1998 Lotus Elise vs. 2010 Honda Civic
To start off, 2010 Honda Civic is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1998 Lotus Elise. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1998 Lotus Elise would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 1998 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1998 Lotus Elise (116 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 17 more horse power than 2010 Honda Civic. (99 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1998 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 2010 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2010 Honda Civic weights approximately 544 kg more than 1998 Lotus Elise.
Because 1998 Lotus Elise is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1998 Lotus Elise. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2010 Honda Civic, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1998 Lotus Elise (165 Nm @ 3000 RPM) has 38 more torque (in Nm) than 2010 Honda Civic. (127 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1998 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2010 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1998 Lotus Elise | 2010 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Elise | Civic |
| Year Released | 1998 | 2010 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Hatchback |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1796 cc | 1339 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 2 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 116 HP | 99 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 165 Nm | 127 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 3 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 705 kg | 1249 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3730 mm | 4270 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1710 mm | 1785 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1210 mm | 1460 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 13.5 L/100km | 5.7 L/100km |
