2008 Lotus Elise vs. 2005 Honda Civic
To start off, 2008 Lotus Elise is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2005 Honda Civic. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2005 Honda Civic would be higher. At 1,795 cc (4 cylinders), 2008 Lotus Elise is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2008 Lotus Elise (189 HP @ 7800 RPM) has 75 more horse power than 2005 Honda Civic. (114 HP @ 6000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2008 Lotus Elise should accelerate faster than 2005 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2005 Honda Civic weights approximately 217 kg more than 2008 Lotus Elise.
Because 2008 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 2008 Lotus Elise. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2005 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, 2008 Lotus Elise (180 Nm @ 6800 RPM) has 31 more torque (in Nm) than 2005 Honda Civic. (149 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 2008 Lotus Elise will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2005 Honda Civic. 2005 Honda Civic has automatic transmission and 2008 Lotus Elise has manual transmission. 2008 Lotus Elise will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2005 Honda Civic will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 Lotus Elise | 2005 Honda Civic | |
| Make | Lotus | Honda |
| Model | Elise | Civic |
| Year Released | 2008 | 2005 |
| Body Type | Roadster | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Middle | Front |
| Engine Size | 1795 cc | 1666 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 189 HP | 114 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 180 Nm | 149 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 6800 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 82 mm | 75 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 85 mm | 94.4 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 12.0:1 | 10.0:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline - Premium |
| Top Speed | 241 km/hour | 200 km/hour |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 5.2 seconds | 9.7 seconds |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 2 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 950 kg | 1167 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3790 mm | 4440 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1700 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1150 mm | 1410 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 8.8 L/100km | 7 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 40 L | 50 L |
