New Civic more ‘civilized’ than predecessor

The Honda Place Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to unveil the ninth-generation Honda Civic that was recently face-lifted to incorporate upscale features such as sleek, energetic and aerodynamic design with new ECON button that adjusts throttle response and air conditioning to improve fuel economy.

In 2013 and beyond, the new Civic comes smoother, sleeker in shape with curvy wheel-arches and longer front and rear overhangs. This is in addition to the LED lights that run across the front and are standard across the range.

Inside, the cabin material and switchgear has been improved while the digital dashboard is simplified so that it is easier to read. Available in two –trim levels, LX and EX, the entry level LX comes equipped with automatic air-con, USB connectivity and 16-inch alloy wheels while the EX adds luxuries like cruise control, front fog lights, dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth and panoramic sunroof.

Addressing local automobile media at a product familiarisation forum in Lagos, Deepak Daryanani, the Honda Place (THP) head of sales and marketing, said the previous-generation Honda Civic had a revolutionary look, but Honda has chosen evolution for this latest model. The tail retains the split screen of its predecessor with the lights incorporated into the split, but a windscreen wiper has been added.

A mock test drive after the product familiarisation meeting reveals that the new Honda Civic strikes a good balance between fun and comfort – thanks to the new smooth electric power steering system and fluid-filled rear suspension bushes, which soaks up bumps convincingly.

Coupled with this is the slippery aerodynamics that helps resist wind noise and pretty quiet on the motorway. “And “if you are looking for a car that will not see the dealer any more than it has to, buy a Civic,” Daryanani rhetorically affirmed.

The previous generation Civic has always performed well in the Driver Power survey and, as lots of technology has been carried over straight from the old car, it is expected that the new car would do just well as its predecessor.

On safety, the Civic has a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, adding that every model comes fitted with a full complement of airbags, as well as LED daytime running lights, ESP and ABS as standard. The EX model gets adaptive cruise control and a Collision Mitigation Braking System, which uses radar to detect imminent collisions at low speeds.

Only the 140bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine with a five-speed automatic transmission system will be available in the local market. There is plenty of room for adults in the back, thanks to the car’s generous dimension of 4,300mm long, 2,065mm wide and 1,590mm tall.

“The clever rear bench ‘Magic Seat’ is also still there; this means that you can fold the seats flat when you want to carry longer items, or flip the seats up cinema-style when you want to transport taller loads.

The boot, on the other hand offers 477 litres of luggage space (including 76 litres within an under-floor compartment), which is a massive 161 litres more than some competitions,” the sales and marketing helmsman said.

What with running Honda Civic? Daryanani said “the Civic has always been cheap to run, and this latest version is no different. All of the engines are economical. You can get the 1.8 litre to post 28/29kmpg and emit 137g/km. With strong residual values across the range, customers can get a lot of money back come resale time,” Daryanani affirmed.