Features / 28 August 2022 / Michael Taylor

Honda Civic RS vs BMW 2 Series – Sporty sedan side by side

The new Honda Civic has made its debut in South Africa in an athletic RS guise, with prices starting at R669,000.

For a comparable price, local motorists can also opt for the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Under R700,000, these two sedans are good options for buyers looking at sporty four-doors in South Africa.

Sporty performance

Under the hood of Honda’s latest entry is a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol engine which provides 131kW and 240Nm, making use of a CVT gearbox to deliver power to the front wheels.

When all is said and done, the RS goes from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds before maxing out at 200km/h, while the powertrain still manages a relatively low combined fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km.

BMW’s Gran Coupe is also powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged powertrain, though this one is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The setup puts out a lower 103kW and 220Nm, resulting in a sprint time coming in a fraction slower than the Honda’s at 8.7 seconds, while a higher top speed of 213km/h is on the books.

A better average fuel consumption of 5.9l/100km gives another point to the BMW.

Extensive features

The new Civic’s standard offerings consist of leather and suede upholstery, heated front seats, ambient lighting effects, a multifunction steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charger, dual-zone climate control, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.

It also has a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

Convenience and assist features, meanwhile, come in the form of adaptive cruise control, smart entry, keyless start, front and rear park distance control, a reverse camera, forward collision warnings, lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, and a driver attention monitor.

For the exterior, the RS package is completed by LED headlights and taillights, model-specific bumpers and side skirts, a sunroof, matte black 18-inch wheels, a boot spoiler, and a dual-exhaust outlet.

Moving to the base-model BMW, buyers can expect patterned cloth seats, manual air conditioning, a leather multifunction steering wheel, automatic wipers, cruise control, hill assist, Harman Kardon speakers, a 10.25-inch driver display, and a 10.3-inch touchscreen with smartphone pairing as standard fitment.

Outside, the 2 Series gets light-sensing LED headlamps, daytime running lights, and 16-inch alloy wheels.