Summarize

Honda further refines an all-time fave

Some things in life can be taken with salt. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west, it will be hot in summer and cold in winter and Honda will keep on selling the Civic. It’s just one of those cars and now it's even better...

Honda has just titivated its current Civic through a midlife update that builds on its advanced and dynamic strengths through a series of subtle styling and cockpit enhancements across the four-model range. And while it retains its familiar choice of drivetrains, Civic now gains a redesigned grille, a bolder, three-dimensional bumper and new styling details to further emphasise that unique Civic style.

At the rear, new chrome detailing highlights Civic's wide, low stance, while more upmarket models gain shinier trim and new model-specific wheel designs add eye candy across the range — the 1.8 Comfort now runs grey double-spoke 16-inch alloys, 1.8 Elegance and 1.5T Executive models gain dark grey scythe-spoked 17-inch and the 1.5T Sport gains black 17-inchers.

Step inside and Civic’s attractive, soft-touch and rich accented cockpit becomes an even more contemporary, quieter space thanks to improved noise insulation and an even user-friendlier driver-car interface. An all-new high-resolution seven-inch LCD screen audio system complete with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and other compatibility on Elegance, Sport and Executive models makes this the most convenient and connected Civic yet, all run by a multifunction steering wheel.

One advance we really appreciate is the return to hard buttons and a convenient volume control knob in place of the outgoing and quite impractical screen touching. How car designers managed to ignore the shortcomings of touching a screen to alter some setting while your finger is subject to the forces of driving will long remain a mystery, so bravo to Honda for rectifying that oversight...

Several other Civic firsts like the Sport and Executive models' smart key operated Walk Away Auto Lock continue, while the Civic Executive continues to pack a supreme safety package including Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Following Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist with Lane watch and a blind spot, Road Departure Mitigation and Forward Collision Warning.

All that is over and above Civic’s light, stiff ACE tech rich platform for best top drawer dynamics, handling and safety while Vehicle Stability Control, ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic force distribution, dual front, side and curtain airbags and Hill Start Assist are standard on all models and a reverse camera and rear parking sensors come with all but the base model.

As noted, Civic’s drivetrains remain unchanged, with Honda's proven 104 kW  normally aspirated 1.8-litre and 127kW 220Nm 1.5-litre VTEC turbo petrol four-cylinders both driving Honda’s efficient Continuously Variable Transmission. Developing maximum torque between 1700 and 5500rpm, the Earth Dreams 1.5-litre Turbo develops maximum torque between 1700 and 5500rpm to enhance driveability.

Both engines feature Honda's ECON mode to optimise the engine and transmission for maximum fuel economy, while an Eco Assist pane on the infotainment screen can help the driver achieve the most efficient driving style.

Available in Red, Metallic Blue, Steel or Silver Metallic, or White Pearl, Civic comes with a 5-year/200 000 km warranty, a 5-year/90 000 km service plan at 15 000 km intervals for 1.8 models, and 10 000 km for 1.5T variants, as well as three years of AA Roadside Assistance.

Honda Civic Pricing
1.8 Comfort CVT - R364K
1.8 Elegance CVT - R408K
1.5T Sport CVT - R474K
1.5T Executive CVT - R507K