Hi, i just would like to share my personal thought on C segment car. I also facing the same dilemma recently on choosing my C segment car.
I was looking for a family car to fit family members of 5 with 2 kids. My initial thinking was design, comfort and performance rank top in my preferences. Here is the summary on among C segment car shortlisted :
1) Elantra / Cerato - Great design and features packed - Too bad my kids complaint seating position not comfort and also my past experience on Korean car told me durability and resale value are both major factor that deter me.
2) Focus - What drive me to look at this car is the POWER and HANDLING. But after i try to sit on their back seat, the clampness of the backseat is a shame for it to categories as a C segment car.
3) Altis with CVT - Design wise is very sporty, but i just dont like the characteristic of CVT works and poor handling of Altis.
4) Sylphy 1.8 with CVT - Same as Altis, CVT sound very loud on the go when press hard. I just cant adapt to CVT.
5) Pug 408 - Tested both NA and THP, solid with continental car feel, NA power is adequate, THP is sprint like charm. I like it after 1st test. But my wife told me she not feeling well on backseat since it's too slanting, maybe this is just her isolated cases. Too bad it out from my list again.
Since i cant find an ideal car to suit both myself and my family members, and SUV is out from my reach, i got no choice but to test the 9 gen Civic where i have never thinking of it since it appearance might not suit me at my age group. But to my surprise, the seating position, space and comfort was among the best tested thus far. Handling of course cant rival Focus, but doesn't run far away, dashboard was most futuristic where i like it, although a bit plastically feel. Power wise is weaker if compared to 408 T and Focus, but it's adequate for my style, the smoothness and quiteness of both transmission and engine at moderate speed impressed me.
We came to conclusion for the Civic with main concerns on comfort, after sales service, resale value (since i use to change car after 5 years), good FC with sohc, adequate power with great handling and proven 5 speed transmission.
If im still a bachelor guy, sure 408THP or Focus is my on my top priority choice.