Selwyn_Times: September 20, 2023

50 Selwyn Times Wednesday September 20 2023
Sportier, spacious Honda Civic
A SMALL hatchback hit here for
decades, the Honda Civics isn’t
feeling the same amount love
from buyers these days, with
many seduced by the masses of
trendy SUV offerings on our
market.
With sales in excess of 27
million since its global launch
50 years ago, the Civic has
really put on Honda on the
world automotive map. Simple
and clean lines distinguish this
latest version from its intricately
styled predecessor. There is more
than just strong visual appeal.
It is now a sportier drive, offers
greater space, especially in the
rear seat area, along with easier
access to the cargo compartment.
Upgraded suspension, chassis
and a high-rigidity body improve
dynamics and reduce noise and
vibration NVH. Safety is further
enhanced with an updated
version of Hondas Sensing and
TrafficJam Assist. Powertrain
improvements provide additional
performance and refinement.
With a coupe-like profile
inspired by European sport
backs, this latest Civic sports
a new exterior design in a
distinctive and sporty way.
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
A low bonnet, front fenders
and horizontal beltline add an
expansive, airy greenhouse look
and feel to the cabin. Compared
to the out going model this one is
bigger in almost every direction.
By how much you rightly say? A
fair bit really with a 35mm longer
wheelbase.
Both ends of the car look
sharp. A unique tail light design,
and high-mounted stop light
spans nearly the entire width of
the vehicles hatch, accentuating
its wider rear track. LED lighting
is used extensively for the
exterior, including the wide-set
headlights, daytime running
lights, parking lights and fog
lamps.
Two Civic models are offered
on our market starting with
the price leading $47,000 Sport
being reviewed here, or a $52,000
special edition MUGEN. This
makes clever use of a variety of
high quality MUGEN body kit
components to create a striking
looking vehicle.
A revamped version of the
zippy 1.5 turbo engine is ready
to rumble with more power and
torque. It now produces 131kW,
5kw more than its predecessor
and 240Nm of torque a 20nm
gain. In isolation, not massive
bumps in power and torque.
However, collectively they take
performance up a good notch
or two, with the torque getting
to work from just 1700rpm. In
real world driving the motor is
all smoothness and tractability.
Acceleration is brisk and
satisfying and gone is the coarse
edge the previous engine had
when working in the higher rev
range.
A much-improved take on the
Civics familiar Constant Variable
Transmission (CVT) now
features Normal and Eco driving
modes and a user-selectable
Sport mode. It feels more
response and in tune with the
engine, with enough electronic
smarts on board to get the most
out of it.
A generously proportioned
cabin and cargo space is among
the best in the small car class,
with a more accessible luggage
area that’s 40mm wider. The
standard 60/40 split rear seat
back can be quickly folded down
for more load space, with the
side-pull cargo cover making
it super easy to quickly open or
conceal whatever you have in the
rear cargo area.
Impeccable attention to detail
is evident everywhere in the
cabin including an instrument
panel design, with minimal
cut lines to reduce windshield
Rating out of 10: Performance 7; Handling 7;
Build Quality 7; Comfort 6; Space 7; Styling 6; Test
consumption 7.4L/100km; Value for money 6; Safety –
5-star ANCAP crash rating.
Overall points out of 10: 7
reflections. The generous use of
quality materials throughout,
especially on touch points is
a notable feature. Plenty of
effort has gone into providing
a premium look and feel to the
switchgear and controls.
This is the most technologically
advanced Civic Hatch yet
featuring a new 7-inch color LCD
driver’s display. It shows a variety
of user-selectable information,
such as the current music
selection and a trip computer,
on the left and right side of the
screen.
The status of various Honda
Sensing safety and driverassistive
systems, including
brake lights, headlights and turn
signals that switch on and off
with those functions. In addition
to large, easy-to-recognize icons
and a simplified navigation
structure with fewer embedded
menus, the touchscreen features
a proper volume knob and hard
buttons for Home and Back
functions. A 0.8-inch finger rest
immediately below the screen
provides a stable surface to rest
your hand – a handy idea.
There’s a new single-camera
system providing a longer,
wider field of view than its
predecessors radar-and-camera
based system. Combined with
software advances and a new,
more powerful processor, the
system is capable of more quickly
and accurately spotting hazards,
along with road lines and
signs. Honda Sensing also adds
Traffic Jam Assist, and the new
camera- based system improves
on existing functionality, such as
more natural brake application
and quicker reactions when using
Adaptive Cruise Control. It also
offers a more natural steering
action when using the Lane
Keeping Assist System.
The suspension and steering
were developed in Europe and
feel like it from behind the wheel.
It reaffirms my view, that the
Civic Sport is the best all round
riding and handling model in
the current Honda range. The
suspension reacts quickly and
decisively to steady the car, when
it’s under siege from sudden and
unsettling changes in the road
surface.
With a wide and low-slung
stance this newest Civic feels
reassuringly well planted on the
road. However, this makes it a
bit of a liability when driving on
our extensive network of metaled
rural roads, with large mounds of
gravel down the middle of them.
These gave the vehicles under
belly a good tickle up, and a bit
of gravel rash for good measure
on the one’s I sampled albeit
briefly. Overall, the test car felt
confident and composed with the
suspensions nimbleness a real
stand out.
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