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Sedans Honda Civic Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla vs Mazda3
879 messages, Last post on Nov 25, 2008 at 2:57 PM
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Replying to: dc_driver (Aug 10, 2006 10:59 am) I just love the EPA tests...for me, they are pretty much useless. In my experience with older models (pre-2000 cars), the published numbers seem to underestimate the car's ability; whereas anything made in the last 5-7 years receive estimates that overestimate FE significantly unless you REALLY baby the car. My 1997 Corolla (3 speed, auto tranny) is rated at 24 city and 29 highway, but I can't remember ever getting less than 29 mpg off tanks with up to 90% city driving. And I can easily get 35 mpg in all highway driving if I keep it under 80mph. I strongly believe that manufacturers nowadays have studied the EPA tests and know how to design cars that perform incredibly in these tests, but don't quite perform as well in the real world (FE-wise). In the past, I think they built cars to do better in the real world, while not concerning themselves so much with the EPA tests. |
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In my experience with older models (pre-2000 cars), the published numbers seem to underestimate the car's ability; whereas anything made in the last 5-7 years receive estimates that overestimate FE significantly unless you REALLY baby the car. I'm glad you noticed that too. I used to have a '93 Mazda MX6 V6... by then end when i traded it in, it had 180k miles with an EPA hwy rating of 26mpg, but I usually got 27 or 28 on the hwy, and that was on a 9-10 year old car. |
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Replying to: chiefjojo (Aug 14, 2006 9:46 pm) you see 1993 was thirteen ( 13 ) years ago and they have made dramatic improvements since then. |
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Aug 15, 2006 4:34 pm) you see 1993 was thirteen ( 13 ) years ago and they have made dramatic improvements since then. What does any of this have to do with how the newer cars are performing compared to their older counterparts when it comes to hitting the projected EPA numbers? Nothing.
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Replying to: beantown (Aug 16, 2006 4:34 am) |
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Replying to: beantown (Aug 16, 2006 4:34 am) As manufacturers add components and features they tend to make vehicles heavier resulting in lower fuel efficiency. But there has also been controversy about how the EPA rates vehicles. Most drivers don't achieve the EPA ratings because the norms are not developed using real driving conditions. Some have speculated that the EPA is rating vehicles as being more fuel efficient than they are in reality in order to get auto manufacturers off the hook. If the numbers that most vehicles get were shown on the EPA sticker, many drivers would be aghast. Some would even wonder how are vehicles like Armadas, Hummers, Yukons allowed on the road considering the damage they do to the environment. Instead, vehicles are tested in artifical conditions resulting in unrealistic numbers. I have found Consumer Reports projected fuel economy numbers more accurate; they routinely downgrade the EPA ratings by 20% or more. For example, when the EPA rates your vehicle at 30 mpg it's likely closer to 24 mpg. |
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| I've had my 06 ex civic for almost ten months now and i'm loving every minute of it. I too considered mazda and toyotas offerings but to be honest i didn't feel like they were offering anything as interesting or innovative as honda. Honda pushes the envelope, toyota stays bland, mazda does what already has been done, just better. Alot of stuff posted on the internet seems to be very negative about the civic, probably because everyone who owns one is out driving it and loving it. Think about it: it has a very unorthodox dash, not the most power in its class and it is not the cheapest. Does that stop if from being consumer reports top rated sedan? No. Does that stop people from purchasing it? No. A lady was trading in her mazda 3s sedan the day i bought my civic. How ironic. I don't think the 3 is a bad car at all. I just think it isn't amazing. The handling this and the handling that. The handling my nuts. My civic has AWESOME handling and that is no overstatement. Plus it rides on 16 inch wheels and has all season tires on it. The mazda comes off as a little cheesy to me sometimes. Too overly sporty for its own good. My car is sporty too, and it give me 29 miles in the city and 38 on the highway on average! (my fiance lives 2 1/2 miles away from we and we see eachother every weekend so mileage was a very important factor when purchasing my vehicle.) I think more civic owners need to speak about how wonderful their cars are. Everyone i know who has seen my car always compliments me on it. And i just cant justify a 2.3 liter engine that gets v-6 gas mileage. And the corolla? Bland at best. The s is better and although i don't hate it i dont love it. Man it has a loud engine!! Civic all way man. Civic civic civic. Just remember that and you will fare well. | |
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Replying to: midnightcowboy (Aug 15, 2006 4:34 pm) I'm talking about the actual highway mileage that my 9 year old car got compared to the EPA hwy estimate for THAT CAR, not comparing it with newer cars. I routinely achieved better than EPA numbers with a 180k mile/9 year old car that burned oil, which blew my mind at the time. Today, cars rarely achieve their EPA estimates in the real world for whatever reason. |
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As a former 96 Accord owner, I am a great admirer of Honda and the Civic (the style of the coupe knocks my socks off!), but got a great deal on a Mazda3 S hatchback. It is loaded with content, looks great, and is a blast to drive. In a perfect world, I would have bought both and had the daily choice of What-To-Drive? I agree with previous comments that the Mazda is a little edgy, not as refined a ride as a Honda and I wouldn't mind better mileage (or a larger tank - seems like I am always filling it up!). Ain't life great? 
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I think all the car companies have studied the EPA test and do their best to show higher numbers ON THE TEST. Best example of this would be the hybrids. EPA says they get 60 MPH (or whatever) but in the real world they don't even come close. The EPA is after all a government agency - what do you expect?
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