Smart Civic is fun to drive

The new range comprises four models and a choice of two engines, four specification grades, all sporting a number of smart new features such Walk Away Auto Lock, Remote Engine Start, Brake Hold and a 7-inch touch screen digital audio system.

Body design

One of the stand-out features of this new Honda is its attractively-sculpted body lines, wider and lower crouch, longer bonnet, slim headlights, bold grille design and snazzy new alloys which gives this popular sedan an appealing sports coupé flavour.

The attractive body design is neatly matched by the car’s space-enriched living quarters, elegantly furnished with soft-touch finishes and user-friendly dials and switches. This includes the new high-deck centre console which houses controls for an all-new Electric Parking Brake and Brake Hold functions. Leather seats (heated in front) are standard on all but the entry-level model.

One of the most exciting new features is the advanced interface provided by the high-resolution, seven-inch WVGA LCD display which can be viewed from both driver and passenger seats. The system enables numerous smartphone functions, including navigation. It is also compatible with various media formats via steering wheel controls.

The new Civic is armed with a long list of clever driver assist and safety features, too complicated to discuss in detail in this column, so get your local Honda salesperson to earn his commission by explaining them all to you.

A pleasure to pilot

True to Honda’s rich sporting heritage the latest Civic is a pleasure to pilot, particularly when it has the new 1.5 turbo engine under the hood that kicks out a healthy 127kW and 220Nm. CVT auto transmission is standard across the range and it works particularly well with this power output, particularly when the going becomes a tad sporty.

The car’s newly-reduced height translates into a lower centre of gravity for better stability which means it clings to the tar with such a tenacious grip that it puts a smile on your dial. The variable steering adjusts to driver inputs and different driving conditions and also adds to the driving fun, whether under the whip or easing into a tight parking bay.

Although more expensive than the two models equipped with the 2.4-litre 104kW/174Nm naturally aspirated engine, the smaller engine version would be my personal choice of the new line-up.

Civic has consistently set the bar for fuel efficiency, driving performance, build quality and owner satisfaction so little wonder that it is Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate and its biggest-selling model globally with more than 23-million sales. The latest range boldly underlines everything that the name stands for.

The new models and prices (which include a five-year/200,000 km warranty, a five-year/90,000 km service plan and three-years of AA Roadside Assistance) are:

1.8 Comfort CVT – R330,000
1.8 Elegance CVT – R370,000
1.5T Sport CVT – R430,000
1.5T Executive CVT – R460,000