New Honda Civic - thoughts?

[AmitG]

Coming very early next year apparently. What do people think?

I had a look at one. My initial thoughts were:

• Looks terrible in pictures on the internet, but the hatchback version looks pretty good in real life, at least in silver.
• The less exterior tat you order, the better it looks.
• Looks uncomfortably like a Focus in side view and rear view. The Jazz reminds me of a Ka/Fiesta, so either it's just me, or Honda have a Ford fetish going on.
• Interior is rather conventional, but very nice, in terms of quality and layout.
• Boot space did not look great. I didn't measure, but it certainly wasn't the physics-defying black hole that is the Jazz boot.
• All-digital dash display. Hooray!
• No magic seats. Boooo!

It's lost some of the quirky attraction of the old Civic, like the 2-layer dashboard, which I liked. And the magic seats. But I guess the old model didn't sell in the numbers hoped for. And Honda need to sell this car globally.

There will apparently be a 1.5 turbo version with something like 160bhp, which sounds potentially very interesting.

Interested to hear any views from past owners and indeed from anywhere else.

I will probably decline, unless a stonkingly good deal is offered. I am minded to wait for the estate version...

[750turbo]

AmitG said:

Coming very early next year apparently. What do people think?

I had a look at one. My initial thoughts were:

• Looks terrible in pictures on the internet, but the hatchback version looks pretty good in real life, at least in silver.
• The less exterior tat you order, the better it looks.
• Looks uncomfortably like a Focus in side view and rear view. The Jazz reminds me of a Ka/Fiesta, so either it's just me, or Honda have a Ford fetish going on.
• Interior is rather conventional, but very nice, in terms of quality and layout.
• Boot space did not look great. I didn't measure, but it certainly wasn't the physics-defying black hole that is the Jazz boot.
• All-digital dash display. Hooray!
• No magic seats. Boooo!

It's lost some of the quirky attraction of the old Civic, like the 2-layer dashboard, which I liked. And the magic seats. But I guess the old model didn't sell in the numbers hoped for. And Honda need to sell this car globally.

There will apparently be a 1.5 turbo version with something like 160bhp, which sounds potentially very interesting.

Interested to hear any views from past owners and indeed from anywhere else.

I will probably decline, unless a stonkingly good deal is offered. I am minded to wait for the estate version...

Whats not to like!

[pistonheadforum]

Fingers crossed it's good (but not holding out much faith).

I am in the market for a new reliable/small/petrol set of wheels and I would like it the the new Honda Civic. Just the bog standard model.

Problem is that Honda really have nothing special other than their reliability - the back end looks appaling and the current Civic looks awful at the front in my opinion. Plus I hate the concept of a speedo that's just a digital readout. Leather seats not an additional option either.

I have also been looking at Toyota for reliablity but really struggling to force myself to spend proper money on something that has all the asthetics and character of a fridge freezer.

[krismccloy]

I like the fact that like for like the new base model is 18kg lighter, That is the first time a successor has actually reduced in weight. Progress!

I actually quite like the silhouette of the new model, Will reserve judgment on the details once I see one in the flesh.

[pistonheadforum]

I actually quite like the look of these (was not keen on the previous generation 9 looks at all).

Looking for something new and reliable and planning to keep for the long haul (so depreciation less of an issue). My left leg needs something to do so it will be a manual.

I'm guessing the 1 litres is to be avoided and 1.5 litre petrol is the one to go for? I don't want a modern diesel as they seem to have too much in them to go wrong on short journeys.

Safe to assume these will be bullet-proof or do Honda have issues with new model launches until the niggles are sorted like others?

[AmitG]

Apparently they are not yet at all the dealers. I'm going to try and take a looksie some time in the next couple of weeks.

I got a sneak preview of one, and in real life it does look rather good in light colours (silver and white).

The 1.5 turbo version has something like 170bhp and a 0-60 time of just over 7 seconds. I reckon this will be the one to go for.

A bonus is that it is built in the UK. With Brexit etc. I wonder if this will make it competitive, price wise, versus imported rivals. And if I was Honda I would be making a huge deal of the fact that it is built in the UK and exported all over the world. I reckon that could get them loads of sales.

Initial reviews seem to be very good. All we need now is for Honda UK to balls it up...

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

A few at a dealers today and saw one on the road on Friday, it was black and looked very good.

[traffman]

Ive never seen a photo of the black version as pictured above in the thread. When i saw it in red and white it looked too angular .
However seeing one in black changes my opinion on it somewhat.

Like it in black!

[AmitG]

Apparently there will be no Tourer version.

That's a shame, I would have seriously considered one of those.

[giger]

Really not sure about this one - local Honda dealer has had a number parked up around the back for a while. Been to have a look, and I really don't like it (and i'm a Honda guy). They had a variety of colours and specs and once you got past the front end, none of them looked good.

Maybe it's a grower...

Edited by giger on Monday 10th April 22:19

[Martin_Hx]

I love the FK2 and would defiantly have one but this.... i do not like this new "American" one at all

[AmitG]

I wonder how it is doing sales wise. Any Honda dealers available to comment?

I quite like it. I'm toying with the idea of getting the 1.5 turbo sport version...

[vernz]

We have just taken delivery of a brand new Type R in red.

My first Honda after an RX8 and two Nissan Z cars.

When we enquired at the dealer in Feb, there were only about 30 left yet to be registered in the UK and production had stopped to make way for the new model. Our numbered plate is late 6000, so I suspect the total production run was less than 7000, for just Europe and Japan.

We have only had the car for a couple of weeks, but already I love it. It feels very fast and like I'm driving something a bit more special than some of the other 'understated' hot hatches available.

It certainly gets a few looks, although I do understand for some it's a bit of a Marmite car.

Normally I'd be cautious about taking an older model near to the launch of the new version, but having seen the pictures in EVO of the new 'Sedan' style type R, I'm not at all bothered, in fact I'm pleased I've managed to get my hands on one of the outgoing cars.

Clearly Honda want to sell these cars in the USA (unlike the previous/current car) and as a result the styling has been influenced. I think it actually still looks ok from the back, but not from the front.

I'll wait to see one in the flesh before I make up my mind.

[evsky]

AmitG said:

I wonder how it is doing sales wise. Any Honda dealers available to comment?

I quite like it. I'm toying with the idea of getting the 1.5 turbo sport version...

I "may" work in sales at Honda. There were around 3000 cars available at launch, these have now gone and there is a waiting time for most models/colours of around 2 months. Though this isn't to say a dealer may have a Sport in stock somewhere.

They are made in Swindon, who produce 800 cars a day, so the wait time could be worse.

I also "may" drive a 1.5 turbo sport manual as my company car, and even without my Honda cap on I like to think I would say it's a bloody good drive, the equipment it comes with as standard is really impressive.

The engine itself, we were skeptical about them but I think they have really done well, the 1.5 turbo has more than enough poke for a daily in my opinion, and it handles really nicely, as Honda's always have done.

Also if you would normally consider an automatic, please don't knock the CVT option, almost everyone at ours that has drive the manual and the CVT have been blown away by the CVT, it drives superbly. Have a drive at the very least and try out the adaptive cruise(the CVT model stops with traffic and then moves off for you, leaving only the steering work to you)

[AmitG]

Thanks a lot for that evsky. It seems to be doing well. I guess this is a very, very important car for Honda.

The 1.5 Sport Plus with CVT is indeed what I'm considering

I must admit, part of the attraction is that it's made in the UK. I'm no jingoist - in fact I'm a second gen immigrant - but I do think it's important to support British industry, and IMHO Honda should make much more of it in their advertising.

A couple of things do annoy me. The lack of magic seats is a shame, but I understand it's to do with moving the fuel tank to get a lower driving position. The cloth trim feels a bit cheap, and if you want leather and the 1.5 engine you have to get the Prestige, which comes with a load of chrome trim that IMHO looks a bit tacky. At this price point I think the cloth should be better.

Everything else seems good. I haven't taken a test drive yet - need to decide if it's what I really want before taking up someone's time...

[evsky]

AmitG said:

Thanks a lot for that evsky. It seems to be doing well. I guess this is a very, very important car for Honda.

The 1.5 Sport Plus with CVT is indeed what I'm considering

I must admit, part of the attraction is that it's made in the UK. I'm no jingoist - in fact I'm a second gen immigrant - but I do think it's important to support British industry, and IMHO Honda should make much more of it in their advertising.

A couple of things do annoy me. The lack of magic seats is a shame, but I understand it's to do with moving the fuel tank to get a lower driving position. The cloth trim feels a bit cheap, and if you want leather and the 1.5 engine you have to get the Prestige, which comes with a load of chrome trim that IMHO looks a bit tacky. At this price point I think the cloth should be better.

Everything else seems good. I haven't taken a test drive yet - need to decide if it's what I really want before taking up someone's time...

Indeed, it is nice that it's made here in the UK; the Swindon plant is a very good one too.

I agree the lack of magic seats are a bit of a shame, but close friends and family that I have given a lift have said it's a really comfortable car in the back now, and plenty of legroom this time!

One of the downsides with Honda's and how they make their cars is the lack of customization, you get a ton of features as standard but if you want something added like leather you're pretty much out of luck. Saying that I personally haven't noticed the cloth seats too much, they are comfortable enough for me, though I suppose as a prospective buyer you will look at everything and make sure it ticks most of the boxes.

[Quartz Cutter]

I loved the concept of the upcoming R when I first saw it, and was very pleased to see that the production model shown at the Geneva motorshow stayed true to the concept (Especially after the differences between the previous prototype and the current FK2). I think the front looks great, though am not so sure about the rear end. Definitely looks better with the spoiler. Having seen some of the new gen ones in the steel on the roads, they do look much better.

The three exhausts I thought were a bit... too much, until I saw the Car Throttle blog about their function.

Glad that all of the range are turbo'd, and am interested to hear more from long-term owners about the efficiencies of the 1.0 and 1.5 petrol models with the turbo in mind. And the 2.0 owners when that becomes a thing next year!

[Quartz Cutter]

Also if anyone would like some higher resolution images of the upcoming R, I have 5 very high quality images I can share (6036 x 4528 pixels). Holding back until interest because the internet where I live is appalling!

[pstruck]

Saw one on the road yesterday and it confirmed my initial thoughts based on images I'd seen on the net - I don't like it at all. To me it looks a mess and has some very clumsy lines, details and overall proportions. I prefer clean lines and unfussy design. This has neither and from some angles looks like something adorned with a nasty vielside body kit. It's just as well we all like different things. I'm not anti-Honda. I love my 8G Type S.

[Quartz Cutter]

pstruck said:

Saw one on the road yesterday and it confirmed my initial thoughts based on images I'd seen on the net - I don't like it at all. To me it looks a mess and has some very clumsy lines, details and overall proportions. I prefer clean lines and unfussy design. This has neither and from some angles looks like something adorned with a nasty vielside body kit. It's just as well we all like different things. I'm not anti-Honda. I love my 8G Type S.

With you on the loving on my 8G Type S! 9th and 10th gens don't come close in the design department.