with Honda. Inside is a premium class experience composed of quality materials and available leather surfaces. Drivers will enjoy the feel behind the wheel as Mazda provides one of the crispest and most refined handling experiences of the class. But we suggest reaching for the upper trim levels to truly set this model apart as the Mazda3 adds an AWD drivetrain paired with a turbocharged engine, something the Civic doesn’t offer no matter how much you spend.
Subaru Impreza
I’ve already leaned into the fact that the Honda Civic only offers front-wheel drive, so we’ll keep that trend going with the Subaru Impreza which features a standard AWD system. Not only does the Impreza power all four wheels, but that drivetrain is one of the most capable in the business at what it does. This is an ideal choice for those that have to endure those harsh, snowy winters or those that like to wander off the asphalt and into some dirt and mud. There’s also the Subaru WRX which takes the Impreza and gives it a 271-horsepower turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder.
Toyota Prius
If you’re a fuel conscious shopper who wants to stretch their dollar at the pump, the Toyota Prius is a great option. In FWD form, the Prius achieves a combined 57 mpg and optioning on AWD only drops that slightly to a still impressive 54 mpg. Either of those configurations for the Prius beat the Honda Civic Hybrid for a very close price. Plus, the Prius is early into its current generation which gave the model a sleek new exterior, the latest entertainment tech, and a host of other exciting features. You could also look into the plug-in hybrid Prius Prime if you’re interested in going electric but check out our next alternative to the Honda Civic first.
Tesla Model 3
Tesla is one of the leading electric vehicle manufacturers in the world and has made significant strides in vehicle technologies and all-electric performance. The Model 3 is Tesla’s compact car option that’s available in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The base Model 3 can achieve an EPA estimated range of 272 miles, which is a decent amount for travelling around a city. However, the Long Range version extends that distance out to 363 miles on a single charge. If you’re just looking to have ridiculous performance, the Performance All-Wheel Drive version can launch you from a dead stop to 60 mph in under three seconds.
Furthermore, Tesla provides a litany of advanced tech. There’s hands-free Autopilot that’ll take control of the driving for you, a host of various cameras around the vehicle that can act as extra security in Sentry Mode, and a giant infotainment screen that can play movies off Netflix or run video games. There’s even a rear passenger screen now too with some of the same entertainment apps! The Tesla Model 3 is a crazy piece of tech that’s masquerading as an exceptional electric car, and it’ll only get more interesting through over-the-air updates.
Audi RS 3
Finally, if you’re considering the Honda Civic Type R, the Audi RS 3 is the better choice. At a starting price of $62,300, the RS 3 features a 401-horsepower turbocharged TFSI five-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that directs power through the quattro all-wheel drive system. All that German power is kept in check by an RS-tuned progressive electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assist, RS sport suspension with dynamic chassis control that continuously adjust the individual dampers for an optimal response, 6-piston front calipers on 14.8-inch rotors, and launch control that propels this Audi to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. That was a lot of words just to say that this thing is better than the Type R.
