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The bold new Honda Civic has arrived in dealerships across Australia, promising a return to the sporty yet frugal reputation the Civic has built up since it arrived here in the early 1970s capturing the hearts of Australian car buyers along with plenty of accolades.
The bold new Civic is available initially in sedan form but expect a hatch in coming months to pair with the stylish newcomer to the Honda lineup.
It features sharp, sporty style that is bolder and more stylish than previous models giving it an edgy look that separates it from the crowd.
The bold new Civic entry level model includes a seven-inch infotainment screen with a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a digital driver’s instrument cluster and 16-inch steel wheels.
Buyers looking for more can upgrade to the Civic VTi-S with 16-inch alloys, smart keys, front and rear parking sensors and Honda’s mirror-mounted lane watch camera system that plays live video of the car’s left-side blind spot when changing lanes as standard equipment.
The Civic VTi and VTi-S are powered by a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 104kW of power and 174Nm of torque while delivering a frugal 6.4L/100km fuel economy.
The rest of the range uses a new 1.5-litre turbo motor delivering127kW of power and 220Nm of torque while sipping just with 6L/100km on the way.
In the Honda Civic tradition drive is to the front wheels through a CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic that is standard on all models.
The bold new Civic VTi-L powered by the 1.5 litre turbo includes a whole range of standard goodies including 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning and a digital radio. The flagship top-spec VTi-LX also features the 1.5 litre turbo and includes satellite navigation, a premium stereo, electric sunroof, full-LED lights and a driver assistance suite.
The sports-themed Civic RS brings most of the LX goodies (save for sat nav and driver aids) and a body kit that replaces chrome elements with black details on the grille and wheels.
The Civic RS is a real sport sedan featuring an excellent driving position, chunky leather steering wheel and simple, straightforward, sporty instrumentation.
The bold new Civic is wider and lower than its predecessor, with a taut stance that looks purposeful on the road with plenty of space and a boot capable of swallowing plenty of luggage.
The car has a real European look and feel while the Display Audio system’s seamless smartphone integration reinforces the value of Apple CarPlay or Android auto for tech-minded travellers.
Honda has produced a suspension tune, which feels composed on country roads and in the suburbs. It’s a relaxed, supple feel that gets the job done without fuss or bother.
The new 1.5 litre turbo is a tremendous engine producing quiet and effortless power with plenty of torque that offers spirited performance on the road.
Honda’s engineering and development teams spent a lot of time gathering customer and dealer feedback on the Civic when developing the all-new car to ensure it was packed with the connectivity features customers wanted, as well as the driving dynamics, quality, safety and fuel efficiency they expected from a Honda.
The bold new Civic sedan is part of a three-pronged product launch schedule for the Civic. The sedan will be followed by the Civic hatch in the first half of 2017 and the performance Type R hatch later in 2017.
As well, the NSX hybrid supercar will arrive in Australia by the end of the year.
In the meantime you can sample some of the F1 inspired engineering that also drives the McLaren Grand Prix team by test-driving the all-new Honda Civic at Brian Hilton Honda.
