Saturday, January 9, 2010

Civic Sedan DX-G Review "it is seriously tough to go wrong"




This car is a clear testament to Honda's know-how. Introduced in late 2005 as a 2006 model-year car, the latest generation of the Civic just about changed the face of the compact car segment with its near-futuristic styling and innovative cabin. That was five model years ago, but the Civic still reigns supreme in its category.

How? Well, it's about doing one thing and doing it well. The Civic has a long history, relatively speaking, here in North America as a choice form of economical transportation that is fun to drive. This simple, yet important, recipe has been maintained throughout the Civic's 35-plus year existence.

Growing with the times
As the generations seemingly flew by, the eighth iteration of the Civic is the biggest ever. More capacious, powerful and comfortable, this car is no longer a small second family car, although it certainly can handle these duties as well.

In car-years, five is a big number, especially for the Japanese. Usually, a thoroughly revamped car would be circulating on the web or, minimally, a refreshed body would have been presented to the masses “last” year.

This is not really the case for this Civic. The fact that it continues to be fashionable demonstrates that Honda was so spot-on with their styling exercise that it has required next to nothing to stay current. The car's wedge shaped front end and high tail remain modern and even sought after by those that appreciate the “raked” look.

Roomy, well thought-out and versatile, the Civic's passenger quarters are still amongst the most welcoming in the segment, as much as some cars that have only recently been unveiled. Perhaps my only complaint here is the location of the emergency brake handle which digs into my knee. Otherwise, the firm seats and flat rear floor are very accommodating. One thing I do like is the location of the speedometer at the top of the dashboard; I'm left wondering why other manufacturers have yet to copy this.

Peppy for sure
In the compact segment, sub-2.0L engines are usually reserved for the base cars. In the Civic's case, it's the only one you can get (non-Si). Dropping 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque, this car's powertrain can do what most competitors’ 2.0L engines can do all the while consuming less fuel. Our tested DX-G car was equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission which was a rarity when the car was originally launched.

At only 1,239 kg, the Civic need not struggle with lazy arduous weight transfers when tackling on and off-ramps. Instead, the agile suspension and precise power steering make this car a joy to drive. Responsive as ever, the Civic is a pleasure on the highway as well as in town; it's always nice to get back behind the wheel of a lithe car.

The autobox works well, never missing a shift however, for this automobile, nothing rivals the pure enjoyment of working the five cogs yourself. Perhaps the best outcome of driving a Civic is the low fuel consumption numbers you can expect regardless of your driving habits. An average of only 7L per 100 km is a common occurrence.

Honestly
In all honesty, I'm not a big fan of the Civic unless it's a white four-door Si. I personally have had a bad family experience with a 2006 Civic and truthfully, the car is getting old. Be that as it may, I'm obviously the confused or deranged one as the car is still popular, almost too popular. I know the car is good, but I'm convinced that its name carries it most of the way. Think of a reputation. The Civic's is nearly impeccable, it has great resale value and ownership costs are low...

I'm confronted with the fact that this is not my favourite car, because it's such an “open-and-shut” choice to make. I'm all for the underdogs, maybe, but for your money, it is seriously tough to go wrong when you drive away from a Honda dealer at the wheel of your new Civic.

Source;
http://www.auto123.com/en/honda/civic-sedan/2010/review?carid=1102300202&artid=114631

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