Ms Madoka Chujo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia said, “This model is a modern interpretation of the classic and timeless human-centred Honda values, with a new design concept that exudes a New Age Identity sedan.”
The design of the new-gen Civic is less boy-racer and more salaryman; a manager, if you will. Yet, it does not mean the Civic is without its fun bits. The RS variant, introduced to the Civic lineup for the first time, has its side mirrors, shark fin antenna outer door handles and trunk spoiler painted black. At the same time, the twin tailpipe with chrome finisher and 18-inch matte black alloy wheels underlines the sedan’s sporty ambitions.
It is standard appearance, the Civic features LED headlights and LED daytime running lights in the front. At the rear, it’s the new rear LED combi lights that beam the Civic’s new DNA. Another thing to note, Lazer Brazing technology is used on the Civic for the first time to give the sedan a sleeker roofline.
Because of market demand, 60% of the Civic’s sales were of the turbocharged models, Honda decided to retire the 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated for the 1.5-litre turbocharged for all models. The 1.5-litre VTEC Turbocharged – yes, no i-VTEC shenanigans here – makes the same power no matter the variant. Expect outputs of 182PS and 240Nm surging from the engine and through the familiar CVT ‘box. The Civic clocks a 0-100kph time of 8.5 seconds and yields a fuel economy of 6.0 litres per 100km.
The Civic is equipped with a Drive Mode Switch that re-maps the car in three ways – ECON, Normal and Sports Mode. No explanation is needed on what each mode does, although it appears that the sedan’s true performance is unlocked in Sport Mode.
An increase in body rigidity should take advantage of the Civic’s power; an 8 per cent increase in torsional rigidity and a 13 per cent increase in bending rigidity. The high-rigidity frame improves collision safety and handling. That aside, NVH has also been improved with insulators, floor undercover and spray foam applied in areas within the chassis.
Inside, Honda is said to have elevated the interior with a new design concept. The focus in the 11th generation is exceptional visibility, achieved by expanding the glass area. The honeycomb mesh panel that runs across the dashboard is the highlight here. Not seen, but felt, are the improvement on the seat’s design, which is said to support good driving posture.
Seats in the RS variant is wrapped with Combi Leather with red stitching, as do the steering wheel. Black headlining, Sport Pedal and foot lamp are also equipped in the RS. The 9-inch Advanced Display Audio, which offers smartphone connectivity and 2 front USB ports, is found in the RS and V variants.
A 7-inch Interactive TFT meter, two rear USB ports and Smart Clear Wiper come in all Civic sedans. Incidentally, the Smart Clear Wiper is introduced in a Honda Malaysia model line-up for the first time.
Of course, the Civic is not short on safety features but quite the opposite. The sedan has the entire Honda SENSING suite plus one more – Lead Car Departure Notification. This new safety module alerts the driver when the car in front has moved after a long idle.
Although part of the existing system, the Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow has been improved. Now, the system decelerates by detecting the brake and indicator lamp of the vehicle ahead. It will also control acceleration as the driver steps on the accelerator. Lane Keep Assist System, too, has been improved to be smoother during turn-in and out, and correct the steering in crosswinds and unbalanced wind pressure situations.
Honda LaneWatch is still the company’s preferred method of eliminating the left blind spot. Adding to that, the sedan features six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Auto Brake Hold (ABH). Rear Seat Belt Reminder and Driver Attention Monitor debuts in the Civic. All variants get Walk Away Auto Lock and Remote Engine Start.
If you’re going for the V or RS spec, you will be able to unlock more information about your Civic through the Honda Connect technology. Using Telematics Technology and through the app, you’ll be able to run Vehicle Diagnostics, Remote Applications, Security Applications, Vehicle Tracking and Support Services.
The price of the new Honda Civic starts from RM125,634.64 for the E variant and RM138,043.36 for the V variant. The full-spec RS variant comes at the higher price of RM144,350.09.