Thread: Honda Civic Vs Toyota Corolla Vs Volkswagen Jetta

Slide into the driver's seat of the Honda Civic and you are greeted by well appointed interiors. All materials are of top-notch quality and the design itself is very attractive. The driver-focused dashboard is quite unlike what you will see in other cars and looks right out of an aircraft - especially when lit up at night. The front seats are soft and comfortable and extremely supportive. Both the steering and the driver's seat come with a range of adjustments and finding a comfy driving position is easy. However, we would have liked powered controls, at least on the driver's seat. All controls work with a light and slick action which makes piloting the Civic in traffic a breeze. The sloping A-pillar sometimes restricts vision while turning into corners. But, overall, the Civic's cabin is a friendly place to be in with high levels of quality and comfort.

The Toyota Corolla Altis is the newest kid on the block and takes on a different or let's say a more conventional approach. Settle into the driver's seat and you notice that it comes with a long equipment list. You get a powered driver's seat, auto dimming mirror, electric mirrors which retract, trip computer, and auto headlamps with washers. The driver's seat is fairly comfortable and, just like the Civic, the driving position is very good. The cabin looks good and is finished in beige with fake wood inserts which don't feel great. However, some plastic bits like the central lock button and column stalks look cheap and don't belong to a car in this price range.





The hooded instrument cluster, backlit in white, however looks great. The steering wheel, finished in wood trim and leather, houses controls for the audio; this is a very useful touch and sorely missed in the Civic. The cheap bits notwithstanding, the cabin is spacious and comfortable even if it lacks the Civic's design flair. The Volkswagen Jetta is a typical German saloon with understated lines and solid build quality. Like the car's exterior, the interiors follow simple lines and there are no unnecessary curves, which though practical don't lend it a luxurious look. But what the cabin lacks in design flair, it makes up with sheer quality.

Everything barring a few bits is made of high-quality materials and feels good. But what's immediately apparent is the equipment list or the lack of it because features like climate control and auto-fold mirrors are absent. Nevertheless, what's commendable is the exceptional safety kit on offer with six airbags, ABS and traction control. The dark-coloured dashboard looks dull and largely unexciting, especially when compared to the Civic. The Jetta does have its good bits. The seats are comfortable with adequate headroom, legroom and all-round visibility is good too. The seats are placed high and you don't have to crouch to get in. Overall, the Jetta's cabin is well-built and comfortable, but just can't beat the Civic in terms of design flair or the Corolla for equipment.