The Honda Civic: A Sporty Sedan with Upscale Appeal and Everyday Utility The Honda Civic is an automotive name that goes far beyond the bounds of mere consumer appreciation.
Through the decades, the nameplate has made a name for itself in delivering all of that and in just-right portions: Sport, style, luxury and utility.
A standard for sophistication in the executive sedan category, the Civic makes a statement with its sleek design and advanced technology.
Even if it failed to resuscitate Aero because of reduced demand for its product in India, it still enjoys a robust brand overseas, in markets like the U.S., Japan and Europe.
Period, it is still the mack-daddy of the mid-sized sedans.
Sleek and Aerodynamic Design
The Civic excels with its slick, low-slung and aerodynamic shape. The long bonnet, coupe-like roofline and sharp character lines, make for a sporty and premium looking car.
LED headlamps with DRLs, C-shaped tail lamps, and chrome embellishments follow a contemporary design language that is a mix of sportiness and sophistication.
This has been developed even more so in the new generation Civic with cleaner contours and a more grown-up front end design – which no longer adopts an over-the-top styling for a more mature, executive look.
The body is low and wide, which results in a great road stance despite being a noticeable head turner.
Driver-Centric Premium Interior
The cabin of the Civic seems to be both of the future and plush.
The dash design is basic, but effective, and is created from a combination of great-looking soft-touch materials and efficient design.
The digital instrument cluster, floating touchscreen infotainment system and metal on the AC vents feels premium.
Such is the driver-friendly cockpit orientation, where everything is canted toward the driver for ease of use.
The seating position is low but pleasant with lots of bolstering and support.
The back seat is comfortable, it has respectable legroom, but for those 6.5-foot or taller, the sloping roofline sacrifices a bit of headroom.
Dual-zone climate control, sunroof, push-button start, wireless smartphone integration and high-end audio are some of the tech features on the equipment list.
On the practical side of things it is solid too, there is generous boot room and plenty of storage space in the cabin.
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Enhanced Performance and Ride Quality
In the international markets, the Honda Civic is offered in a range of engine options, including the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol, and hybrid versions.
It was previously available in India with a 1.8L i-VTEC petrol engine mated to a CVT.
Lessons in performance were based around issues of fine-tuning and smoothness, not brute power, and the car’s role as a daily driver and occasional slice of the highway reflected this.
It’s in the handling dept where the Civic really earns it’s stripes. It has a low center of gravity, sturdy chassis and well-judged suspension that make it a wonderful road car.
It’s entertaining to toss into corners yet stable and tied down on the highway. The steering is accurate, and the CVT gearbox, although not sporty, is responsive enough for everyday duties.
Safety and Technology
Honda has gone for a nice assortment of safety gear for the Civic. It gets six airbags, ABS with EBD, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, rear parking sensors and multi-angle rear camera.
Safety is stepped up, provided by Honda’s Sensing Suite with the addition of adaptive cruise control,
Lane keep assist, a collision mitigation braking system, and road departure mitigation, all of which are found on the latest global editions.
The fit and finish is tight and the structural rigidity is high for crash protection.
The Civic has enjoyed high safety ratings across the board from similar agencies around the world, including NHTSA and Euro NCAP.
Pros of Honda Civic
Durable, smooth, and soft leather/sporty, and timeless fashion design
Cabin is upscale and packed with features
Smooth, polished motor with good ride comfort
Responsive to drive and great on the road
trusted brand and well known for lasting forever
Cons of Honda Civic
Less free height is not compatible with Indian roads
Parked perspective will annoy tail passengers-only rear headroom is slighted by sloping roof.
CVT box not too great for enthusiastic drives
Higher maintenance cost than rivals
Discontinued in India market (at the moment)
Honda Civic : Conclusion
The Honda Civic is the gold standard for sedans, still. It’s all perfectly combined of style, performance, comfort and reliability.
Now that it is believed that the BlackBerry Storm won’t even see light of the day in India, the legacy lives on with this device which is still one of the top dogs in the segment worldwide.
For those consumers who long for style and character, mileage and reliability, pedigree and personality (that sob stuff, in other words),
The Civic remains a rock-solid all-rounder that does more than get you to work; it engages the driver.