There is no greater cynic than a Honda Civic fanboy. Whether that has to do with the cult following of the 1990s Civic SiR, or because they happen to be better keyboard warriors is a debate best left for another day, but the fact of the matter is: they’ll defend their beloved compact, maybe to the death.

Unfortunately for these people, they need to wake up. The cult status of the Civic as a brand aside, it’s facing extreme competition from all sides. Sadly, their acerbic nature comes out whenever something else other than Honda’s compact wins at anything. Bracing for what could be yet another source of fanboy tirade, the top-trim RS Turbo faces its most convincing competitor yet, the Forte GT. Already beating Honda’s compact in the latest U.S.-based J.D. Power APEAL study, it’s time to see if Kia can also turn the tables around in the Philippines.



Exterior

This is a tough one to call. The Honda Civic has been in its best shape in years, buoyed by the fact that it’s seen a refresh just this year. The changes are fairly minor—limited only to a new front bumper, an extra RS badge in the grille, and those tasty-looking 18-inch wheels. Without a doubt, the long body and low stance are the right foundations to lay down a chiseled, slightly angry looking design. Even more surprising is how it’s managed to withstand the test of time—something no one could have predicted three years ago when it first hit the market.

While Honda’s embraced the Japanese anime robot culture, Kia’s gone the European route with the Forte. Foregoing crisscrossing lines and exaggerated details, the Forte is understated and definitely more grown-up. For some, it looks too subdued, but a closer look though reveals a spattering of details here and there. Using the DRLs as an integrated design element is neat, and so is the full-length Heckblende taillights. As the GT variant (not just GT Line, mind you), the high-gloss black grille has a nice mesh pattern, interwoven with red elements (again, it’s all about being subdued). The high-gloss body kit continues all throughout the car up until the lip spoiler. Honestly, the Forte GT would have stood a chance, if only they opted to fit in standard 18-inch wheels (it only runs on 17s).

Winner: Honda Civic RS Turbo




Interior

With both of these compact sedans proclaiming they’re designed with a sporty intent; they both offer a predominantly black interior with some aluminum trimmings thrown in. However, they do differ in execution, resulting in a different look and feel. As suggested by its exterior, the Civic goes high-tech. The low-slung seats, all-digital gauges, and a touchscreen audio system make it feel like you’re piloting a spaceship than a compact sedan. It was so gimmicky that the revamps for 2019 are focused on improving usability like the removal of the poorly-executed touch sensitive slider on the steering wheel, and the addition of physical knobs and buttons on the 7-inch infotainment screen. Sadly, the overall response from the two digital screens is painfully slow, taking moments to go from menu to menu.

Avoiding gimmicks and concentrating on a proper driver’s environment is the primary reason why the Kia Forte GT wins this round. Fit and finish are surprisingly at par with the Civic, but the Forte just blends all the different elements better. The traditional analog gauges are straightforward and easy to understand, while the infotainment’s giant 8-inch display is legible—even to the car tailing behind you. Easily though, the best part of the Forte are the areas which actually come in contact with the driver. Peter Schreyer’s Teutonic influences are certainly coming out there with the sport seats, steering wheel, and shifter feeling more in line with a Golf GTI than anything else.

Winner: Kia Forte GT





Space and Practicality

Almost nothing separates these two in terms of space. Kia will be quick to point out that the Forte has slightly more rear legroom, but it’ll take a tape measure to properly quantify that. As it stands, both have equally good head-, shoulder, and legroom for both front and back passengers. Interestingly enough, Honda’s decision to mount the seats low means a bigger sense of space for the back passengers (at the expense of harder ingress/egress). Couple this with the absence of rear air vents and soft-type seat backing (the Forte uses hard plastic), and three full-grown adults sitting abreast will find it a more comfortable experience.

Storage areas for small items like loose change and mobile phones are plenty on both vehicles, though their execution varies. In the Forte, it’s found as a two-tier vertical shelf in front of the shifter, and a pair of cupholders and a lidded center consoles near the center; while in the Civic, it’s a two-tier horizontal shelf in front of the shifter then a convertible lidded center console that doubles as cupholders. Both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you remove your wallet when you drive, the Forte’s for you. If you regularly buy giant drinks at a drive thru, the Civic’s the way to go. Both though offer fast 2.1-amp charging capabilities and integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Winner: TIE




Performance

The Honda Civic, particularly the RS Turbo is the current performance barometer by which other compact cars are measured against. True enough, 100 km/h comes in at about 7 seconds—befitting the figures generated by its turbocharged 1.5-liter engine. With 173 horsepower and 220 Nm of torque, there’s some nice shove, especially when the gas’s floored. Don’t mistake it for a pocket rocket though. Opting for a more mature feel, the Civic is now more about smoothness and civility along with the tractability. The CVT is the RS Turbo’s weakest point. While it’s great for the traffic crawl, it takes a split-second for it to adjust for any abrupt throttle input. Fuel economy is 8.1 km/L.

Compared to the aurally-numb character of the Civic’s engine, the Forte GT’s very own forced induction 1.6-liter engine is ear-gasmic. With a sport-tuned exhaust, there’s already some telltale rumble at idle. From there, it only gets better. Let her rip, and it’ll let out a crack and pop when you let go near the redline. Producing some 204 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque, it outguns the Civic’s outputs; but, because of a heavier curb weight, its 0-100 km/h end up being a close match (some say a 0.1 second difference, in favor of the Forte). The accompanying 7-speed dual clutch is responsive, and surprisingly civil with none of the shift shock or jerkiness commonly plaguing this kind of gearbox. Once or twice though, you’ll feel the clutch slipping between first and second gear—but that’s down to indecisive throttle inputs than anything else. For as long as you’re committed with your right foot, it’s alright. Fuel economy fairs better at 8.77 km/L.

Handling-wise, the Civic and Forte GT are at the opposite sides of a coin. The Honda manages to oblige when tossed around corners, but you get a sense that it does so with cold-hearted, clinical precision. The steering is planted and secure, with plenty of grip while the ride is balanced between sportiness and comfort. The transition to sportier Michelin tires does result in more tire noise permeating the cabin. Meanwhile, the Forte GT is emotional and hot-tempered. If its crack and pop exhaust doesn’t prepare you enough, toss it through a bend and you’ll see what it’s capable of. The steering is weighty and precise. The cornering ability is impressive, going through transitions willing and ably. It also remains behaved—like it’s made to eat mountain roads for breakfast. That said, be careful when you put the power down, it can easily snap into torque steer. Also, the ride is definitely stiffer. Still, it’s a livable aspect because the fun factor simply outweighs the slight discomfort; unless you happen to drive your mother every day.

Winner: Kia Forte GT





Value for Money

This is where things really get interesting. The Forte GT is supposed to be, at least in other countries, a competitor against the Civic Si—the one-down from the Type R variant. Yet here, it sits at just P 42,000 more than the RS Turbo. You can look at this either as Kia trying its value positioning in the performance sedan market, or Honda simply gouging the Filipino car enthusiast.

On one hand, the Forte GT does have the performance-oriented features—features that enable it to battle compact cars a notch higher. But, take a closer look and you’ll see some sacrifices to shoe-in the price below the P 1.7 million range. Its biggest crimes? The lack of a one-touch up for the driver’s window and opting to put a meager lap belt for the center rear passenger. On the other hand, it has power seats for both front occupants, rear vents for the back, and front and rear proximity sensors—all three which are absent in the Civic RS Turbo. In short, neither are terribly loaded, nor are they beacons of value.

Winner: TIE




Verdict

Priced at P 1,608,000 for the Civic RS Turbo and P 1,650,000 for the Forte GT, these two compacts represent the priciest options in the segment. They also are the only two turbocharged offerings (unless you count the MG 6). At this point, even Honda fanboys will agree that the Civic RS Turbo isn’t the glowing car it once was. Though critics will surely say that it was a victim of the excise tax, its refresh this year was a lost opportunity to add feature that’ll make the price more palatable.

By relying simply on its turbocharged engine, and perhaps a bit of its heritage, Honda has made its compact more vulnerable to competition. If the likes of the Corolla Altis and Mazda3 aren’t worrying enough, an out of left field challenger like the Forte GT should be. It may not be a landslide win for Kia, but it’s a win nonetheless. As it stands, it should serve as a wakeup call for Honda and its fanboys—the competition has certainly caught up.

Winner: Kia Forte GT