2004 Honda Civic vs. 2006 Lotus Elise
To start off, 2006 Lotus Elise is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2004 Honda Civic. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2004 Honda Civic would be higher. At 1,796 cc (4 cylinders), 2006 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2006 Lotus Elise (190 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 72 more horse power than 2004 Honda Civic. (118 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2006 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 2004 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2004 Honda Civic weights approximately 204 kg more than 2006 Lotus Elise.
Because 2006 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 2006 Lotus Elise. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2004 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, 2006 Lotus Elise (180 Nm) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 2004 Honda Civic. (149 Nm). This means 2006 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2004 Honda Civic. 2004 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 2006 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2006 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2004 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2004 Honda Civic | 2006 Lotus Elise | |
| Make | Honda | Lotus |
| Model | Civic | Elise |
| Year Released | 2004 | 2006 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Roadster |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1668 cc | 1796 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 118 HP | 190 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 7800 RPM |
| Torque | 149 Nm | 180 Nm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 | 12.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1154 kg | 950 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4440 mm | 3790 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1720 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1150 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2590 mm | 2310 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 7.1 L/100km | 8.8 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 L | 40 L |
