Head to Head: GAC Empow GE vs Honda Civic RS Honda SENSING

When Honda launched the 10th-generation Civic in 2016, that was the first time that a 1.5-liter engine from the brand got a turbocharger, making the most power and torque for the segment then. Now, however, the industry has caught up to Honda in terms of specifications, and one such brand is GAC with its Empow. 

The Honda Civic set the bar when it came to exciting turbo power. Other brands have followed suit since introducing the RS variant in the Honda lineup. Now in the 11th generation, it appears that the nameplate was further refined and given a value add with the 1.5-liter now being standard throughout the entire lineup. GAC did the same with the Empow, but as a newer entrant in the segment, the brand has a few things up its sleeve in order to compete and potentially unseat the reigning champ in the compact car space, the Honda Civic. So, let’s compare both the GAC Empow in its GE trim and the Honda Civic in its RS Honda SENSING trim. 

The design of the GAC is striking, but the Honda is more sedate. Perhaps the popularity of the Civic has led some owners to prefer a more mature look. Perhaps Honda figured its users are more mature now. Perhaps GAC thought the same but it wanted to take risks while Honda wanted to play it safe, in a manner of speaking. The new design of the Honda Civic isn’t bad at all, in fact, it’s quite handsome, but that kind of pales in comparison to the boldness of the Empow. GAC wanted to make a splash, and it kind of succeeded in that endeavor. 

The Empow has a proud grille, it’s big, it’s bold, and it’s detailed. There are hits of yellow, GAC’s signature color for the Empow, and it is flanked by two all-LED headlights. The prominent grille also has some detailing in it, and of course, the rear is also quite memorable with an athletic shape to the trunk and taillights. Following that, everything is tied together with a matte fighter green colorway, something that isn’t normally seen on cars of this price point. Other colors for the Empow GE include Ivory White and Moonlight Grey, with Elegant Black being reserved for the GB variant. We feel that the Matte Fighter Green color will strike you the most of all, and even more so than the colors that Honda has to offer. 

Speaking of, Honda took a more reserved approach to the Civic this time around, and depending on who you ask, the Civic looks either better or worse than the previous generation that it replaces. More mature than ever, Honda did a number of tweaks to the overall design language of the Civic, going for a more upmarket and classy aesthetic. Even with that in tow, the model still looks good, and the few RS bits that Honda opted to fit on our local variant do well to evoke a sense of sportiness, but perhaps not as much as the GAC. The hero color of the Honda Civic this time around is red, and now it goes for an all-black set of wheels, which is more simple in design compared to the GAC’s rather interesting and elegant set. You will note that the Civic is not as bold as the Empow, wherein the grille is not so big, and the lower half of the bumper serves as the main intake. The front grille is joined together with the hood, resulting in a look that is more sleek than aggressive. Whether or not the Civic looks better will be up to you, however, but we feel that Honda did play it a little too safe when it came to the design of this car. Apart from the ducktail spoiler being the wildest element of the car’s design, the rear is otherwise plain and uninteresting, at least compared to the wow factor that the previous generation’s Civic presented with its c-shaped lamps. Otherwise, it's also the same story, all LEDs in the front and a combination LED-halogen set of lights at the rear, which results in a lighting package that we know won’t disappoint. 

It’s quite hard to determine a winner between the two because if you’re a fan of outright looks, then the Empow will have you covered in that department, but if you are a more sedate kind of buyer, then the Civic will probably speak to you more. However, in terms of elegance, we think that the GAC takes the cake in that area even if it is aggressive. Similar in execution to other European brands, Empow somehow gets the balance. Of course, we cannot deny that there will be Civic fans up in arms, so let’s also substantiate with the numbers. In terms of size, the GAC Empow is still bigger in all dimensions compared to the Civic, the dimensions of which are 4,700mm versus 4,478 in length, 1,850mm versus 1,802mm in width, 1,432mm versus 1,415mm in height, and 2,736mm versus 2,735mm in wheelbase. The GAC is an overall bigger car than the Civic, and if style can be subjective, numbers aren’t, and we can grant the win to the GAC for now. Does the Honda have what it takes to catch up? Let’s see. 

Winner: Empow 

The interior of both cars are leaning more towards the sportier end of things, but like the exterior, there is also a certain amount of reservedness that the Honda evokes and a certain kind of boldness that the GAC gats with a dash of elegance. 

When it comes to interior materials, we think that the GAC’s interior quality is a cut above what most other brands are offering in the market right now, and that’s saying a lot. The quality of the interior of the Empow is an experience. We’re not trying to exaggerate, but it really feels like the more premium car compared to some of its rivals. Now, about that boldness, there are a few dubious faux carbon panels on the inside, but they’re not flimsy nor are they scratch magnets. For fake carbon, it’s not totally offensive, but it can be slightly tacky depending on who you ask. Though, we will admit that it speaks to the overall drive of the car, especially since the GE variant gets a set of paddles that make the driving experience oh so sporty and thrilling. The thing here is that this is GAC’s newest interior design language, and it’s ergonomic, futuristic, and has a certain gravitas about it when you first step in. 

If familiar and safe is what you want, however, then the Honda Civic RS has got you covered. When the model first launched, we were fans of it from the start, and the interior is a remarkable improvement over the 10th-generation Civic. Not only has the interior design changed, but also the quality, which we thought would have stayed stagnant moving up a generation. The interior touches have all improved, also with regard to the dials which feel even clicker than before. Interior space is at par with the Empow, and so are the features like rear seat vents, a center armrest for the rear passengers, and also a number of storage spaces and compartments that are neither too small nor too lacking. There are high-gloss plastics in the cabin, but Honda has minimized its use all throughout, resulting in a very clean look. 

So which one is better? In terms of space, the Civic and the Empow are both pretty even for passenger accommodations. With interior space being more or less matched, it could really depend on your personal preference at this point. The Empow has a bolder interior, with elegant touches, but the Honda feels safe with a dash of sportiness. We think that the Honda gets it for most people but for the more adventurous lot, perhaps the Empow will take the cake. However, in terms of features, the Civic has most of what the GAC has, but it has a heat seater and a sunroof that give the GAC a bit of an edge. Now, it’s not a huge one-up against the Civic but it’s still just enough to give it the win for this round. 

Winner: Empow 

Honda has done a lot in terms of improving the technology package in its Civic. The model was one of the first back in the day to offer a modern infotainment system, and now that’s carried over, it might be a little too late in terms of making a huge impact in the market. Brands like GAC have gone to many lengths to offer a worthwhile package on the tech front, but did the newer brand do better? 

In terms of size, GAC does well with a seven-inch gauge cluster that’s paired neatly with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Following that, you get Apple CarPlay, along with the necessary amount of USB ports to cover all the rows of seats. There are up to six speakers in the interior, which is GAC’s own unbranded system, and a set of active safety features. In terms of the passive stuff, the GAC is pretty even with the Honda, but also with regard to the active stuff as well. Equipped with an Advanced Driving Assistance System which has adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and traffic jam assist, the Empow has more than enough tech to keep you safe on a long or short drive. It’s also interesting to note that there is a backup camera, but while the package is good, let’s see what the Honda has to offer first. 

For a while now, it appeared as if Honda was left behind by a bunch of its competitors, but little did the market know that the brand was gearing up for a comeback of epic proportions. With adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, auto high beam, and lead car departure notification, in a package that is well-conceived and well-reviewed in the market called Honda SENSING. With such a great headlining feature out of the way, if you dive into the other stuff, it’s not too bad either. The Civic comes with a nine-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and its gauge cluster comes in at 10.2 inches in diagonal length. What’s even more impressive is the fact that the Civic comes with a 12-speaker audio system from Bose. 

All in all, it seems that the GAC put up a good fight here, but the Civic just has more in the way of features. The infotainment alone has one more connectivity option compared to the GAC, and the added lane-watch camera is also a great bonus for the Civic as well. In addition to that, the premium sound that the Civic delivers is definitely the best in its class at the moment and something that GAC might have to look into if it wants an even more premium model to grace its lineup in the near future. 

Winner: Civic

Now, here is where things get interesting. Perhaps you already have a favorite given how Honda engines have long been one of the go-tos of enthusiasts, us included. The 1.5-liter engine from the Honda stable is turbocharged, but so is the GAC’s. Which one is better? 

The challenger is all geared up, quite literally, with a 1.5-liter turbocharged motor that punches out 174hp and 270 Nm of torque mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Some say that the DCT is better at high speeds, and worse at low speeds, but at least you have gears. There are also paddle shifters to help you make the driving experience much more exciting and there are also sports modes for you to play with. There is also a “secret” sport mode that allows you to access even more of the car’s and the engine’s potential, allowing you to feel the raw power and the raw handling of the car less a good chunk of electronic aids. 

How does Honda answer back? Well, it one-ups the GAC, literally. The 1.5-liter turbocharged motor in the Honda Civic punches out 175hp and 240 Nm of torque mated to a CVT with up to seven simulated gears, and it comes with paddles as well. At low speeds, the CVT behaves well, but at high speeds, it’s not totally devoid of that direct drive feel, but it’s slightly lacking. Honda knows how to do a CVT well, however, and that’s a consolation that’s more than good enough if it means smooth day-to-day operation. There are also drive modes, but they’re all straightforward, eco, normal, and sport. 

It’s kind of tough to determine the winner based on numbers alone. Honda may have more horsepower and a CVT that is very tried and tested, but GAC is packing a ton of features and an additional drive mode that is actually really good and really fun to play with in a package that has more torque and a DCT that is quite competent at high speed, and still rather smooth at the low-speed stuff. We think, however, that not everyone will appreciate the stubbornness of a DCT, and would instead prefer a smooth driving experience when they need it, and a decently exciting one at high speed. Of course, your mileage may vary here, but the two are so evenly matched that the only way that the GAC would win is if it were to boil down on the actual user themselves. Preference doesn’t normally get into the engine section of our head-to-head articles, but we feel that it needed to be said somehow. Even some people would prefer certain equipment over others, and we believe that this is a tie. 

Winner: TIE 

Now, here is where things are quantifiable and definite. At the time of writing, the GAC Empow tops out at just P1,348,000, which, if you’ve been looking at the sedan market now, is a steal of a deal when you look at everything that you are getting, and the level of performance that GAC brings to the table. 

The Honda Civic in its RS trim, on the other hand, will set you back a whopping P1,775,000, and that amount of money is definitely no joke. The Civic is very expensive, but we believe that the price will not be a barrier to most die-hard fans and believers of the nameplate. 

So who wins? Of course the GAC. The thing is, sedans are getting quite expensive, and Honda’s not making things easier for Civic fans. Customers who are looking for alternatives can go for the GAC since it’s so much more affordable than the Civic and it definitely doesn’t feel like it. 

Winner: Empow 

Oh boy, this is going to make a lot of Honda fans angry, but this generation of the Civic isn’t a winner on all fronts. We think that the tech and safety package in the Civic is second to none, and GAC has some catching up to do, definitely. However, given the price, given that the performance is so similar and even better depending on who you ask, it’s tough not to ignore the GAC Empow anymore. 

Honda has been in the game for quite some time now, making compact sedans that are not only great daily drivers, but also decent performers if you demand them to be. We’re not going to say that the brand is resting on its laurels, instead, we’ll say that GAC is definitely hungry for that segment of the market, and the Empow is proof of that. If anything, don’t let us stop you from saying that the Honda Civic is the best car for your money, even it that involves a good chunk of it, but the Empow really is something to consider, and something that we believe deserves a look, a feel, and a test drive. 

Overall Winner: GAC Empow