Honda plays the generation game – and it’s come up with a winner
The latest 11th generation of the Honda Civic has arrived in showrooms.
A Crucial thing to point out is that although this car is built in Japan, it’s been designed for the most part by Honda Europe – especially the driving dynamics – and on first impressions they’ve done a decent job.
The latest Civic is a self-charging hybrid, the first time it’s appeared in a Civic. Don’t bother looking for any other power options because there aren’t any.
Under the bonnet there’s a 2.0 litre petrol engine which works in tandem with the battery powered hybrid system. Add the outputs together and you get 181bhp.
Everything goes via a type of CVT gearbox but only for part of the time. The engine works as a generator for the electric motor. The motor propels the car along. However, if you need a burst of power, the power from the petrol engine engages a clutch which seamlessly sends an extra dollop of oomph to the front wheels. Clever huh?
0-60 comes up in a decent 7.9 seconds. Top speed is 112mph. As for economy, the headline figure of 60mpg is more than reasonable. The car is also extremely quiet and refined for the simple reason that it’s going along using battery power for most of the time.
Out on the road, the ride is a tad firm but it never feels harsh. The handling is excellent and it has a sporty feel. Fun too.
This is a much better car than the model it replaces. There’s a quality feel to the materials used throughout the cabin, the seats are comfortable and it’s surprisingly roomy. It’ll make for terrific family motoring.
You get loads of kit as standard. Every Civic gets a 9-inch infotainment screen which controls stuff like the sat nav and audio. You get heated front seats, powered windows, air con, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera and smart alloys.
Entry level trim is called Elegance, but if you move up to Sport trim you’ll get part-leather seats, front fog lights and flashier wheels, while if you want the top of the range Advance, you’ll get a sunroof and powered seats as standard.
And finally, prices. The 11th generation Honda Civic range kicks off at £400 shy of 30 grand. At first glance, that looks a bit punchy – but you need to drive the new Civic and take a close look inside.
The finish and build quality is top notch, it’s well equipped and it’s very economical. Civics also hold their value. The new Civic is available at the time of writing with a generous five years’ complimentary service package and deposit contribution if you opt for finance.
Interested? Order books are open, deliveries start in October.
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