Regardless of a paradigm shift that has largely taken consumers away from the C-segment sedan market, Honda believes there’s nonetheless fairly a bit to play for within the phase, and is wanting on the Eleventh-gen Civic replicating the purple patch run completed by its predecessor.
When it arrived on the scene in 2015, the tenth-gen FC entered right into a subject that was dwindling, more and more hemmed in by the likes of the SUV and more and more upsized B-segment choices. That the automobile successfully rejuvenated the phase confirmed that there can nonetheless be validity – and related numbers – in the event you get the product proper.
After all, the worry has been that, based mostly on the ebb and stream historical past of the nameplate over the previous 20 years (seventh-gen ES, no present, no go; eighth-gen FD, wowwee; ninth-gen FB, the cost-cutting automobile, sufficient stated; Tenth-gen, residence run), the brand new FE – launched right here in January – would one way or the other come up brief. It in all probability didn’t assist that it seemed relatively underwhelming when it first appeared on the horizon in early photos, its form not very putting visually.
What’s in a form?
By way of styling, the transfer away from the perimeters and kinks of its predecessor to solidly hemmed traces makes the automobile much less eye catching, however the clear traces truly fall fairly properly, with the automobile coming throughout a lot simpler on the attention within the steel than it does in images.
Sure, it does look stoic, in that it follows a secure, predictable method in how it’s sculpted, however there’s an European really feel to it, nearly Audi-esque at occasions, even BMW-ish at factors, which is able to attraction to those that discover such kinds enticing.
It truly is a type of vehicles that get higher the extra you take a look at it. And, having lastly pushed it over a run from KL to Penang and again, there’s way more than meets the attention with this one.
Measurement-wise, the size have grown a bit of, the brand new automobile measuring in at 4,678 mm lengthy, 1,802 mm large and 1,415 mm tall, which makes it 30 mm longer, three mm wider and one mm decrease than earlier than. At 2,733 mm lengthy, its wheelbase can also be 33 mm longer than the outdated automobile. Should you don’t view them facet by facet, you’d assume the FC is the larger automobile, such is the best way the traces mission on that one.
Exterior package contains automated LED headlights and LED DRLs throughout the mannequin vary, and the E rides on two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels. The V provides on LED fog lamps, chrome accent door handles and goes a dimension up with its wheel, the 17-inch two-tone unit from the RS mannequin in Thailand.
Because it was with the pre-launch preview drive in Sepang, solely the range-topping RS was current for the media drive of the automobile, which sought to gauge the road-going capabilities of the automobile. The variant, which Honda Malaysia says is at present outdoing the V in gross sales, provides on RS-specific cues equivalent to LED headlights with darkened internals, matte black facet window trim and twin tailpipes.
It additionally encompasses a distinctive rear spoiler, gloss black highlights on the wing mirrors, door handles and shark fin antenna in addition to attendant RS badging and an 18-inch five-double spoke wheel, completed in matte black. As a bundle, the accoutrements work higher with some exterior colors than others; the Ignite Pink Metallic we ended up with is one in every of them.
Taking issues up a notch, or two
The outside isn’t the one factor to have turn out to be cleaner, as a result of the identical philosophy has additionally been utilized to the inside, finest evidenced from the frontal perspective of the cabin. Gone are the swoops and assortment of angles from the dashboard (and centre console) seen beforehand, changed by an unfettered horizontal floor on prime of which sits a freestanding infotainment touchscreen show.
The taut method of the dashboard just isn’t new – assume Audi and, if you’ll, Mazda, and also you get the image, however the pitch in the direction of decluttering could be seen all over the place now. Even Ford ditched the complexity (and wasted house) of the third-gen Focus’ dashboard for a similar method with the fourth-gen. Clear is in, and so it’s, for the second no less than.
In any case, Honda has imbued sufficient styling into its course of that it’s distinct sufficient. The air-conditioning vent design is one such aspect, now built-in inside a slim panel and tucked away from direct sight by a honeycomb-styled metallic mesh cowl, with pin adjusters demarcating their place. The steering wheel is one other, the three-spoke unit that includes slimmer horizontal spokes to proceed the lean projection.
Competitors spurs innovation, it’s stated, or on the very least a response, and for that, new Civic consumers can have different gamers to thank for the enhancements made alongside these traces. Honda materials and trim hasn’t all the time been the brightest and nicest, however that on the brand new automobile has taken an upscale flip. On the entire, issues have turn out to be decidedly extra premium, each to really feel and contact in non-contact trim and switchgear.
Elsewhere, the seats have been redesigned on the brand new automobile, and are a leap up in help and luxury from the earlier one. The media drive provided a whole lot of seat time, and there’s nothing to complain in regards to the entrance unit in the way it seats the occupant. Like earlier than, you proceed to take a seat low, however the visible views are clear, and the unit bolsters effectively.
Likewise, nothing untoward within the report card for the rear seats. There’s loads of legroom and the general ergonomics of the bench, which has now allowed extra recline to be launched on account of the extra size to the wheelbase, offered first rate seating over the course of the drive.
Normal match gadgets embody keyless entry (with distant engine begin), push-button begin, single-zone automated local weather management with rear vents, cloth upholstery and a reverse digicam. The V provides on paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, an eight-way powered driver’s seat, illuminated vainness mirrors and leather-based upholstery. The RS provides on automated wipers, suede components and pink stitching to the uphostery, alloy pedals, a black headliner, footwell lighting and ambient lighting strips built-in into door trims.
Legibility throughout each shows, a seven-inch semi-digital instrument cluster (the speedometer is analogue, like on the Accord) and the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment unit (additionally on the V; the E will get a seven-inch unit) is nice, and from a connectivity viewpoint, there’s Android Auto and wi-fi Apple CarPlay – colleague Jason Chung related his iPhone to the system, and the latter labored easily and with out hiccups.
Likewise, the efficiency of the audio system – the automobile’s eight-speaker audio system (4 on the E) truly sounds first rate, and is miles forward of that on the present Accord’s, with which I spent every week with post-drive. Whereas room for additional enchancment is there, it’s good to see that automakers are listening to points of the infotainment system past the attract of a shiny massive display screen.
One engine to suit all of them
With the 1.8 litre normally-aspirated unit being dropped from the line-up, all three Civic variants now include a 1.5 litre VTEC Turbo four-cylinder engine. The unit now comes with Variable Valve Timing and Elevate Digital Management, and revisions – which embody reworked turbocharger parts for improved response in addition to a revised crankshaft and oil pan for elevated refinement – lend to an enchancment in output. The unit now presents 182 PS at 6,000 rpm and 240 Nm of torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, a rise of eight PS and 20 Nm from earlier than.
The partnering transmission stays an Earth Goals CVT, however the automaker says that the unit now advantages from improved responsiveness by intensive software program calibration work accomplished on it. As earlier than, the ‘field supplies seven digital ratios and choice by way of paddle shifters on the V and RS variants.
Security-wise, the Civic now comes fitted with the Honda Sensing suite of driver help options throughout the whole mannequin vary, with solely the LaneWatch blind spot digicam and the automaker’s Join system of telematic providers omitted on the bottom E variant.
The Sensing kitbag consists of autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise management with cease and go, lane centring help, lane preserving help and automated excessive beam, and new to the automobile is a lead automobile departure notification system, which alerts the motive force if the automobile in entrance is transferring off from a cease.
There was ample alternative to check out the assorted parts of the system in the course of the drive, if solely to see if any important adjustments have come about. All proceed to work as marketed, though the ahead collision warning system felt a bit set off pleased in reacting to perceived obstacles, and the low-speed comply with perform remained just about the identical in how provided stopping distance, which implies you’re not going to make use of it in heavy visitors, until you need vehicles to maintain slipping in to the house in entrance of you.
What? Continental in really feel and presentation?
All the great work accomplished elsewhere could be for nought if the Civic didn’t supply enhancements in the way it drives, and on this regard, the pluses proceed, with important strides being made within the areas of journey and dealing with.
Dealing with-wise, the Civic doesn’t alter the formulation that a lot, the response to steering being a bit of faster and the general behaviour much less fidgety in comparison with the outdated automobile, no less than from what was perceivable. With a lot of the course on the journey consisting of highways and concrete journey, the positive aspects weren’t very evident, no less than from a road-going perspective (see right here for track-related notes on the automobile previous to its launch) – extra on this when the automobile is available in for the standard assessment session.
Nevertheless, when it comes to journey, issues are pretty apparent. Having taken a decidedly European flavour, the Civic is now nearer in really feel to a Volkswagen Golf (which, together with the Audi A4, was a efficiency benchmark) in the way it reacts to the tarmac throughout a lot of the velocity vary.
The journey is effectively damped, firmish in nature however by no means jarring, even on poorer surfaces, and also you’d be forgiven in the event you closed your eyes as a passenger and thought you had been in some Continental providing, a well-sorted one at that. The prev-gen FC rode effectively sufficient, however its journey was by no means as subtle or broad-ranging in scope as this. Arguably, that is the world the place the Civic reveals probably the most progress.
By way of acceleration and push, the additional ponies and twist from the reworked mill aren’t actually noticeable, however the supply is now extra refined and quieter, and the development up the velocity vary feels extra linear. The transmission additionally feels a bit extra sprightly on the entire with its new mapping, though it did proceed to exhibit a bent to stay environment friendly relatively than sporty when requested to go at occasions.
As for NVH, the cabin has additionally improved when it comes to quietness, a particular leap from the outdated automobile particularly within the space of tyre noise intrusion. Whereas it’s not fully absent of this, there nonetheless being some creep of it evident from the rear, the inside is effectively insulated from exterior noise.
There’s nevertheless a caveat to this. At speeds of as much as 130 km/h, the cabin stays effectively damped and remoted, however cross that time and the extent of exterior noise (wind, highway) jumps up, and in a light-weight swap method. Whereas there’s no sacrifice in stability or lack of poise, the audible nature of the sonics does lower into the driving enjoyment. Given that the majority drivers received’t be doing speeds above that talked about earlier, this ought to be a non-issue for almost everybody, but it surely’s there in the event you go on the lookout for it.
Every little thing comes at a worth
I got here into the drive type of guessing how the automobile would form up, however got here away from it greater than pleasantly stunned at how effectively it exceeded expectations. The form, because it seems, may be very likeable, particularly introduced in its RS kind, however it’s the workings elsewhere that scores the true hits and makes for extra than simply an evolution from that earlier than.
The polished veneer of the inside and the immense – and really agreeable – journey are the obvious picks, but it surely’s how the whole automobile is packaged that makes for the attraction. Sophistication, luxe and maturity aren’t buzzwords normally related to the Civic, however right here they’re.
All this does come at a value, and fairly actually at that. Costs for the brand new Civic begin from RM125,635 for the bottom E, transferring on to RM138,043 for the mid-level V, and tops off at RM144,350 for the RS. That’s a major improve (starting from RM10k to RM16k) from their respective FC examples. For added perspective, the RS is available in at a worth level the Accord was at not fairly a decade in the past.
On the drive, somebody posed the metaphorical query – will the FE outsell the FC? The reply is definitely no, not as a result of it falls into the up/down lure related to the automobile over the last few cycles, however as a result of its worth will decide that whole numbers received’t get it shut. Which is a disgrace, as a result of the Eleventh gen Civic is a greater, extra full providing than the automobile it replaces. Proper now, I’d enterprise it positively towers over all the pieces else within the phase it’s competing in. Over to you, Mazda.
