The main advantage of the “Civic” is at the same time its main disadvantage. For the value provided, you are offered a generously equipped 1.6-liter sedan with a CVT. But they are deprived of choice: only one type of engine, only one gearbox, only one complete set.
An ideal suggestion for those who go rattle up their minds when choosing the flour of choice even for tofu. Pun intended.
Ten years ago, to buy a Civic, our compatriots had to stand in line for almost six months. Or paying a cunning dealer a little “extra” for a spot at the top of the waiting list. Alas, and oh, that was the peak of the domestic consumer basket and the popularity of the small car itself. The “recipe for its youth” was a futuristic design, as fast engines and refined handling was offered in the previous seven generations.
But for some reason in Tokyo, they were afraid of their own bravado and never again was the Civic so “cosmic”. And fashionable. Although, in theory, the Japanese had to be fearful of entirely different decisions. For example, replacing an automaton with a trendy, but obviously not finished “robot” i-shift. But from the very first generation, they have tamed us with the reliability of the Hondamatic branded automatic transmission.
The next-generation sedan released by Honda Autos sold as sluggishly as it looked – it was finally finished off by the yen rate that jumped in 2009 – the model became so expensive that it disappeared even from several European markets. And this even though according to the then boss of Honda Takanobu Ito, the “nine” was developed at the very peak of the crisis and its main trump card was to be precisely the attractive price.
Exterior and performance
The current generation model is more dynamic, more expensive and more aggressive – only because the predecessor was “not good or spacious enough” for the motorheads. The transition to a new modular trolley (mainly the CR-V was built) was sent to the scrap the cab-forward layout, which gave the four-door an outlandish silhouette.
Moreover, the designers shifted the interior capsule as far back as possible, giving the sedan the maximum compartment silhouette. And with such a dashingly littered rear pillar, sitting on the second row is no closer than before.
The fact is that in terms of dimensions, the 4D caught up with the seventh (2002-2007) generation Accord and the linkers had a “room for “manoeuvre. The trunk has undergone no less amazing metamorphoses. Despite the cockpit shifting back and the barely marked third compositional volume, the “hold” capacity increased from 440 to 519 liters.
Thoroughly thinned skeleton, recalibrated suspension, winter tires successfully selected by the dealer – and in cities with high traffic, the model seems to float, evoking associations not even with the “chord”, but with the Honda Prelude. Alas, this whole holiday of smoothness is due to the driver’s component. It would seem that everything is with it. The sharpest steering wheel with a verified reactive effort has not gone anywhere.
Moreover, the designers have significantly “aggravated”, and now the steering wheel makes only 2.2 turns from lock to lock instead of the previous 3.1. Alas, the soft-bodied chassis settings discourage the buildup of the desire to drive through corners in any active style. So, despite the dynamic appearance, this is definitely a family sedan, not a 4-door coupe in terms of operational characteristics.
Interior
Unlike the exterior, the interior has not changed so dramatically. But thanks to the classic architecture, sporty accents, higher quality materials and rich equipment, the spirit of the budget has practically disappeared from here. More precisely, the previous feeling that the owner has slightly overpaid has disappeared.
A breath of nostalgia hits on really high speeds. To feel the former prowess, you need to make the tachometer needle dance at the very border of the red zone. The steering wheel is finally poured with a pleasant effort. The suspension compresses like a predator before a decisive jump, the electronic self-block of a piranha bites into the brakes … Believe me, you will not feel sorry for the fuel consumption that has jumped to 10 liters.
Fortunately, at least a robotic gearbox got rid of all its growing pains. Now it does not stick on overtaking and does not annoy with inappropriate moments of changing quasi-transmissions. At the first opportunity, the CVT “winds up” the atmospheric engine and accelerates the sedan with a characteristic hum (and at the same time very linearly).
Elegance and economy packed in one?
There is a multimedia center with six speakers, a stabilization system, climate and cruise control, rain and light sensors, a sunroof, a rear-view camera with a variable angle of view, and optics with LED running lights, and a tire pressure monitoring system. And a dozen more small but useful positions.