Absolutely civil, my dear
The new Honda Civic 2.0 Navi is a solid, fuss-free ride most drivers will appreciate.
THERE are rare occasions when someone dangles the keys of a test car in front of you and asks if you’re game for an outof-town holiday with it over the weekend.
It might not be a super sports car or luxury sedan, but most of us won’t mind being handed over the keys of the new Honda Civic 2.0 Navi for such a task. I didn’t say no.
The thing is, I’ve owned a City and test driven an Accord but strangely don’t recollect getting behind the wheel of a Civic so far. Another good reason to pounce on the offer.
My wife and I were already planning a trip to Penang just before the Christmas weekend to visit the family of an old friend who had passed away in November so we could pay our respects.
Along for the trip were my mum and her sister, both born in Penang in the 1930s. My mom lived there until the early 1970s and especially loves visiting the places she used to call home – Leith Street in town and Cheeseman Road, off Green Lane (now Jalan Masjid).
As for me, a number of my classmates still live there, always eager for a long session at a restaurant, talking either old times or politics.
So the Civic’s generous boot was loaded up with our luggage for the three-day trip, and it seemed to me there was space for even more. Incidentally, it was the Navi version, which has an in-dash GPS navigator.
The drive from home in Subang Jaya to our hotel at Bukit Jambul in Penang took about six hours, including a couple of breaks to stretch the legs and for lunch.
The car was comfortable - not a word from the golden girls about feeling cramped at the back. The leather seats of the review unit added a touch of plushness to the cabin.
My one grouse was the low roofline – my troublesome neck meant I had to be extra careful getting in, while emerging from the driver’s seat required some contortion of the body, unless I pushed back my seat.
The Civic proved to be an unfatiguing drive, whether meandering in a long queue along the highway or in town
The Civic has electrically-operated seats but no memory for this, so I had to keep finding my optimum position.
The split-level instrument panel took some getting used to – tachometer below, speed and other information on top, all LED – but it is very clear, whatever the ambient light.
A thoughtful touch by the makers – when you opt for the economy driving mode (as opposed to sport), a green “leaf” icon shows on the lower display.
What pleased me about the driving experience was the steering. Despite the slightly detached feel typical of most electronic steering systems, navigating into tight parking bays was a dream, something the more confident and experienced driver can execute with just one hand.
Not that you should, but that’s how smooth and easy it is with the Civic – at higher speeds, the feel is more tactile, so fussy drivers may be appeased.
The five-speed auto transmission (with paddle shifts, which I find more a gimmick) is something only the Japanese are still keen on pushing.
Certainly, it is smooth at changes, while the 2.0-litre engine, with its 155PS output and 190Nm of torque, is no slouch at start or when pushed on the highway.
It’s just that it doesn’t thrill as much as you would want a Civic to.
The element of safety in the driving dynamics is high, as it is with most cars in the range, but some of us simply want more bite in certain situations.
On the plus side, the “keyless” push-button ignition system shows that the Japanese are starting to catch up with the competition.
That said, the Civic proved to be an unfatiguing drive, whether meandering in a long queue along the highway or in town.
The navigation system turned out be very handy, if not right on the dime always.
On the way back, we stopped by to visit some relatives a few kilometres from Bukit Mertajam and the GPS came in useful only after we had located the general location – it didn’t initially recognise the housing estate I typed into the system.
Despite some flak the design of the current Civic has drawn, I found it to be a refreshing change from every past model, even if not a radical as the previous generation.
After the weekend and driving back, I had become more comfortable with the car, and found it to be effortless to handle in any situation.
Priced at RM136,980 on-the-road with insurance, this Civic conforms, rather than stands apart, in looks, cabin comfort and driver experience.
Some eschew these qualities but the majority will appreciate that it is a fuss-free ride.