The previous Honda Civic hatchback was by no stretch of the imagination a conservative car. Inside and out, it brought interesting lines and designs to the mostly mundane hatchback segment.
Now Honda Southern Africa has launched the succeeding model. As with the previous model, it still has that modern, out-of-the-box design. We drove both the petrol and diesel version in the Western Cape.
What’s new?
Recently we reported on the launch of the Civic saloon, but the Civic hatch’s underpinnings are not shared with the saloon. The hatch’s chassis has closer ties with some of Honda’s other products, such as the Jazz for instance.
As with the previous model, the new model still offers a sharp, wedge-like profile with the rear-side door handles flush with the body. Up-front the light strip that used to run between the front corners of the car has been replaced with more conventional, though sharp in design, light clusters. The centre grille and bumper section are darkened, while the new rear design has also brought a positive change for the driver once behind the wheel. Visibility through the rear screen – which is cut in two by the light strip – has been improved even though a rear windscreen wiper has been fitted.
Inside, better and softer materials are used, while in typical Honda fashion the instrument panel and facia is colourful and quirky in execution.
On the road
The word “sporty” was used several times during the media presentation, and it actually starts with the driving position. According to Honda, the distance between the steering wheel and gearlever is similar to that of the original NSX and S2000 sportscars. This I can confirm is indeed the case, and the driving position gives the driver both a commanding view over all the instruments, but also along the Civic’s short bonnet. But, the seat position (I’m 1,87 metres tall) is a little high though, even on the seat’s lowest setting.
The front suspension has been heavily redesigned, while the rear’s torsion beam remains. Having said that, it is now thicker and stiffer. With several tweaks and a flat underbody, Honda claims a 10,8 per cent reduction in drag.
Finally, the 1,8-litre i-VTEC and 2,2-litre i-DTEC engines have been revised. The result is a small increase in power and an even greater reduction in CO2 emissions. As usual, both these cars’ gearboxes offer a slick, direct and pleasurable shift action. The petrol unit is happy to rev, but the turbodiesel was the most impressive and enjoyable of the two. With the additional torque and no need for high revs, it was both faster and more relaxing to drive compared with the petrol unit.
As with the previous Civic, the front axle’s grip and pointy nature still dominate the driving experience. Even though the rear torsion beam suspension has been retained, bumps were easily absorbed without intruding into the cabin.
Safety
The Civic hatch has already achieved a five star EuroNCAP safety rating. Apart from this, all hatches come standard with the following systems: ABS with EBD brakes, EBA (emergency brake assist), VSA (vehicle stability assist) and a tyre-deflation warning system (DWS).
Additional equipment
The petrol engine will be available with both a six-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed automatic transmission. Honda will also offer a sport pack for any of the hatch models. This pack includes, among other things, a redesigned front and rear bumper, side skirts, a tailgate spoiler and unique 18-inch wheels.
Graham Eagle, head of sales and marketing at Honda Southern Africa, confirmed to CAR that a smaller 1,6-litre i-DTEC engine is under developed, and once it becomes available, it will also be offered in the local Civic hatch line-up.
Specifications*
Model: Honda Civic hatch six-speed manual
Engine: 1,8-litre i-VTEC, four-cylinder petrol
Power: 104 kW at 6 500 r/min
Torque: 174 N.m at 4 300 r/min
0-100 km/h: 9,1 seconds
Fuel consumption: 6,1 L/100 km
CO2: 146 g/km
Top speed: 212 km/h
Price: R248 000 (manual, Elegance trim)
Service plan: 5 years/90 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
Model: Honda Civic hatch six-speed manual
Engine: 2,2-litre i-DTEC, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 110 kW at 4 000 r/min
Torque: 350 N.m from 2 000 r/min
0-100 km/h: 8,7 seconds
Fuel consumption: 4,7 L/100 km
CO2: 124 g/km
Top speed: 216 km/h
Price: R343 800
Service plan: 5 years/90 000 km
Service intervals: 15 000 km
*According to the manufacturer.
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