1988 Honda Civic vs. 2012 Subaru Forester
To start off, 2012 Subaru Forester is newer by 24 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1988 Honda Civic. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1988 Honda Civic would be higher. At 2,500 cc (4 cylinders), 2012 Subaru Forester is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Subaru Forester (170 HP) has 81 more horse power than 1988 Honda Civic. (89 HP) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Subaru Forester should accelerate faster than 1988 Honda Civic.
Because 2012 Subaru Forester is all wheel drive (AWD), it will have significant more traction and grip than 1988 Honda Civic. In wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Subaru Forester will offer significantly more control. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2012 Subaru Forester (236 Nm @ 4100 RPM) has 122 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 Honda Civic. (114 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 2012 Subaru Forester will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 Honda Civic. 2012 Subaru Forester has automatic transmission and 1988 Honda Civic has manual transmission. 1988 Honda Civic will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 Subaru Forester will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 Honda Civic | 2012 Subaru Forester | |
| Make | Honda | Subaru |
| Model | Civic | Forester |
| Year Released | 1988 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Sedan | SUV |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1396 cc | 2500 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | boxer |
| Valves per Cylinder | 3 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 89 HP | 170 HP |
| Torque | 114 Nm | 236 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4500 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | AWD |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 4-speed automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 4240 mm | 4559 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1781 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1370 mm | 1699 mm |
