Test drive Honda Civic 5D: Updated!

At the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, Honda showed a concept of the eighth-generation Civic. At that time, few believed that this futuristic "spaceship" would reach the assembly line almost unchanged.

More than five years have passed since the debut of the Honda Civic, but the look of the "space" hatchback has not lost its freshness.

The production version of the Honda Civic 5D appeared in 2006 and was sold in parallel with the sedan. In Russia, the hatchback with an unusual and at the same time daring appearance quickly gained fans. People queued up for the new model, and some official dealers even temporarily stopped accepting orders for the Civic 5D.

What changed on the outside after the restyling: a different radiator grille and more LEDs in the stoplight on the rear spoiler.

In 2010, the hatchback underwent a light update. Only the most attentive eye will notice the external changes. The radiator grille, which was previously "blind," received two openings, and the stoplight built into the spoiler slightly changed its design.

The seats are still comfortable, the ergonomics are almost exemplary! Only the hard plastic in the trim is disappointing.

Inside, the update affected the materials of the seat upholstery and the front panel — they became better quality. Inside, the Honda continues to please with excellent seats, a comfortable steering wheel, and almost reference ergonomics hidden in an unusual but still relevant design. Plus, the Civic 5D has a spacious interior and a roomy trunk of 455 liters with a low loading edge.

Starting the engine of the Civic 5D hatchback is almost a ritual: first you turn the key in the ignition, then press the red button to the right of the steering column. The climate control unit has moved closer to the driver, and on the armrest of the passenger door there is a button for individual temperature adjustment. The instrument panel is perfectly readable.

The basic equipment of all versions added an AUX input and a tire pressure sensor, and the top Executive trim received a USB port, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and improved parking sensors.

The main news is that the Honda Civic 5D finally got a full-fledged automatic transmission, which the "space" hatchback so lacked to expand its audience. After all, not everyone is ready to yank the lever in traffic jams, and Russian buyers still distrust the robotic gearbox. At the same time, during the restyling, the suspension and power steering were recalibrated, and sound insulation was improved.

Xenon headlights are a privilege of the expensive Executive version, which costs at least 927 thousand rubles.

Otherwise, the technical filling of this "space pie" has not changed. Under the hood is the same 1.8-liter gasoline engine with 140 hp. With the new automatic, which moved here from the Civic sedan, the car honestly delivers the claimed 11 seconds to 100 km/h. If starting from a standstill does not cause complaints, then during a sudden overtaking at speed, the automatic transmission hesitates, spending extra fractions of a second on downshifting. With the automatic, the ardor of the Honda has subsided — the hatchback has become calmer and more comfortable.

Three adults can easily sit on the rear sofa. And the trunk is not small — 455 liters.

But the Civic 5D handles just as briskly. Even with a simple torsion beam at the rear, the hatchback holds its trajectory perfectly and follows the steering wheel clearly. On a straight line, the car stands as confidently as in a corner. But the brakes disappointed: it is inconvenient to dose the force on the pedal, and a couple of times I had to make passengers nod their heads to avoid hitting the bumper of the car ahead.

After the restyling, the Honda Civic 5D received a classic automatic transmission borrowed from the sedan.

The Honda Civic 5D with a five-speed manual costs from 834 thousand rubles. The surcharge for the automatic transmission is 30 thousand rubles. The rich Executive version is available only with an automatic and includes leather, parking sensors, xenon, USB and iPod support, as well as an auto-dimming mirror. The price of this version is 927 thousand rubles. The only option for the Executive is a two-section glass roof for 30 thousand rubles.

In terms of price, the Honda Civic 5D is comparable only to the Volkswagen Golf. Other competitors — the new Opel Astra, Peugeot 308, and Ford Focus — are noticeably cheaper. Whether the Honda can justify such a difference in rubles is an open question.

Ruslan Galimov