Honda Civic Range
Its not too often a car is launched that, at a stroke, manages to make all of its rivals look way behind the curve. This however, is what Honda have managed with their latest Civic. This car marks a new generation of family hatches.
In times past, despite the success of the excellent Type-R version, the rest of the Civic range would rarely appear on the radar of anybody under fifty years old. Majoring on impeccable practicality, space and reliability, this family hatch was loved by its owners but perhaps a little short on inherent want one factor. This was one of the key changes Honda had in mind with the development of the eighth generation Civic. In a market where utility vehicles were invading the old versions client base, the MK8 model needed to have instant desirability and an appeal that would turn the heads of younger buyers.
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In order to create a more dynamic stance, width has increased by 65mm. Its this change in dimensions that give the Civic its rather pugnacious demeanour. Honda are quite upfront about the shift in target demographics, heading their marketing material with phrases like "your granny wouldnt like it" and dubbing the car a "premium sports compact." The Civics face is quite unlike any other car on the road, bringing to mind the glazed-in nose of the old Citroen SM. Headlamps sitting at the front corners are obviously old hat as the Civic adopts an illuminated bar. Few cars pursue the one-box look quite as aggressively as the Honda either, the cab-forward design and wedged side profile giving the impression that the car has been moulded rather than designed on a computer.
"The Civic is instantly striking in a way that few family hatches ever achieve"
The detailing is very neat, with a repeating triangular theme appearing on the front fog lights, exhaust pipes and rear trim. Many manufacturers have tried to combine sharp angles with rounded curves and the results havent always been very happy. The Civic shows how it should be done. Although the car has a coupe-like roofline, look carefully and youll spy blade-thin door shutlines and a handle concealed into the glass.
Yes, this is a full five-door. Whereas the old Civic five-door was a rather frumpy thing, this model is far sassier though if you dont agree, theres the option of going for one of the sportier Type-S or Type-R three-door models. Prices start at £13,207 for the five-door and £15,277 for the three-door bodystyle. The adventurous styling doesnt stop on the outside either.
Where the previous generation Civic introduced a lot of new ideas when it came to packaging, the eighth generation Civic again offers a novel approach. The dashboard is designed on two levels, the main instruments housed on the nearer one with a surrounding tier that includes auxiliary functions like stereo, heating, ventilation and trip meter. This sophisticated, three-dimensional feel to the fascia is backed up with quality materials and interesting textures. Now comes the bit that may well have you scratching your head.
It did for me. Although the latest Civic is significantly smaller than its predecessor on the outside, the company claims that room inside is just as generous as before. Instead of trying to understand how Honda have warped the time-space continuum, its easier to spot the simple engineering solutions theyve employed. Like the Jazz, the Civic features a fuel tank thats centrally mounted along the cross member below the front seats.
This means that the seats in the rear can fold flat and theres no intrusion into the cargo bay floor. Borrowing technology from the innovative FR-V, the Civic also features seats that fold and flip with one smooth action. All versions of this Honda are generously specified, with the top models featuring equipment usually only found on far bigger cars. Standard across the range are features like climate control air-conditioning, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), trip computer, front, side and curtain airbags, rake and reach adjustable steering column and rear Magic seats.
High grade models feature innovations such as automatic lights and wiper functions, high intensity discharge headlamps, Dual Zone Climate Control and retractable door mirrors, in addition to options such as alloy wheels, DVD satellite navigation and leather trim. Previous Civics have built a reputation for Honda as being amongst the safest cars in their class and this car continues the theme. With a stronger body structure and subframes, recessed pedals, double pretensioners on the front seatbelts and side curtain airbags, this car has achieved a Euro NCAP five star result for front and side impact safety, three stars for pedestrian safety and four stars for child protection safety. Four engines are offered at present.
The entry level powerplant is an 82bhp 1.4-litre petrol unit, with a 139bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine offering a bit more punch and a 2.0-litre unit offered on the flagship Type-R.
The most popular engine in the range is the 139bhp 2.2-litre diesel unit. All are mated with a six-speed manual gearbox, making the Civic the first car in the family hatch sector to be equipped with six-speed gearboxes across all of its range. The 1.
8 and 2.0-litre petrol units are assembled in Swindon (as is the diesel), while the 1.4-litre engine hails from Japan. This Civic will be causing many rival industry executives to come to the sobering conclusion that their next new product launch is already dead in the water.
Honda have upped their game. Now its up to the rest to follow suit.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Honda Civic range
PRICES: £13,207-£18,667 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 4-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 135-215g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 8.9s / Max Speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.4] (urban) 37.2mpg/ (extra urban) 57.6mpg/ (combined) 47.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, VSA
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4250/1760/1460mm
