2nd place: Toyota Corolla CE Special Edition (only sold in Canada)
The Corolla still is a nice all around performer. It is very reliable, not to expensive to buy and drives like a Lexus (well almost). However the design is getting old and the design is kind of bland looking. The interior is very nice and full of features. Though the interior is kind of small and bland. The front and rear seats are large and comfortable although rear leg room is a little short. On the road the Corolla feels like a Lexus but power is short and braking distances were a little longer than expected. There is a minimum of road noise and engine noise. Overall the Corolla is a good car but it's getting old.
1st place: Honda Civic DX-G (only sold in Canada)
The Civic is a very sexy looking machine. It is fast, reliable and full of value. The exterior look is striking and you could mistake this for a concept car. The interior is also striking but I found it to look and feel small. The digital speedometer is one of the best but didn't we get rid of these in the 80s? The huge A-pillars hinder visibility. The front and rear seats feel roomy. The trunk is smaller than last year's version but it is still big. On the road the Civic feels fast and it feels more like an Accord. There is more wind noise but less engine noise. The braking, steering and the chassis was up to the standards of the class. Overall the Civic is still the benchmark of its class but note to Honda: Please think about the Mazda 3 when redesigning your cars because the Civic falls short to the Mazda 3, in my opinion.
Look for the Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4 in later posts............