2023 GAC Empow vs Honda Civic Comparison: Spec Sheet Battle

In the current local automotive industry landscape, turbocharged sedans are still relatively marketable. This is despite the domination of crossovers and seven-seater SUVs.

Honda Civic RS vs GAC Empow GE | Philkotse Spec Check

These sporty, five-seater sedans, after all, offer a compromise. It's spacious enough for a small family, whilst having the performance and handling the hot-blooded driving enthusiast desires.

GAC Philippines knows this fact. To this end, the GAC Empow was initially introduced in January 2023, followed by the top-spec Empow GE months later.

Honda, of course, is the one brand that’s primarily known nowadays for its sporty-ish four-door sedans. In the local market, what it offers in this category is the Civic, which in turn received a full model change update back in 2022.

So how does the GAC Empow fare against the Honda Civic specs-wise? To find out, let’s compare the Empow GE against the Civic RS Turbo. Both are top-spec models and are good representatives of what each model can offer to prospective buyers.

To begin, let’s compare the dimensions of the Empow GE and the Civic RS Turbo. This is crucial to note, since it may give buyers a clue of how spacious their interiors are.

The GAC Empow GE

For the Empow GE, it is 4,700mm long, 1,850mm wide, and 1,432mm in height. Its wheelbase then spans 2,736mm.

The Civic RS Turbo meanwhile, is 4,678mm long, 1,802mm wide, and 1,415mm in height. Its wheelbase length clocks in at 2,735mm.

As per the figures stated above, the Empow is longer, wider, and taller than the Civic. It even comes with a longer wheelbase, but the difference of 1mm is marginal.

Honda Civic RS Turbo

For exterior lighting, both cars are equipped with automatic LED headlamps, LED taillights, and LED daytime running lamps. Both also get power folding side mirrors, and rain-sensing wipers. The Civic also gets front fog lamps for those dim or foggy days. The Empow however, does not have front fog lamps.

Empow GE from the side

Both cars also ride on a set of 18-inch wheels. The GAC model, however, turns up its sportiness factor a notch thanks to its quad-tailpipe setup. The Honda model, in turn, gets a dual-exhaust setup.

Lastly, one big feature that’s present on the Empow GE that’s not available on the Civic RS Turbo is a sunroof.

Civic RS Turbo from the side

As sedans, the Empow GE and the Civic RS Turbo can provide ample space for up to five occupants. Both also get stylish and well-arranged front cabins, though the one on the Civic is more minimalist looking compared to the Empow’s.

The Empow GE's cockpit

Regarding driving amenities, both the top-spec Empow and the top-spec Civic get a push-to-start button, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters, a power adjustable driver’s seat, and an ample amount of cupholders.

These two sedans also get digital gauge clusters. The Empow GE uses a seven-inch instrument panel. The Civic RS Turbo meanwhile, sports a larger 10-inch full digital display. Note that both screens can display various driving-related information and can be configured.

For both turbo sedan models, cabin cooling is provided by a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Likewise available for these two models’ rear cabins are central armrests.

Handling onboard entertainment on the GAC Empow GE is a 10.25-inch touchscreen. It gets Apple CarPlay, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. It is then linked to a six-piece speaker system.

Inside the Civic RS Turbo

The Honda Civic RS Turbo meanwhile, is kitted out with a nine-inch touchscreen. It comes with Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Honda model then gets a 12-piece Bose sound speaker system.

While the touchscreen on the Honda is a tad smaller than the Empow’s, it gets more in the way of smartphone connectivity. On top of that, we can also guess that its speaker system sounds better as well. The Honda also gets a wireless smartphone charging pad, while the Empow GE does not.

As modern, top-of-the-line sedans, both the Empow GE and the Civic RS Turbo get what you’d expect in terms of standard safety features.

To be more exact, both come with anti-lock braking, stability control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, rear parking sensors, a hill-start assist system, a reverse camera, an engine immobilizer, and a car alarm. Both even get the same amount of airbags numbering six.

The Civic RS Turbo's airbags in action

In this regard though, the Empow GE one-ups the Civic RS Turbo with its tire pressure monitoring system. The GAC model also gets front sensors, while the Civic does not.

The Honda model does get an ace up its sleeve with the Honda LaneWatch system which allows the car’s user to visually monitor blind spots. The Empow in turn, lacks this feature.

Moving over to advanced driver-assistive features, these two sedans get autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, lane keep assist, and road departure warning.

The GAC model also gets a traffic jam assist, which is comparable to the Honda Civic’s low-speed follow function. The GAC, however, lacks the lead car departure notification system that’s present on the Honda.

For engines, the GAC Empow GE uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine paired with a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). At maximum, this powertrain can make up to 174 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to its front wheels.

GAC Empow's engine (GB variant pictured)

The Honda Civic RS Turbo meanwhile, uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The four-banger on the Honda can produce up to 175 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. The Civic is also a front-wheel-drive vehicle.

Based on their engine specs, the Empow GE and the Civic RS Turbo practically make the same amount of horsepower. Then again, the GAC model makes 20 Nm more than the Honda.

A look inside the Civic RS Turbo's engine bay

Both also have vastly different transmission systems, which might result in vastly different driving feels. Note likewise that these two cars do get paddle shifters, which on the Honda, allows for simulated gear changes.

The GAC Empow on paper, appears to be on par with the Honda Civic. It has the features and the onboard tech to match the Japanese-branded sedan, and it even makes slightly more torque while having just about the same horsepower output.

The Empow GE from the rear

This makes the GAC Empow a potent segment rival against the Civic, and it might even claim the spot as an alternative to the Honda-made sedan.

The Civic, as many of us will know though, has a long career and a relatively solid reputation. The same goes for Honda, which has already planted itself as a mainstay car brand in the Philippines, with a far larger dealership network. In this regard, GAC has a bit of catching up to do. GAC Motor Philippines does have plans to open more dealerships locally, so one can say that it is steadily making its mark on the Philippine market.

Civic RS Turbo from the rear

But then there’s the fact that the GAC is more affordable than the Civic despite being comparable on paper. Penny pinchers will take note of this, that is, if they can manage to do away with the “Chinese car stigma.”

To end this comparison, we encourage those who are seriously looking into these two sedans to give them a test drive. In doing so, you’ll get a better picture of which one’s the better choice for you.

For more car comparisons, keep it here on Philkotse.