Dependable Civic steps up the style with its eleventh generation edition
FOR 50 years now, Honda’s Civic has been a byword for dependability.
And today the model which cemented Honda’s reputation for quality and reliability remains every bit as relevant.
It may have grown in stature through the generations but the nameplate has always delivered a strong showing and never more so than with the latest incarnation.
All of the little things that might have directed buyers towards a Focus or Golf have been addressed and the result is a car which is now on a level playing field with the class leaders, all best wrapped up in the segment’s sharpest suit.
From every angle, this is one incredibly good looking car. Its proportions are absolutely bang on yet the latest Civic is also spacious inside and thoroughly practical.
A three-model range starts with the £29,595 Elegance and then spans up through Sport and Advance grades with the top model costing a fiver shy of £33k.
No Civic could be described as sparse – even entry-point models have adaptive cruise control, rear view camera, heated seats and keyless entry and start. However the top Advance model is a proper luxury affair that’s kitted out with heated steering wheel, leather trim, premium Bose sound system, panoramic roof, wireless phone charging and intelligent adaptive driving beam lights.
Regardless of the trim level chosen, power is provided by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged hybrid drivetrain. With a maximum output of 182bhp, it’s a sprightly mover that’s capable of 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds.
Perhaps the biggest change to the way this car drives is due to the gearbox. The heavily revised
“The 2022 Civic rides better across poor surfaces.”
CVT unit delivers its power in a more effortless fashion, the stepped gear changes making the car feel more like a conventional automatic.
The automatic switch between electric and petrol motoring at lower speeds is also seamless, with the Civic capable of delivering real-world economy that’ll rarely dip below 50mpg.
It’s also a much nicer machine to drive.
The 2022 Civic rides better across poor surfaces, delivers a notable reduction in road noise and steers with the sort of precision that was once the exclusive right of Ford’s Focus.
From within the confines of the cabin, there’s more good news. Mixing high quality materials with good design and ergonomics, the interior is a quantum leap forward.
Honda has achieved a balance between technology and user-friendliness that’s now the class benchmark. All the importance functions can be operated instantly via buttons and switchgear that’s a tactile delight yet there’s also the expected touchscreen for all the latest connectivity and navigation features.
If Honda proves it can deliver its new Civic to customers in the sort of reasonable timeframe that’s currently a struggle for Ford and VW then this 11th generation derivative really could take the market by storm.
This is a stylish, wellbuilt and well-equipped motor that’s currently something of an unsung hero in its class with the £30,595 mid-range Sport being probably the pick of the range.