Launched last November, it took a while before I finally got behind the wheel of the All-New Honda Civic. This 11th generation has an all new look but still has the same is the turbocharged VTEC engine under the hood. For this Civic, Honda’s engineers focused on three core values, Design, Dynamics and Human Machine Interface to achieve their design concept “Exhilirating Civic” …did they pull it off?
Exterior
This All-New Civic has a grown up look about it, mature looking, but now with more in common with the rest of Honda’s line up. They were able to achieive a mix of sportiness and elegance. Compared to its predecessor which looked pretty angry. This sedan is also longer by 29mm and the wheelbase extended by 37mm.
New shaped headlamps up front with Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are standard across all variants. LED Foglights come on the the V Turbo CVT Honda SENSING and the RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING variants. The sleek cleaner lines extend from the front to the sides, giving it subtle sporty look. Just like the previous generation Civic, the hood stretches to the roofline and slopes down to the trunk, making it look more like a fastback than a sedan. The A-pillars were moved back 2 inches enhancing the longer silhouette of the hood, this and design changes to the side mirrors improved visibility. RS-exclusive details include black-painted side mirrors, door handles and sharkfin antenna.
The rear also follows with the grown up sleek feel, with new LED tailights and trunk spoiler, the chrome-finished dual-exhaust pipes make it sportier. The S variant has 16” rims, the V has 17” rims and the RS rolls on 18-inch matte black wheels.
Interior
Inside, the look and feel is clean, and like the exterior, very different from the previous generation’s interior. Materials are soft touch, and the aircon vents are a new design, honeycomb.
The variants dictate whether you get fabric seats or the combo of suede and leather upholstery only available on the RS. Standard amenities are automatic climate control, the RS gets dual zone and rear aircon vents are available on the V variants up.
Up front, the instrument cluster is a 10.2-inch full-digital cluster, all supported by steering wheel mounted controls. The 12 speaker BOSE equipped entertainment system in the RS has a 9” touchscreen, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay capable and you also get a wireless charger.
Space is even more abundant in this latest generation of Civic. Ingress and egress is easy, legroom and seat comfort is as you would expect from a Honda. There are nooks and storage compartments for your personal items. Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) is much improved over its predecessor with less noise making its way into the cabin.
Powerplant
The RS has a Euro 4 compliant, turbocharged 1.5 liter 4-cylinder 16valve DOHC VTEC PGM-FI that puts out max power of 178PS at 6000rpm with 240Nm of torque between 1700-4500rpms. Power is bumped up 5Ps and you get an additional 20Nm of torque over the previous generation’s engine. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is standard over all trims with drive Eco and Normal drive modes, the RS gets an additional Sport mode.
Safety and Convenience
With “Safety for Everyone” as Honda’s mission, Honda SENSING is now standard across all variants of the All-New Civic with the following features:
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low–Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW), Auto High–Beam (AHB), Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN)
The Honda SENSING system consists of a wide angle camera combined with the latest software which offers improved recognition of vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian and road markings. The All-New Civic is also built on Honda’s G-force Control (G-CON) Collision Safety Body offering better protection and impact absorption for occupants in the event of a collision. Additional safety features include: Speed Sensing Door Locks, Multi-View Reverse Camera, and Keyless Entry System, Side Curtain Airbags, Honda LaneWatch Camera, and the Walk Away Auto Door Lock function. The All-New Civic also scored 5-stars in the 2021 ASEAN NCAP assessment.
I took the Civic on a road trip with friends and as expected interior space was good, the seats in front offer exceptional support and are comfy even on long drives, and there’s more than enough headspace and legroom in the back for tall people. There are a lot of nooks for your things , bottle holders in the doors and cupholders in the center console and rear center arm rest. There’s also a lot of room in the trunk for your luggage.
With more than enough power on tap, this 1.5L turbocharged engine won’t leave you wanting. I didn’t feel the need to put it into sport mode, as the “normal” drive mode was still quite responsive. Honda’s SENSING is a plus, even for an experienced driver like myself, giving me an extra set of “senses”, widening my margin of safety and giving me more confidence on the road. The Civic is well planted on the road, suspension smoothens out most of the bumps on the road and steering is responsive, giving good feel of the road and minimal body roll when you take all but the tightest corners.
This All-New Honda Civic RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING is priced at PHP 1,690,000. Like its predecessor, it’s a big car, but it doesn’t feel unwieldy, easy enough to point and shoot both on the open road and in the city. It is very handsome and like most Honda’s, will be a sought after “classic” some years down the line. It looks like Honda’s engineers accomplished what they set out to do… again.
