After seeing the prototype and a one-image teaser, Honda finally launched the 11th-generation of their iconic sedan. The new iteration of the Civic takes a 180-turn from the previous model, ditching its uber-sporty looks in lieu of something more classy but with aggressive cues on all corners. It also has a number of key improvements that make it safer on the road.
Honda took the minimalist approach with the new Civic, utilizing clean lines and subtle curves all around the vehicle. The front pillar was pushed back by 2 inches to make the hood longer that gives it an executive appeal. It’s complemented by the front fascia that has a wide and slim LED headlight, LED fog lights, and an all-black grille that puts focus on the chrome Honda logo.
The sides are more simple with only two character lines on it. One goes from the front fender to the taillight while the upswept line below it was retained from the previous generation. Its simplicity puts emphasis on the wheels that are either an all-black or two-tone alloy, depending on the variant.
Honda’s evolution in design continues inside, where visibility is paramount. The dashboard is flush with the door panels and together with the low hood and hidden wipers, they give more view of the surroundings. The touchscreen, though it stands out in the middle, is also as low as the edge of the dashboard to not break the view.
The centerpiece though is the metal honeycomb mesh that runs across the whole dash. It conceals the air vents inside it, giving the interior a cleaner aesthetic. There’s also a new material on the center console that Honda said is designed to hide fingerprints and smudges to maintain the high-end look.
Standard toys would be a 7-inch digital screen for the driver’s gauges and 7-inch touchscreen with a physical knob for infotainment, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-end Touring variant gets more flair, having a 10.2-inch all-digital gauge cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Qi wireless charging capability. It will also enjoy a 12-speaker Bose audio system.
Just like in the previous model, there are two engines for the new Civic. First is a naturally-aspirated 2.0L DOHC engine with 158hp and 187Nm of torque, while the more premium variants get a 1.5L DOHC turbo engine that puts out 180hp and 240Nm of torque. Both are paired to a CVT but Honda says it’s not the same for the two as the transmission is specifically tuned for each engine.
As for safety, they improved the Honda Sensing for the new Civic. The automatic braking feels more natural, so do the steering for the Lane Keep Assist, quicker reaction for the cruise control, and now having low-speed braking.
Airbags were also improved. Front passengers now have a new airbag structure that controls the movement of the head during accidents, helping to reduce occurence of brain injury. There’s also rear side-airbags that all in all, there’s now 10 inside the new Civic.
All of this is housed in a body that has 8% more torsional rigidity, 13% improvement in bending rigidity. It resulted in a stiffer structure with better ride, handling, and NVH compared to the previous generation. It also decreased creeping of road and wind noise resulting in a more relaxed ride.
There are four variants of the new Civic for the US but for us here in the Philippines, it’s most likely that Honda Cars Philippines would bring in only two for the launch. One with the 2.0L engine, and the other with the 1.5L turbo. When? Well, we’re just gonna have to wait.