Return of the Honda Civic Hatch
The first five-door Civic available on the New Zealand market since the demise of the remarkably spacious 2001-2006 model is to enter showrooms in July.
This is good news, as although we're very much a hatch-oriented market, Honda's recent reliance on Asian sourcing for Civics meant that all we could get were sedans for some years, and when you look at the dwindling numbers in terms of four-door sales in the C-segment, Honda will be celebrating the Euro Civic five-door's arrival too.
New Zealand has missed out on a full generation of five-door Civics, although across the Tasman a limited number were made available from the source in Swindon, England.
The all-new ninth-generation Civic five-door reached European showrooms in late 2011 and it too is sourced from Swindon, where the line-up consists of 1.4 and 1.8 i-VTEC petrol-powered models and a 2.2 i-DTEC diesel, with an all-new 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel entering the European market by the end of the year.
For the Australian and New Zealand markets, the new Euro Honda five-door will have VTi and VTi-L levels of specification, with both cars using the 1.8 i-VTEC petrol power unit, which delivers maximum power of 104kW at 6500rpm and 174Nm of torque at 4300rpm. It will drive through a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission choice.
The inclusion of what Honda calls its Eco Assist system, with Econ Mode, as well as improved aerodynamics, contributes a combined urban/extra urban fuel consumption figure of 6.1l/100km for the manual and 6.5l/100km for the automatic.
The EuroCivic debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year and to most eyes looks like a logical development of the previous wedge-shaped five-door that was on the market in Europe from late 2005 to 2011. But their new car doesn't have an old panel on it, and has lost the stark severity of the old car's lines. These are replaced with elegantly radiused curves, especially around the wheel arches. The car's monoform design has a lower and wider stance, which will have helped its aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
A striking spoiler, brake-light cluster and rear combination lamp design makes the car instantly recognisable from the rear too.
Quality cabin materials give a luxurious feel, while clever features such as a hidden faux-coupe rear door handle and Honda's Magic Seats bring practicality to the versatile hatch.
The new Civic Hatch has already achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and uses six airbags (front, side and full-length curtain), what Honda calls its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, Vehicle Stability Assist, G-Con technology, tyre deflation warning system and a reversing camera for the VTi-L (displayed in the multi-information display).
The interior's futuristic design has a cockpit effect that envelops the driver and presents two concentric zones - an inner one with the main dials and an outer area with smaller graphic elements. There's also a full-colour Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID), similar to that used in the recently released Civic sedan range, that even allows personalised wallpaper. New soft-touch surface materials have been used to improve the quality and feel. The Civic Hatch also has several storage compartments, USB and iPod connectivity and, in the VTi-L, Bluetooth audio streaming. A new tilt and telescopic steering wheel has easy operating controls.
A new colour palette has Yellow Topaz, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black, Deep Sapphire Blue, Milano Red, Polished Metal and White Orchid. All have a black interior, with cloth trim in the VTi and leather trim and heated front seats in the VTi-L.
Pricing will be announced with the launch in July, but is likely to start about $36,000.
CIVIC FACTS
* This is the ninth-generation Civic.
* The first Civic was launched in 1972.
* More than 20 million Civics have been sold globally.
* The Civic range is produced in 14 countries and regions and sold in about 160 world markets.
* Civic production was brought to the UK in 1994.
Fairfax NZ News < see the article on Stuff >
