HONDA CIVIC

Innovation is fundamental to the new Civic’s design, with advanced smart equipment and connectivity that’s in keeping with today’s integrated lifestyles. Still, Honda says it has retained its focus on comfort, safety and quality standards.

In common with a trend on many bigger cars, particularly those at the upper end, the designers have opted for a sports-coupe profile. Can this work in a compact car, though? Well, it helps that the new Civic is 109 mm longer, which includes a 30 mm stretching of the wheelbase. Rear-seat knee space has increased by 55 mm and shoulder room for the rear occupants has been improved. Boot capacity is up significantly, by 20 percent. Overall the car is a little lower, which contributes towards a lower centre of gravity and consequently, says Honda, greater stability.

It seems ironic that the company that built a high-performance road car reputation on engines that revved to dizzying speeds, with uncanny refinement, has introduced the new Civic a 1,5-litre turbo. This all-new engine features Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology: combining outright power and fuel efficiency, and produces 127 kw and 220 N.m. That is, says Honda, the equivalent output of a 2, 4-litre naturally aspirated engine with the fuel economy of a Honda Jazz.

The new Civic is also available with a 1,8-litre naturally aspirated engine that produces 104 kw and 174 N.m. Both engines are paired a new series of CVT gearboxes as standard. Price: from R330 000.