Civic obedience
RDERS for Honda’s best seller are about to go into orbit - as the radical 10th generation Civic takes to the road.
The latest incarnation of the popular family hatchback is new from the ground up and comes with dynamic sporting styling, making it one of the best-looking new cars I have seen in a long time.
The newcomer is longer, lower and wider than its predecessor and has a lower centre of gravity to improve road holding.
The tall, rounded shape of the ninth generation has been replaced by a car which is sleek, more dynamic and is far more engaging to drive.
But it’s not all about looks. This new Civic comes with a host of new features too, including much improved leg room for rear seat passengers to stretch out, more luggage space and an innovative new type of luggage-hiding roller blind cover which retracts sideways to alleviate the need for a cumbersome support bar.
Most manufacturers are now offering smaller engined cars with threecylinders so it’s no surprise that Honda has joined the club. But in this case, the Swindon plant has produced a cracker of a small engine that punches well above its weight.
Despite its diminutive size, it manages to produce 129 bhp which propels the manual gearbox version from 0-62 miles per hour in just 10.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 124 mph, while at the same time just sipping at what’s in the tank to average almost 59 miles per gallon.
I always felt that I was travelling faster than I was with this engine, but it’s so responsive it’s a thrill a minute to drive. And while some CVT gearboxes can be sedate the one in this Honda is anything but.
The new car in all its forms is lighter, more rigid and now comes with an allnew multi-link rear suspension. Sadly, this has led to Honda having to abandon its innovative “magic seats” which folded up like cinema seats for easy luggage loading.
But this new suspension, a new power steering system, more rigidity and a reduction in body weight has made the new Civic one of the best handling new cars around. Get behind the wheel and you will find the car has a really positive feel to it. It flows around corners at high speed with ease and best of all is forgiving when a bend suddenly tightens on you.
Civic buyers are a loyal bunch and they are going to love this new version - and so will buyers who have never before been tempted to spend their hard earned cash on a Honda.