Honda Civic: FE1 vs FE Facelift
Verdict
At RM131,900 against RM133,900, the Honda Civic FE1 is only RM2,000 cheaper than the Honda Civic FE Facelift, and the basic hardware is effectively a wash: 1.5 litre petrol turbo, 180 hp, 240 Nm, CVT, front-wheel drive and 8.3 seconds from 0-100 km/h for both. The facelift is the current-car choice, but on paper you are not buying extra pace, boot space or cabin size. For a Malaysian buyer, condition, trim kit and deal quality matter more than the badge update.
Pick the Honda Civic FE1 if you want the lower buy-in and are happy with the same 180 hp, 240 Nm and 8.3-second 0-100 km/h as the facelift.
Pick the Honda Civic FE Facelift if you want the current shape and can accept paying RM2,000 more without an on-paper performance gain.
Key differences
- Price: RM131,900 vs RM133,900
- Engine output: 180 hp and 240 Nm vs 180 hp and 240 Nm
- Transmission and drive: CVT automatic, front-wheel drive vs CVT automatic, front-wheel drive
- 0-100 km/h: 8.3 seconds vs 8.3 seconds
- Size: 4,678 mm long, 1,802 mm wide, 1,415 mm tall vs 4,678 mm long, 1,802 mm wide, 1,415 mm tall
- Fuel economy and top speed: 6.0 L/100 km and no listed top speed vs no listed fuel economy and 200 km/h
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 131,900✓ | RM 133,900 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,498 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Power | 180 hp | 180 hp |
| Torque | 240 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 8.3 s | 8.3 s |
| Top speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | 6.0 L/100km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,678 mm | 4,678 mm |
| Width | 1,802 mm | 1,802 mm |
| Height | 1,415 mm | 1,415 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,735 mm | 2,735 mm |
| Boot space | 497 L | 497 L |
| Fuel tank | 47 L | 47 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Road tax / year | RM 90 | RM 90 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
FE1
- RM2,000 cheaper to buy
- Same 180 hp and 240 Nm as the facelift
- Same 497-litre boot
- No listed top speed figure
- No mechanical advantage over the facelift
- Outgoing version, so check trim kit carefully
FE Facelift
- Current facelift model
- 200 km/h top speed is listed
- Same cabin footprint and 497-litre boot
- Costs RM2,000 more
- No listed fuel economy figure
- Same 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time as the FE1
FE1 vs FE Facelift FAQ
Is the Honda Civic FE1 or Honda Civic FE Facelift better?
The Honda Civic FE Facelift is the safer current-model pick. The Honda Civic FE1 is better value if price matters, because both have 180 hp, 240 Nm, CVT and the same 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
What is the price difference?
The Honda Civic FE Facelift is RM2,000 dearer: RM133,900 versus RM131,900 for the Honda Civic FE1. Road tax is identical at RM90 a year.
Do the Honda Civic FE1 and Honda Civic FE Facelift perform differently?
Not on the listed numbers. Both use a 1,498 cc petrol engine with 180 hp and 240 Nm, drive the front wheels through a CVT automatic and do 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds.