Compare the2018 Volkswagen BeetleVS 2018 Honda Civic

The Beetle has standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To help make backing safer, the Beetle Coast/SE’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Civic doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Beetle and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Beetle is safer than the Honda Civic:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Beetle comes with a full 6-year/72000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Civic’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 3 years and 36,000 miles sooner.

The Beetle’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Civic’s (10 vs. 5 years).

The Volkswagen Beetle’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Civic’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

The Beetle’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 16 more horsepower (174 vs. 158) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 138) than the Civic’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4 cyl. The Beetle’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 162) than the Civic’s optional 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. The Beetle’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 167) than the Civic’s optional 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. The Beetle’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 177) than the Civic Hatchback Sport’s standard 1.5 turbo 4 cyl.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Beetle is faster than the Honda Civic 2.0 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Beetle uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Civic Hatchback Sport requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Beetle has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Civic (14.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Beetle higher (7 out of 10) than the Honda Civic (3 to 7). This means the Beetle produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Civic every 15,000 miles.

The Volkswagen Beetle comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Civic.

For better stopping power the Beetle’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Civic:

The Beetle stops shorter than the Civic:

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Beetle is 1.5 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Civic.

The Beetle Dune Coupe handles at .84 G’s, while the Civic EX-L Coupe pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Beetle’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Civic’s (35.4 feet vs. 35.7 feet).

The Beetle is 8.5 inches shorter than the Civic Coupe, making the Beetle easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Beetle Coupe has 1.2 inches more front headroom and 2.5 inches more rear headroom than the Civic Coupe.

The Beetle Coupe has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Civic Coupe (15.4 vs. 12.1 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Beetle’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Civic Coupe’s useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Beetle. The Civic doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Beetle’s standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Civic LX’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Beetle SE/Dune/Convertible to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Civic doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Beetle (except S/Coast) offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Civic doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Beetle’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Civic EX/EX-T/EX-L/Touring.

Insurance will cost less for the Beetle owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Beetle with a number “1” insurance rate while the Civic is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Beetle is less expensive to operate than the Civic because typical repairs cost less on the Beetle than the Civic, including $3 less for a starter and $12 less for a fuel pump.