Honda Civic drive by Steve Rogers
This is not going to go down well with everyone but I
am putting it out there anyway.
It is time to give Civic a new name.
It might have suited the family hatchback of the
nineties but look at it, this is a mean machine with a feeble name. Call it
something that packs a punch.
There, I’ve said it, now let’s back to the usual
stuff.
Hard to believe Civic is 51 years old and this is the
11th generation. Thinking about it a good time to switch names would have been
2006 when Honda shocked the motoring world with a bold new look, the Civic with
the Knight Rider headlights and space age dashboard.
The design of the new model is bang on the money but
the main emphasis has changed from racey looks to hybrid engine efficiency, high
end technology and more safety aids.
The new infotainment system, complete with Android
Auto and Apple CarPlay, is easier to use with sharper graphics, while the
Garmin navigation, a bit of a pain on the old model, is now clearer and more
detailed.
The real tech fest centres around the driver’s
binnacle, now fully digital with a ‘pick a display’ feature. I usually switch
off the lane departure alert but left it on because of the new graphics.
They amount to a tiny car sitting between two lines
denoting a lane. Move outside the lane and the lines turn from green to orange
as a visual warning. But the best bit is a graphic showing a car or lorry
overtaking. Little things obviously please my little mind...
Tweaks to Civic’s body styling are best seen from the
side. The roofline has been lowered and has a longer coupe style curve to the
tailgate which is a new resin construction saving weight.
All this suggests a cramped, dark cabin, particularly
in the back, yet it is anything but with generous legroom and plenty of light
thanks to more glass. The lower roof is said not to affect headroom but that
depends on the height of the passengers. My son is just under six feet and his
head was brushing the headlining.
The roomy cabin extends to the boot, only bettered by
the Skoda Octavia, so all in all Civic is a good alternative to an SUV.
Up front is classy without being overcomplicated, the
standout feature a slim honeycomb grille hiding the ventilation outlets with
mini joy sticks to direct the air. The textures and finishes have a quality
feel and the centre console and door cards are coated in a scratch and
fingerprint resistant finish. Could do with some of that on my car.
Main functions, apart from chunky switches for
heating, are stored in a central nine inch touchscreen.
Civic is now hybrid only with a 2-litre petrol engine
supported by two electric motors providing short stints on electric only
driving at low speeds and occasionally when cruising. This should be good for
an average in the mid fifties although I managed an impressive 60mpg on a 340
mile round trip. The only car to better that in the last few months is Civic’s
big rival, the Toyota Corolla.
Performance is pacey with the best mid range pick up
of any car in its class. Select sport mode and you will get a fake computer
generated exhaust rap which some would say is silly, but brought a smile to my
face and made me use it again....and again.
Matching the performance is cracking handling, well
this is a watered down version of the magnificent Civic Type R so we should
expect little else. Steering is nicely weighted and precise, it keeps flat
through bends and the suspension, overly hard on previous Civics, is now
perfectly damped making for a comfortable yet sporty ride.
The only negative note is more road rumble than
expected, but that could be down to the rubber on the 18 inch low profile
wheels. Things are probably a touch quieter on the entry model’s 17 inch rims.
Is this the best Civic to date? Undoubtedly yes, not
the cheapest hatchback in its class, but given the generous equipment level
across the range, safety features and efficiency, it is worth the money.
As for the Civic name, remember that when Honda
decides to change it they got the idea from Llanblogger!
Is that a pig flying over Castell Dinas Bran...
Fast Facts
Civic e-HEV Advance
£36,470 (starts £31,040)
2-litre petrol, 184bhp
0-62mph 8.1secs; 112mph
56.6mpg combined
114g/km. 1st tax £185
Boot: 404-1187 litres
Insurance group 28