Car news
All new Honda Civic arrives HONDA’S 11TH GENERATION CIVIC HATCH HAS ARRIVED IN NEW ZEALAND, SPORTING A NEW LOWER AND SLEEKER PROFILE. IT’S CLAIMED TO BE THE MOST FUN-TO-DRIVE CIVIC HATCH EVER he new car has an appealing four-door coupe look but it is a full five-door hatch, thanks to a lightweight composite rear door, which allowed for the design of low-profile hinges. A low bonnet and pronounced beltline combined with straightedged side windows give the car a classy long and low look, which also promises a larger greenhouse. It’s unusual to see door-mounted side mirrors but that has preserved the low beltline. Honda is making much of the clean design it was going for, and the new model is certainly tidier than the previous generation, which had a host of accent lines and pronounced haunches. The A-pillar is nearly 50mm further back than on the previous car, and now has dimensions similar to Accords. The new Civic’s wheelbase is a significant 35mm longer than that of the previous model, and its rear track is 12mm wider. Almost all of that length has gone into improving rear legroom. Rear headroom has been preserved, despite the coupé lines, thanks to the new hinge design.
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STIFFER AND SMOOTHER The new body delivers a 19 per cent improvement in torsional rigidity over the previous generation, which translates into improvements in ride, handling, and refinement. Reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness are augmented with the extensive use of structural adhesives, spray-in foam in the pillars, and additional sound-deadening in the firewall and under the floor. The pulled-back A-pillars, low hood, and hidden windshield wipers enable a windshield with clearly defined corners for a panoramic view. The instrument panel is designed with a minimum of cutlines to reduce windshield reflections. The cargo space is more easily accessible, thanks to a 40mm wider lower hatch opening and low liftover height. The standard 60/40 split seat back can be folded for expanded capacity, and the side-pull cargo cover will conceal the rear cargo area. The fascia is dominated by a horizontal honeycomb grille, echoing the radiator grille, which hides the air vents. A simpler dash design is important when the now unavoidable large
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Auto Channel Issue #43 February 2022
touchscreens are cluttered with so many images. It’s good to see this nine-inch screen has a rotary volume knob and button controls, and a lip on which to steady your hand for aiming your fingers while driving. Honda is always good at the details and here it has paid close attention to materials on the different touchpoints, and made sure all switchgear and controls operate with satisfying feedback. The Civic Hatch features the new anti-fatigue seat, which debuted in New Zealand on the new Jazz. Trim is taken to the next level with combination perforated leather and Ultrasuede seats with added shoulder support. The driver’s and front passenger’s seats are eight-way and four-way power adjusted respectively.
SPORT MODE The Hatch is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre, 16-valve, 4-cylinder producing 131 kilowatts at 6000rpm and 240Nm of torque at 1700 to 4500 rpm, mated to a CVT transmission driving the 18inch front wheels. Fuel efficiency and emissions are improved by a new standard idle-stop system, a new catalytic converter design, as well as Honda’s variable timing and lift electronic control (VTEC) on the exhaust valves. For maximum driver enjoyment, Civic Hatch’s suspension and steering were developed in Europe. Civics have mostly been fun to drive and Honda says this is the most fun-to-drive Civic Hatch ever. The driver can select normal, eco, or sport driving mode. The front MacPherson struts feature new lowfriction ball joints and front damper mount bearings to improve steering feel and self-centring. The spring and damper alignment has been optimised to minimise operational friction, and a new, larger compliance bushing with an improved bushing axis minimises harshness. The rear track’s additional width adds stability to the multi-link rear end, and the longer wheelbase also aids ride quality. New rear lower control arm bushings promote better straight-line stability and turn in, while reducing noise and vibration inside
the cabin. The electronic power steering has been retuned to provide better feedback and improved straight-line stability. The reduced suspension friction and improved bushings are claimed to help reduce road shock, when going over railroad crossings for example, by 20 per cent.The all-new aluminium front subframe, with an efficient truss and rib structure, provides rigidity and stability.
BOSE AUDIO The new Civic gets a 12-speaker Bose audio system for the first time, with digital signal processing that is custom engineered for the Civic’s interior. Dynamic speed compensation technology automatically adjusts volume and tone based on vehicle speed, reducing the need for drivers to manually adjust settings while on the road. Passengers are protected by eight airbags, including new knee airbags. Standard in the car is a new Honda Sensing suite of driver assistive technologies that uses a new single-camera system providing a longer, wider field of view than the previous radar-and-camera based system. Combined with software advances and a new, more powerful processor, the system recognises hazards faster, along with road lines and road signs. Honda Sensing now features ‘traffic jam assist’, and provides more natural brake application and quicker reactions when using adaptive cruise control (ACC). It also has more linear and natural steering action when using the lane keeping assist system (LKAS). As Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate, more than 27 million Civics have been purchased by customers around the world since 1972, making it one of the top six best-selling passenger cars globally, ever. New Zealand was the first country outside Japan to assemble the Civic — it was assembled here until the sixth generation. The new Civic Hatch Sport, available in four colours, is priced at $47,000 plus $800 in on-road costs.
