Honda CivicThese days talk of the Honda Civic tends to centre around the hybrid version, but there’s a big range of more standard cars apart from this, and apart too from the macho Type R which Honda also treats as a separate entity. So what has the standard Civic range got to entice buyers away from the likes of the Focus, Astra or Golf?First up, it’s got style. Up front you’ve a full width perspex smile housing the lights and assorted bits of chrome, complemented by a similar arrangement at the back end; it all looks tidy and inventive. The body comes with either three or five doors, and unusually the 5-dr version doesn’t look like the ugly sister of the 3-dr, which is a sad sight that can and does happen to some other makes. You can tell that Honda wanted the Civic to persuade its owner of its sporting pretensions as soon as you get into the driving seat. To start with you’ve got all the sensible seat and wheel adjustments to make a comfortable driving position available for anyone, but more than this you have staring you in the face a very big rev counter in pride of place amongst the gauges. Probably this is not what most owners of our test 1.4 petrol model will be interested in, but there it is, so the speedo is moved to the top of the facia, and goes digital. I have to say that my preferred position meant that the clear green digits were obscured by the top of the wheel, but minor adjustment soon had that sorted. However, it’s not only the speedo that can be hidden; much of the outside world is on occasions absent too. The rear window is effectively in two parts; sloping down for most of its height, and then going near vertically for the lower section. Where these join Honda designers thought fit to put a thick full-width chunk of stuff that’s anything but transparent, so following traffic is more than a bit obscured. It sounds mildly annoying, and it’s at least that.The Civic does drive well. With our base model 1.4 the suspension is softly comfortable, yet allows ample reserves of roadholding. You wouldn’t expect a 1.4 to set the tarmac on fire, and it doesn’t: 0-60 takes 15 seconds with the i-Shift transmission, which ours had. i-Shift is Honda’s version of a clutchless manual; in other words you get the consumption benefit of a manual box, but it saves your left leg all that clutch work. In fact the official fuel figures show the i-Shift is actually superior to the normal 6-speed manual box, giving 1.7 more than the manual’s 47.9mpg. Performance is a different matter, for that 0-60 time is two seconds quicker for owners of a normal manual box. You pay your money and you take your choice, though for me the frustrating slowness of the i-Shift changes (like all these systems save Audi’s DSG) is too high a price to pay. It’s available with either of the petrol engines, but not the diesel.Honda build quality is evident throughout, and on the road it’s very hard to believe this is a 1.4 engine, so low are the noise levels. Interior leg and head room are generous, with plenty of both in front and rear seats. Boot volume is 485-1326 litres for those to whom that means anything, but possibly more helpful is the news that the measurements before folding the rear seat are 105cm wide by 86cm long. The low sill makes loading an easy job, and the folding down of those rear seats is wondrous quick, with a one-touch mechanism that folds the seat back and cushion together, leaving a flat floor, which is what you want and don’t often get.Interior décor is smart and contemporary. The lower levels are in black, but what could have been drab is relieved by a good dose of silvered plastic bits that try hard to look like brushed aluminium, and actually do a good job. Glove box and door pockets are sensibly sized, and there are lots of useful boxes spread around the cabin to swallow your knick-knacks. There’s also a huge secret box under the boot floor.With the exception of the poor view to the rear of the car, there’s not much wrong with the Civic. It looks good, goes well, and offers plenty of space for passengers and luggage. If you want the best consumption the diesel is the one to go for, and the Honda oil burner is a silky smooth performer. Petrol models are of course cheaper, and would be very easy to live with, but give the i-Shift a long test before you opt for that.Size: 4.27 x 1.79mEngines: Petrol: 1.4 litre – 83PS 1.8 litre – 140PS Diesel: 2.2 litre – 140PSGearbox: 6-speed front driveBest consumption: 2.2 diesel 54.3mpgPrice at June ’09: £14,250 – £21,080Full details of the Civic available on the manufacturer’s website: www.honda.co.ukPeter Cracknell - June 2009
Honda Civic
These days talk of the Honda Civic tends to centre
around the hybrid version, but there’s a big range of more
standard cars apart from this, and apart too from the
macho Type R which Honda also treats as a separate
entity. So what has the standard Civic range got to entice
buyers away from the likes of the Focus, Astra or Golf?
First up, it’s got style. Up front you’ve a full width perspex
smile housing the lights and assorted bits of chrome,
complemented by a similar arrangement at the back end;
it all looks tidy and inventive. The body comes with either
three or five doors, and unusually the 5-dr version doesn’t
look like the ugly sister of the 3-dr, which is a sad sight
that can and does happen to some other makes. You can
tell that Honda wanted the Civic to persuade its owner of
its sporting pretensions as
soon as you get into the
driving seat. To start with
you’ve got all the sensible
seat and wheel
adjustments to make a
comfortable driving position
available for anyone, but
more than this you have
staring you in the face a
very big rev counter in
pride of place amongst the
gauges. Probably this is
not what most owners of
our test 1.4 petrol model
will be interested in, but
there it is, so the speedo is
moved to the top of the
facia, and goes digital. I
have to say that my preferred position meant that the
clear green digits were obscured by the top of the wheel,
but minor adjustment soon had that sorted. However, it’s
not only the speedo that can be hidden; much of the
outside world is on occasions absent too. The rear
window is effectively in two parts; sloping down for most
of its height, and then going near vertically for the lower
section. Where these join Honda designers thought fit to
put a thick full-width chunk of stuff that’s anything but
transparent, so following traffic is more than a bit
obscured. It sounds mildly annoying, and it’s at least that.
The Civic does drive well. With our base model 1.4 the
suspension is softly comfortable, yet allows ample
reserves of roadholding. You wouldn’t expect a 1.4 to set
the tarmac on fire, and it doesn’t: 0-60 takes 15 seconds
with the i-Shift transmission, which ours had. i-Shift is
Honda’s version of a clutchless manual; in other words
you get the consumption benefit of a manual box, but it
saves your left leg all that clutch work. In fact the official
fuel figures show the i-Shift is actually superior to the
normal 6-speed manual box, giving 1.7 more than the
manual’s 47.9mpg. Performance is a different matter, for
that 0-60 time is two seconds quicker for owners of a
normal manual box. You pay your money and you take
your choice, though for me the frustrating slowness of the
i-Shift changes (like all these systems save Audi’s DSG)
is too high a price to pay. It’s available with either of the
petrol engines, but not the diesel.
Honda build quality is evident throughout, and on the
road it’s very hard to believe this is a 1.4 engine, so low
are the noise levels. Interior leg and head room are
generous, with plenty of both in front and rear seats.
Boot volume is 485-1326 litres for those to whom that
means anything, but possibly more helpful is the news
that the measurements before folding the rear seat are
105cm wide by 86cm long. The low sill makes loading
an easy job, and the folding down of those rear seats is
wondrous quick, with a one-touch mechanism that folds
the seat back and cushion together, leaving a flat floor,
which is what you want and don’t often get.
Interior décor is smart and contemporary. The lower
levels are in black, but what could have been drab is
relieved by a good dose
of silvered plastic bits
that try hard to look like
brushed aluminium, and
actually do a good job.
Glove box and door
pockets are sensibly
sized, and there are lots
of useful boxes spread
around the cabin to
swallow your knick-
knacks. There’s also a
huge secret box under
the boot floor.
With the exception of
the poor view to the rear
of the car, there’s not
much wrong with the
Civic. It looks good,
goes well, and offers plenty of space for passengers
and luggage. If you want the best consumption the
diesel is the one to go for, and the Honda oil burner is a
silky smooth performer. Petrol models are of course
cheaper, and would be very easy to live with, but give
the i-Shift a long test before you opt for that.
Size: 4.27 x 1.79m
Engines: Petrol: 1.4 litre – 83PS
1.8 litre – 140PS
Diesel: 2.2 litre – 140PS
Gearbox: 6-speed front drive
Best consumption: 2.2 diesel 54.3mpg
Price at June ’09: £14,250 – £21,080
Full details of the Civic available on the manufacturer’s
website: www.honda.co.uk
Peter Cracknell - June 2009
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