3-month test: Honda Civic 1,5T Sport CVT
In the era of SUVS and crossovers, does the traditional sedan still have a place?
Interest in sedans has notably waned in the past decade. Sales figures indicate this trend and, during talks with industry executives, they leave us in serious doubt whether they should be launching sedans in South Africa. Honda is continuing
to offer its Civic, though, and should be applauded for doing so.
I prefer to sit close to the ground, so the Civic was a breath of fresh air after the other cars I’ve been running on our long-term fleet. Although it doesn’t have the high roof line of an SUV or
crossover, there is enough head-, leg- and shoulderroom, both in front and particularly in the rear, for a family of four. Boot capacity is also generous at 320 litres. The rear seats can be folded flat, which increases this to 896 litres. I often used this additional space for carting items about for DIY jobs in and around the house as mentioned in a previous update.
For the past three months, the Honda has been my daily commuter and, during the festive season, it transported four adults in comfort on several day trips
through the Winelands and Overberg regions. Highlights of the package remain its ride quality (pliant and absorbent); the 1,5-litre engine (127 kw/220 N.m) that offers enough power and torque (even in this relatively sizeable car); and its frugal consumption. I try to drive my long-term cars with the consumption figure in mind – my main competitor for frugality is our web editor, Ryan Bubear – which has resulted in a respectable best tank-to-tank figure of 6,23 L/100 km and an overall average of 6,71 L/100 km.
The continuously variable transmission doesn’t find favour with all drivers but I’ve learnt to live with it and, because the engine revs are always low, this contributes to a relaxing driving experience.
As reported on previous Honda long-term cars, the infotainment system is not the best or the most user-friendly at this price point. It is annoying to press the “accept” on-screen button every time you switch on the car (supposedly for a legislative reason). However, my Android phone connected to the Bluetooth system quickly and there are a few handy places to store said phone in the cabin. The large centre console offers a couple litres of space while there is even more storage between the driver and front passenger, closer to the footwells where you will also find the charging points.
Locally, Honda’s turbo-engined models are serviced 5 000 km earlier than the naturally aspirated cars. The result is that, just before Christmas, I booked a service at Honda Tygerberg, 20 km from CAR’S offices. Everything went according to plan, the car was cleaned inside and I received two follow-up calls regarding the service delivery.
TEST SUMMARY
The appeal of crossovers and SUVS is understandable but I’d forego the higher seating position and roofline for the dynamic benefits of a sedan. Not once did I wish I had more packing space during my time with the Civic. In terms of handling, being closer to the ground made me feel more secure on the road.
With an average of just 10 units sold every month, I wonder why more of these cars are not finding homes. Offering more space than some expensive German competitors, the Civic ticks a lot of boxes, not least of which Honda’s continued reputation for reliability and stellar after-sales service.