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8<br />
Thursday <strong>August</strong> 3 <strong>2023</strong><br />
Sportier, spacious Honda Civic a standout<br />
A SMALL hatchback hit here for<br />
decades, the Honda Civic isn’t<br />
feeling the same amount love<br />
from buyers these days, with<br />
many seduced by SUVs.<br />
With sales in excess of 27 million<br />
since its global launch 50<br />
years ago, the Civic really put on<br />
Honda on the map. Simple and<br />
clean lines distinguish this latest<br />
version from its predecessor. It<br />
is also now a sportier drive and<br />
offers greater space, especially<br />
in the rear seat area, along with<br />
easier access to the cargo compartment.<br />
Civic models start with the<br />
price leading $47,000 Sport being<br />
reviewed here, or the $52,000<br />
special edition Mugen. This<br />
makes clever use of a variety of<br />
high quality Mugen body kit<br />
components to create a striking<br />
looking vehicle.<br />
A revamped version of the<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
zippy 1.5 turbo engine is ready<br />
to rumble with more power and<br />
torque. It now produces 131kW,<br />
5kw more than its predecessor<br />
and 240Nm of torque a 20nm<br />
gain. In isolation, not massive<br />
bumps in power and torque.<br />
However, collectively they take<br />
performance up a good notch or<br />
two, with the torque getting to<br />
work from just 1700rpm.<br />
In real world driving the<br />
motor is all smoothness and<br />
tractability. Acceleration is brisk<br />
and satisfying and gone is the<br />
coarse edge the previous engine<br />
had when working in the higher<br />
rev range.<br />
A much-improved take on the<br />
Civic’s familiar Constant Variable<br />
Transmission (CVT) now<br />
features Normal and Eco driving<br />
modes and a user-selectable<br />
Sport mode. It feels more responsive<br />
and in tune with the engine,<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
with enough electronic smarts<br />
on board to get the most out of it.<br />
Generously proportioned cabin<br />
and cargo space is among the<br />
best in the small car class, with<br />
a more accessible luggage area<br />
that’s 40mm wider. The standard<br />
60/40 split rear seat back can be<br />
quickly folded down for more<br />
load space, with the side-pull<br />
cargo cover making it super easy<br />
to open or conceal whatever you<br />
have in the rear cargo area.<br />
Attention to detail is evident<br />
everywhere in the cabin, including<br />
an instrument panel design<br />
with minimal cut lines to reduce<br />
windshield reflections. The<br />
generous use of quality materials<br />
throughout is a notable feature.<br />
It is the most technologically<br />
advanced Civic hatch yet, featuring<br />
a new 7-inch color LCD<br />
driver’s display.<br />
In addition to large, easy-torecognise<br />
icons and a simplified<br />
navigation structure with fewer<br />
embedded menus, the touchscreen<br />
features a proper volume<br />
knob and hard buttons for Home<br />
and Back functions.<br />
There’s a new single-camera<br />
system providing a longer, wider<br />
field of view than its predecessors<br />
radar-and-camera based<br />
system. Honda Sensing also adds<br />
Traffic Jam Assist, and the new<br />
camera- based system improves<br />
on existing functionality, such as<br />
more natural brake application<br />
and quicker reactions when using<br />
Adaptive Cruise Control.<br />
The suspension and steering<br />
were developed in Europe and<br />
feel like it from behind the wheel.<br />
It reaffirms my view, that the<br />
Civic Sport is the best all-round<br />
riding and handling model in<br />
the current Honda range. The<br />
suspension reacts quickly and<br />
decisively to steady the car from<br />
sudden and unsettling changes<br />
in the road surface.<br />
With a wide and low-slung<br />
stance, this newest Civic feels<br />
reassuringly well planted on the<br />
road. However, this makes it a<br />
bit of a liability when driving on<br />
gravel roads. Overall, the test<br />
car felt confident and composed<br />
with the suspensions nimbleness<br />
a real stand out.<br />
Rating out of 10:<br />
Performance 7; Handling<br />
7; Build Quality 7;<br />
Comfort 6; Space 7; Test<br />
consumption 7.4L/100km;<br />
Value for money 6; Safety<br />
– 5-star ANCAP crash<br />
rating. Overall points out<br />
of 10: 7<br />
Vaughan pirie<br />
owner operator<br />
027 565 5577<br />
vpbaeries@gmail.com<br />
www.vpbaeries.co.nz<br />
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