Honda Civic vs. Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra

Honda Civic vs. Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra.

Here’s how the 2012 Civic Sedan stacks up against the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze and 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

2012 Civic Sedan vs. 2013 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan

Top 4 reasons to buy the 2012 Civic instead of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze:

A More Affordable Automatic

At $17,545 (MSRP, including destination charge), 2012 Civic DX Sedan with an automatic transmission is priced $380 less than 2013 Cruze LS with a manual transmission and $1,475 less than Cruze LS with an automatic.

Higher EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

This chart show’s Civic EPA fuel economy ratings versus comparable Cruze models.

Model	City/Highway/ Combined	Model	City/Highway/ Combined	Model	City/Highway/ Combined
2012 Civic DX/LX MT	28/36/31	2012 Civic DX/LX/EX/EX0L AT	28/39/32	2012 Civic HF AT	29/41/33
2013 Cruze LS MT	25/36/29	2013 Cruze LS AT	22/35/27	2013 Cruze Eco MT	28/42/33
2013 Cruze 1LT/2LT/LTZ MT	26/38/30	2013 Cruze 1LT/2LT/LTZ AT	26/38/30	2013 Cruze Eco AT	26/39/31

Renowned Honda Reliability

Civic has a Predicted Reliability Rating of 4.0 out of a possible 5.0, according to J. D. Power and Associates.  The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze falls short with a Predicted Reliability Rating of just 3.0 out of a possible 5.0 (Data not available for 2013 Model.)

Lower Ownership Costs

According to an Edmunds.com comparison, the 2012 Civic LX MT costs and average of $.44 per mile to drive compared to $.48 for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS MT.  That’s a savings of $600 per year at 15,000 miles per year and $3,000 over five years. (Average cost per mile figures for ZIP code 98208. Data not available for 2013 Cruze.)

2012 Civic Sedan vs. 2013 Hyundai Elantra Sedan

Tor four reasons to buy the 2012 Civic instead of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra:

Superior Overall Frontal Crash Rating

The 2012 Civic Sedan earned a 5-Star Overall Frontal Crash Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The 2013 Hyundai Elantra earned a 4-Star Overall Frontal Crash Safety Rating.

Roomier Rear Seat

The 2012 Civic Sedan has 3.1 inches more rear-seat legroom than the 2013 Elantra for more rear-seawt comfort.

Renowned Honda Reliability

 Civic has a Predicted Reliability Rating of 4.0 out of a possible 5.0, according to J. D. Power and Associates.  The 2012 Hyundai Elantra  has a Predicted Reliability Rating of just 3.5 out of a possible 5.0 (Data not available for 2013 model.)

Lower Ownership Costs

According to an Edmunds.com comparison, the 2012 Civic LX MT costs and average of $.44 per mile to drive compared to $.46 for the 2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan AT.  That’s a savings of $300 per year at 15,000 miles per year and $1,500 over 5 years.  (Average costs per mile figures for ZIP code 98208. Complete data not available for 2013 Elantra.)

Item/Vehicle	2012 Honda Civic LX Sedan MT	2013 Chevrolet Cruze LS Sedan MT	2012 Honda Civic LX Sedan AT	2013 Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan AT
Rear Stabilizer Bar	Standard	Not Available	Standard	Not Available
Electronic Brake Distribution	Standard	Not Available	Standard	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Not Available	Standard	Standard
Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)	Standard	Nothing Comparable Available	Standard	Nothing Comparable Available
Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure	Standard	Nothing Comparable Available	Standard	Nothing Comparable Available
Floor Mats	Standard	Standard	Standard	Carpeted Floor Mats $95
Rear-seat Legroom (Inches)	36.2	35.4	36.2	33.1
EPA Fuel Economy Rating (mpg) (City/Highway/Combined)	28/36/31	25/36/29	28/39/32	29/40/33
ALG Residual Value (36/60 Months)	55%/41%	Not Listed/Not Listed	55%/42%	62%/43%
Base Price MSRP	$18,005	$17,130	$18,805	$17,695
Destination Charge	$790	$795	$790	$775
Comparably Equipped Price	$18,795	$17,925	$17,595	$18,565

2012 CR-V EX-L AWD vs. 2013 Ford Escape SEL 4WD

In a comparison of compact SUV’s, including the 2012 CR-V and the 2013 Ford Escape(May 2012), Automobile Magazine noted about the 2012 CR-V: “This is the vehicle that virtually defines its class…” It’s not surprising, therefore, that the new 2013 Ford Escape is so similar to the CR-V in many respects, including its overall length and width, being offered exclusively with 4-cylinder engines, and offering a choice of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations.

Beyond the similarities, however, CR-V offers customers many advantages over the 2013 Escape, including greater utility, greater driver and passenger comfort, the assurance of top safety ratings and unique features, a reputation for reliability, and greater overall value.

GREATER UTILITY

·         CR-V provides 2.9 cubic feet more cargo volume and 3.1 cubic feet more maximum cargo volume than Escape.

·         CR-V’s rear seats fold flat; Escape’s rear seats do not.

·         “…there are enormous storage bins everywhere…the rear seats fold flat in the most breathtakingly simple mechanical origami…no motors are involved, just a gentle tug on one of the two handles mounted cleverly (and accessibly) by the rear hatch.  In one motion, the seat bottoms flip up and forward, then the seats flop down.  The CR-V might be the same size as these other two vehicles [2013 Ford Escape and 2013 Mazda CX-5], but no one told its interior – cargo room dwarfs the other two vehicles with the seats up or down. And the liftover height is impossibly low.” Automobile Magazine (May 2012)

GREATER DRIVER AND PASSENGER COMFORT

·         CR-V provides 3.4 cubic feet more total passenger volume that is reflected in more front- and rear-seat shoulder room and rear-seat legroom for greater passenger comfort.

·         “Not only does the Ford [Escape] trail its other rivals in shoulder room front and rear, but the sloped center stack intrudes noticeably into the driver’s foot well.  As a result, [the driver’s] right leg will remain in constant contact with hard plastic, fighting to get her leg far enough the right to reach the offset and partially obscured gas pedal.” Automobile Magazine (May 2012)

TOP SAFETY RATINGS/UNIQUE SAFETY FEATURES

·         The 2012 CR-V earned a 5 Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA).  It earned five start in the frontal crash and side crash categories, and four stars in the rollover category.

·         The CR-V is 2012 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK with “Good” performance in front, side, rollover, and rear tests.

·         The 2013 Ford Escape has not yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

·         The 2013 Ford Escape does not offer anything comparable to CR-V’s Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and Advanced Compatibility Engineering™(ACE™) body structure.

SUPERIOR QUALITY AND RELIABILITY

·         Honda is the highest ranked non-premium nameplate in the 2012 J. D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study ℠ (IQS) and the 2012 CR-V earned the best score in the compact crossover SUV category.  That means the 2012 CR-V was more trouble-free than competitive compact SUVs during the initial ownership period.

GREATER OVERALL VALUE

·         When comparably equipped, the 2012 CR-V EX-L AWD is priced (MSRP) $2,505 less than 2013 Ford Escape SEL 4WD (1.6L EcoBoost L4).  Features like hill start assist, rearview camera, and front active head restraints are standard on CR-V, not available on Escape.

·         The 2012 CR-V EX-L AWD has a higher ALG residual value than the 2013 Escape SEL 4WD after 60 months.

COMPARABLY EQUIPPED PRICE
ITEM/VEHCLE	2012 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD	2013 Ford Escape SEL 4WD (1.6L EcoBoost l4)
Moonroof	Standard	Power Panoramic Roof $1,395
Hill Start Assist Rearview  Camera Front Active Head Restraints	Standard	Not Available
Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure	Standard	Nothing Comparable Offered
Passenger Volume (Cubic Feet)	101.5	98.1
Legroom Room (Rear – Inches)	38.3	36.8
Shoulder Room (Front/Rear – Inches)	58.6/56.4	56.0/55.3
Standard/Maximum Cargo Volume (Cubic Feet)	37.2/70.9	34.3/67.8
EPA Fuel Economy Rating (mpg) (City/Highway/Combined)	22/30/25[1]	22/30/25[2]
ALG Residual Value (36/60 Months)	55%/42%	56%/40%
Base Price MSRP	$28,495	$29,620
Destination Charge	$830	$825
Comparably Equipped Price	$29,325	$31,840

[1] Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only.  Do not compare to models before 2008.  Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

[2] Based on 2013 EPA mileage estimates.  Use for comparison purposes only.  Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Honda's Earth Dreams Lineup to Spread

According to a recent Automotive News report, Honda's Earth Dream family of engines will soon make their way across Honda's lineup. The direct-injected, dual overhead cam powerplant range will help increase fuel economy by 10% across the range of applications. AN is also reporting that we may see a 1.6L diesel engine making 220 pound feet of torque in North America, perhaps under the Accord nameplate. 

Transmission-wise, we may start to see Honda embrace CVT technology on a larger scale. However, AN thinks that Honda will continue to put geared transmissions in performance models and off-road vehicles. This means that such vehicles like the Civic Si, Pilot and Ridgeline will not be receiving a Continuously Variable Transmission.

Rumor has it that a redesigned Fit will arrive in summer 2014 with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine paired with a CVT while Europe, Japan and Australia will continue to get a Hybrid Fit. The Fit may also come with a smaller CUV model but exact details of that has not been worked out yet. The next-generation Pilot will receive the 3.5L Earth Dreams engine when it debuts in 2014 and specs so far seem to say that it will have near 310 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. AN confirms that a refresh of the Civic is in order following lackluster reviews of the current 2012 Civic. 

Rumor is also out there that Honda may be reviving the S2000 in light of the popularity of the Subaru BR-Z/Scion FR-S twins. We'll see whether or not that'll hold out to reality.