The Honda Civic and the Mazda RX8 are two highly compared cars. The biggest difference between the Civic and the RX8 is the type of engine they use. The Civic has a straight-four engine that is commonly used in cars. On the other hand, the RX8 uses a Wankel rotary engine. The RX8’s engine has no pistons and only has three moving parts. The RX8’s Wankel engine is much lighter, more reliable and has a very smooth flow of power throughout the entire rpm range.
Due to the difference in engine design, there are also several implications regarding displacement and power. While most Civic engines have displacements of 2.0 liters or more, the RX8 only has a 1.3-liter engine. But despite being a much smaller engine, the Wankel engine is capable of making far more horsepower than inline 4 engines. Because of this, the RX8’s engine is rated as a 2.5-3.0 liter engine when used. Compare to traditional engine designs. It is also capable of putting out between 197hp and 250hp depending on the model. Civics produces much less power than that; Except, of course, for models like the Type R, which produces power comparable to the RX8.
Another major difference between the Civic and RX8 is the way power is delivered to the wheels. The Civic with its i4 engine provides much more torque in the low end than in the high end. By comparison, the RX8’s engine provides a more consistent power delivery throughout the RPM range. This gives the RX8 a softer feel and gives some people the impression that it is weaker at lower RPMs than it is in Civics.
Handling is another area where RX8 excels over the Civic. This is due in part to the smaller, lighter engine and the way weight is distributed throughout the body. The RX8 achieves a spread of up to fifty-fifty because it manages to keep most of its weight between the front and rear axles. As such, the RX8 handles much better around corners and is less prone to understeer or oversteer.
Resume:
The Civic has an inline engine while the RX8 has a rotary engine
The RX8 has a much smaller displacement than the Civic.
The RX8 has more horsepower than the Civic.
The RX8 has better handling than the Civic.
