Admittedly, the Civic is a real shock to the usual perception. Its appearance is perhaps the boldest solution we've seen on production cars recently. The huge "chandelier" of headlights, the swift wedge-shaped profile, and a scattering of meticulously crafted elements like the triangular fog light sections and exhaust tips. In the morning, the parking lot security guard greeted me with: "I figured out where the rear door handles are hidden!" — and promised not to let me go until I showed him the car. In fact, I heard this reaction from every acquaintance I met. It seemed we were already hard to surprise, but the Civic outdid everyone! And for all its radicalism, it remains truly people's. Unlike, say, the avant-garde but controversial, "for enthusiasts" Renault Megane, the Civic appeals to literally everyone.
So, stop, but this is truly interesting! If the stability control system is activated, it will, of course, instantly cut off an emerging skid. And what happens when it's turned off? Nothing scary. A very smooth and controlled drift occurs, which is easily corrected. To send the car into a deep controlled drift, you'll have to openly provoke it, and even then not always. Against the backdrop of cars that only tend to go "nose" outward, this is a very curious specimen. Therefore, dear Civic fans, don't be upset about the "simple" suspension of the new generation — it handles decently and is damn exciting. True, there is also a downside to the sharpness — on bumps, the suspension is not always composed, although it's hard to break through. And because of the wide tires, the car may wander a bit in ruts, especially when braking. But that's just nitpicking. After all, it's a quite moderate price for such handling. The car is also very low, and the risk of catching something with the front bumper is increased by the aerodynamic shields located in front of the wheels.
And how reasonable is the price for the whole car? You'll have to pay a lot — the base Civic hatchback with a manual costs $24,900. The only options available are the "robot" and a glass roof. Everything else is already included in the "base" — dual-zone climate control, folding mirrors, fog lights, heated seats, and a decent stereo with MP3 support. In short, everything needed for a comfortable life is there. But without excesses, sorry. Our test Civic is priced at $25,900 — without the glass roof, but with the smart gearbox.
The big "chandelier" on the front of the Civic lights up, unfortunately, not entirely. But at least it looks stunning during the day.
But there is stunning design, excellent handling, and a fairly spacious interior. And when everyone gets used to the Civic's appearance, you can always surprise them with the interior. But even if the price suits you, don't rush to rejoice. How do you feel about waiting for the car? Just a little, only slightly less than a year. And I think it's the queue, not the price, that will be the main deterrent from buying this car. Even so — not a deterrent, but a restraining factor, since I'm sure there will be many willing to wait for it.
I get out from behind the wheel, feeling like a person who can't be surprised. I've gotten used to universal attention. To the fact that at traffic lights people want to "get acquainted" with me. And I vaguely try to imagine a future car that could outshine the Honda Civic. And I can't. However, it's not my task — I'm sure designers of all car companies are racking their brains over this question now. And Honda's designers did a simply magnificent job. After all, the Civic turned out simply stunning. With its appearance, the automotive world will never be the same as before.
Technical specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Torque, Nm/rpm | 173 Nm at 4300 rpm |
| Max power kW (hp)/rpm | 140 at 6300 rpm |
| Drive | Front |
| Engine displacement | 1798 cm3 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length/width/height | 4248/1765/1460 mm |
| Ground clearance, mm | 145 mm |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2635 mm |
| Maximum mass (kg) | 1750 kg |
| Minimum turning radius, m | n/a m |
| Trunk volume, l | Trunk volume |
| Curb weight (kg) | 1305 kg |
| Wheel rim size | 17 |
| Tire size | n/a |
| Body | |
| Type | Five-door hatchback |
| Transmission | |
| Manual | Synchronized, 6-speed, 1 reverse gear |
| Brake system | |
| Steering | Rack and pinion with power assist |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Rear suspension | Torsion beam |
| Front brakes | Ventilated disc, with booster, ABS |
| Front suspension | Independent, McPherson |
| Dynamic characteristics and fuel consumption | |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h from standstill, sec (manual/auto) | 8.9 s |
| Maximum speed, km/h (manual/auto) | 205 km/h |
| Urban cycle | 8.4 |
| Extra-urban cycle | 5.4 |
| Fuel tank volume, l | 50 l |
| Combined cycle | 6.5 |
Equipment of the tested car
The car for the test was provided by
the dealership "Avitus Auto" — official Honda dealer
- ABS
- VSA - vehicle stability assist
- Immobilizer
- Climate control
- Rear window defroster
- Heated mirrors
- Heated front seats
- Height-adjustable steering column
- Power windows and mirrors
- Hi-Fi stereo with CD player
- Cruise control
- Child seat anchor points (ISOFix)
- Headlight washers
- Airbags 6 pcs.
- Audio system controls on steering wheel
- 6 speakers
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Fog lights
- Rain sensor for wipers
- Alarm
- On-board computer
- Rain sensor
- Alloy wheels R-17
- Paddle shifters
- Aluminum pedals
- Cooled glove box
- AMT
The car for the test was provided by
the dealership "Avitus Auto" — official Honda dealer
Behind the scenes 