New Honda Civic Launched

New 10th Generation Launched – D Segment Features for C Segment Pricing

The long-awaited 10th generation Honda Civic is finally launched officially, after some weeks of order taking at estimated prices. The mystery is out – there are two engine options, either the 1.8S which carries over the previous Civic 1.8 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, or a downsized 1.5-litre turbocharged engine. The 1.5 litre turbo is further split into two variants, the 1.5TC and 1.5 TC-P – the P stands for Premium, which means it comes with leather seats and LED lights, among other small differences.

Built on a new platform, the new Civic adopts a more premium stance, leaning more towards European sedan standards, and at the same time offers best in class interior space equivalent to some D-segment cars. It also comes with some interesting and innovative features, the highlight being Remote Engine Start, which allows one to start up the car and run the air-conditioning from a distance away.

Addressing the media for the first time, Mr. Katsuto Hayashi, the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia said, “The All-New Civic will be an important model for Honda Malaysia to further provide Joy to our customers. Being the No.1 Non-National car brand in 2015, the expectations from our customers have also increased. Our sales this year (up May 2016) puts Honda as the No.2 overall car brand (National and Non-National) with a 14% market share which translates to 30,401 units sold. We will work harder to constantly achieve Customer Satisfaction”.

There are three variants available, with one naturally-aspirated 1.8 litre engine variant (1.8S) and two turbocharged variants with a downsized 1.5 litre engine. The turbocharged variant is split into two specification levels, (1.5TC and 1.5TC-P). The 1.5TC-P comes with LED lights and additional trim to be the top-of-the-range variant.

Despite having a larger engine displacement, the 1.8 litre (1.8S) variant is now the base model – it produces 141 PS and 174Nm of torque; the 1.5 turbo engine produces 173 PS and 220 Nm of torque, power that is equivalent to a 2.4 litre naturally-aspirated engine, but consumes less fuel. The rated fuel consumption for the 1.5 turbo engine is a frugal 5.8 l/100 km, while the 1.8 litre engine is rated at 6.3l/100km. Acceleration from standstill to 100km/h is 8.2 seconds for the turbo and 10.4 seconds for the 1.8. Just so that no one gets confused, the fuel consumption numbers are obtained by running the vehicle through a set pattern of tests, so as to establish a common standard to assess different engines from different makers. These figures do suggest the turbo-charged Civic is extremely economical – however my experience based on these numbers tells me to add roughly 30 to 40 percent more to get a ‘real world’ figure.

The new Civic stands 15mm wider than its predecessor; wheelbase has been extended 30mm to 2,700mm, and overall length has been extended by 106mm. Overall height has been lowered by 20mm. Put side by side with the outgoing model, the new Civic is wider, longer, and lower.

Aesthetically, the new Civic looks sleeker, with a coupe-like rear end, and thin A-pillars to provide good all-round visibility. At the front end, the Honda DNA is ever-present, with LED headlights (1.5 Turbo only) and of course the ‘Honda’ grille. The 1.8 gets projector Halogen lights. Inside, the cabin boasts what Honda terms as ‘3D Flush Cabin’ with excellent fit and finish, augmented by the use of contrasting quality materials. Wheel size is 16-inch for the 1.8S while the 1.5 TC and 1.5 TC-P will have 17-inch wheels. Overall CD (Co-efficient of drag) has been lowered, contributed by the front bumper design to reduce lift, and the rear trunk design that reduces drag at the rear of the vehicle, plus under body engineering to smoothen air-flow along the bottom.

In terms of chassis improvements, despite a larger body, the new Civic platform is 22 kg lighter but has 25 percent more torsional rigidity thanks to new body construction technologies that include a sturdier bottom frame, and the addition of braces at key locations throughout the body. Translated to the consumer, these result in a more durable body (to last longer), improved crash safety, and improved driving dynamics.

The new Civic comes with revised powertrains – whilst the previous model had options of either 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre engines, both with five speed automatic transmissions, the new Civic has only the 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine and the 1.5-litre turbo unit; all variants are now fitted with CVT, and paddle shifters are available on the 1.5 turbo for added driving fun.

When asked about the choice of CVT versus automatic transmission, Mr. Osamu Takezawa, Assistant Large Project Leader (ALPL) of the All-New Civic project stated that the CVT is more advantageous than the automatic transmission to reduce ‘lag’ which is caused by clutch slippage that is inherent in automatic gearboxes. Across the range, CVT also contributes to overall fuel efficiency. According to Mr. Takezawa, the CVT in the Honda Civic is from the latest generation of CVTs. The CVT now has a torque converter to smooth out the transmission shift shock. The parking brake has gone electric, and the steering system remains electric as well, but with variable steering ratios. The electric parking brake also features ‘Brake Hold’ which keeps your car stationary when on a slope.

Suspension-wise, the new Civic retains MacPherson struts with a lower arm at the front, while the rear thankfully retains an independent multi-link arrangement, with hydraulic compliance bushings. With the new bushings and a new lower-arm design, the new Civic is claimed to achieve ‘Next-Generation Ride Comfort’, provide agile handling whilst providing a ‘secure’ feeling to the driver and passengers. In addition, sound-proofing materials have been extensively utilized throughout the body to produce ‘class-leading’ quietness. These include the use of sound-insulating glass, and more under-floor insulation.

Safety is paramount to Honda – VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist), emergency stop signal, daytime running Lights (DRL), Hill-Start Assist are standard across all variants, as are 6 airbags, ISOFIX and seat belt pre-tensioners. Another interesting feature is the ‘walk away auto lock – which means if you forget to press your key fob to lock the car, it will lock itself.

The new Civic retail prices are as follows:

Civic 1.8 S – RM113,800.00
Civic 1.5 TC – RM127,800.00
Civic TC-P – RM135,800.00

Prices are on-the-road inclusive of insurance. Warranty is 5 years.