All-new 2016 Honda Civic: Smaller engine, more power

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Other than a fresh new look and a totally different silhouette, the above headline describes the essence of the new 10^th Generation Honda Civic, which we expect to be officially launched sometime next month.

In line with global trends, Honda is also into down-sizing of engines and turbo-charging, which is why the new star of the imminent Civic launch will be the 1.5 litre VTEC model, which comes with a turbo-charger. Selling alongside this will be a 1.8 litre model running an updated version of the current 1.8 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine.

We expect that within these two models, there would be another trim-based variant to give customers more options.

In terms of looks, the new 2016 Honda Civic certainly looks a winner. The front mask is more masculine, with a more upright grille, but unmistakably Honda.

The wider face and lower stance makes the Civic look very wide and more elegant.

It has grown in terms of length and width, while standing lower – the result is a sleeker-looking machine, and the coupe-like rendition to the side profile gives it a sporty look. The wheelbase has been increased by 30mm to 2,700mm, which is the industry standard for C segment cars.

Width has increased by 24mm to 1,799mm, while the Civic sits 20mm lower than the outgoing model at 1,415mm. Overall length has been extended to 4,630mm, an increase of 105mm over the outgoing Civic. Compared to the current Corolla Altis, the new Honda Civic is 10mm longer, 24mm wider, and 45mm lower, while having exactly the same wheelbase of 2,700mm.

The highlight of the new 1.5 litre VTEC is that it now produces more power than the current 2.0 litre top-of-the-range Civic. Whilst the current 2.0 litre Civic produces 155 horses and 190Nm of torque, the new 1.5 litre turbo-charged engine produces 173 horses and delivers 220Nm of torque.

Across the board, the new Honda Civic will have six airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). Depending on options, we will also see keyless entry, push-button start, and a new feature, remote start, which allows the owner to start the engine from up to 40 metres away. If the air-conditioner is left switched on prior to leaving the car, this will allow the car to cool down on a hot day. The doors remain locked while this feature is in operation.

Some of us motoring media has the opportunity to do a short test drive of the new Honda Civic in Thailand, and I found the new car interesting – the following are my notations:-

1.  The new Civic looks much wider than the outgoing model. The rendition of the front mask, being wider and more upright not only help to convey this impression, but also make the car more elegant. 

The 1.5 litre RS variant we tested has a black grille, which gives the Civic character, while the chrome grilled 1.8 variant looks more ‘executive’. I understand the black grille is not coming to Malaysia for the moment. 

Perhaps we might see it in the facelift a couple of years down the road. The side profile looks great, especially at the C pillar area where it slopes down like a coupe.

2.  The turbo-charger unit is tucked very neatly into the exhaust manifold at the front of the transversely-mounted engine, and is compact in dimensions. Whilst power delivery is smoother, and the acceleration is good, the kick-in-the-pants feeling isn’t quite there. 

Arguably, it is heaps faster than the 1.8 litre model (we drove both), but I think the Honda designers are trying to strike a balance between outright acceleration and fuel economy. With exuberant driving styles, plus a whole hour and a half of high speed testing by the whole bunch of nine media, the 1.5 litre turbo returned an average consumption of 10.1 kilometres per litre. The CVT (continuously variable transmission) no doubt contributed to this greatly.

3.  Whilst I am not a great fan of CVT’s, I do concede that it works great for about 90 per cent of all road users. I also concede that it does help fuel consumption a great deal. The saving grace is perhaps the S mode, which allows one to use the paddle shifters located at the back of the steering wheel. 

A point to note is the CVT tuning for the 1.5 litre turbo is slightly different from that in the 1.8 litre model. If you belong to the 10 per cent who want a real powerhouse, I suggest you wait for the Type R, which promises 310 horsepower from a 2.0 litre turbo, and a manual transmission.

4.  Overall handling is good, with 4-wheel independent suspension. Brakes are good, with ventilated front discs and solid discs at the rear. On the twisty roads between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the Civic was great fun to drive. With the new-found power, overtaking was a cinch, and I really appreciate the shorter TED (Time Exposed to Danger) when overtaking on the trunk roads.

5.  The new Civic comes with Brake Hold (the system automatically engages the brakes when you come to a stop, a feature that prevents your civic from rolling forward or backwards anytime you come to a stop), and also an electronic parking brake. Most people would welcome the electronic parking brake, but I am old school, preferring a manual parking brake with the traditional hand-brake lever.

6.  Overall, I think the new Honda Civic will be a roaring success. With Honda’s brand legacy, and a great-looking car, with more power, yet being able to deliver excellent fuel economy, it is a formidable package. Now all we have to wait for is the official price announcement.