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Nice review courtesy of Driving.ca
Source: http://driving.ca/honda/civic/reviews/road-test/first-drive-2017-honda-civic-hatchback
Honda's playful Civic hatch makes it one of the most fun entries in the compact segment
MUSKOKA, ONTARIO – It was the end of the world. We’d stopped to pick up the last of our posse at a grungy little flat above a west end diner, only to find we’d been blocked in by a clapped-out delivery van. To a pack of 18-year-olds on our way to see Max Webster, this was an unthinkable disaster. What to do? Behind our wee Honda was the cursed panel van, to the left was an odious dumpster. Beside us a rusty fire escape clung to the immovable brick wall.
In the midst of amped-up teen drama, we suddenly realized – if we could only make it over the cement parking divider, we just might be able to squeeze behind the fire escape, along the wall, and out through the alley. The dumpster proved our salvation in the form of a plywood ramp, and although the poor Honda suffered some minor scraping, we were soon on our way with all the urgency that 52 horsepower could muster.
Since 1975, the Honda Civic has been part of the cultural fabric for many Canadian youth not only because it was cheap, but because it was also fun. Our little green 1977 Civic was decidedly budget transportation, consisting of little more than wheels and running gear, but it represented our first taste of independence and freedom.
After an 11-year hiatus, the Civic Hatchback has finally returned. But instead of a rudimentary little runabout, the much-anticipated hatch is being positioned as a more premium vehicle, targeting the active buyer who, according to Honda sales and marketing manager Steve Hui, “earns a little more and is willing to pay for the versatility that supports their lifestyle.” The base model LX starts at $21,390 with a manual transmission, while the top-spec Sport Touring is $30,690 with a continuously variable automatic.
The hatch is built on the same “unified” global platform underpinning the latest Civic sedan and coupe. And the lineup won’t end here– Honda has plans to introduce the Civic Si and Type-R variants here in the near future. The hatch, which is produced in England, will be the platform for such future performance models as the 300-horsepower Civic Type-R currently sold in Europe.
It’s part of their strategy to maintain Civic’s 18-year run as Canada’s best-selling car, in an increasingly competitive segment. Honda hopes to sell 10,000 per year, 15 per cent of overall Civic sales, with the LX as the volume seller. Honda’s aiming at being the “number one global hatch,” a lofty goal when you consider the success of Volkswagen’s Golf, the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra GT and the Mazda3.
From the B-pillars forward, the Civic hatchback is virtually the same as the sedan. The hatch’s body is 135 millimetres shorter, but the wheelbase is exactly the same. In keeping with its sportier image, the hatch wears a more aggressive face with a black grille stretching side to side, accentuating its wide stance. From some angles, it recalls the CR-Z with futuristic taillights bracketing the sharp blocks of its rear sheet metal.
Like the coupe, the Civic hatch’s sheet metal features numerous sharp folds and creases, creating an arresting visual design that’s sure to alienate some buyers while endearing itself to others.
Inside, the cabin is pretty much a carryover from the sedan, with what Honda boasts is “class-leading rear legroom.” Reflecting its more premium price point, the hatch is well-equipped even at the entry level. Standard is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, automatic climate control, Bluetooth, heated front seats, a rear-view camera, remote entry system, a TFT display, a rear spoiler, and automatic headlights.
Honda Sensing, a package of advanced radar and camera-based safety technology, is available as an option on all trim levels. It includes adaptive cruise control with low speed follow, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation and lane keeping assist. It’s impressive to think that this sort of technology is now available in the compact segment, however it’s important to note that the new Toyota Corolla now includes these features as standard equipment – on its $16,290 base model.
Civic claims class-leading trunk space with 728 litres, compared to the the Focus’s 674, the Golf’s 646, and the Mazda3’s 572L. According to Hui, that’s enough for two suitcases and a golf bag. In order to support opening up the back-end of the Civic platform to create the 1,120-millimetre trunk, engineers added extra bracing to ensure there’s no chassis flex. And instead of a retractable cargo cover contained within a bulky bar, there’s a slick new piece that rolls back side to side like a window blind. No more fiddling around, trying to figure out how to put the damn thing back again.
The Civic hatch rides on a MacPherson strut suspension up front and independent multilink rear setup. The dampers are tuned specifically for the hatch, and the bushings are hydraulic rather than rubber. Aside from its divisive appearance, the sheet metal’s been stroked to produce the least amount of drag while keeping the car planted on the road. Strakes and body covers underneath are designed to keep the air flowing freely instead of buffeting about and creating potential lift.
Via: Driving.ca - http://driving.ca/honda/civic/reviews/road-test/first-drive-2017-honda-civic-hatchback
Source: http://driving.ca/honda/civic/reviews/road-test/first-drive-2017-honda-civic-hatchback
Honda's playful Civic hatch makes it one of the most fun entries in the compact segment
MUSKOKA, ONTARIO – It was the end of the world. We’d stopped to pick up the last of our posse at a grungy little flat above a west end diner, only to find we’d been blocked in by a clapped-out delivery van. To a pack of 18-year-olds on our way to see Max Webster, this was an unthinkable disaster. What to do? Behind our wee Honda was the cursed panel van, to the left was an odious dumpster. Beside us a rusty fire escape clung to the immovable brick wall.
In the midst of amped-up teen drama, we suddenly realized – if we could only make it over the cement parking divider, we just might be able to squeeze behind the fire escape, along the wall, and out through the alley. The dumpster proved our salvation in the form of a plywood ramp, and although the poor Honda suffered some minor scraping, we were soon on our way with all the urgency that 52 horsepower could muster.
Since 1975, the Honda Civic has been part of the cultural fabric for many Canadian youth not only because it was cheap, but because it was also fun. Our little green 1977 Civic was decidedly budget transportation, consisting of little more than wheels and running gear, but it represented our first taste of independence and freedom.
After an 11-year hiatus, the Civic Hatchback has finally returned. But instead of a rudimentary little runabout, the much-anticipated hatch is being positioned as a more premium vehicle, targeting the active buyer who, according to Honda sales and marketing manager Steve Hui, “earns a little more and is willing to pay for the versatility that supports their lifestyle.” The base model LX starts at $21,390 with a manual transmission, while the top-spec Sport Touring is $30,690 with a continuously variable automatic.
The hatch is built on the same “unified” global platform underpinning the latest Civic sedan and coupe. And the lineup won’t end here– Honda has plans to introduce the Civic Si and Type-R variants here in the near future. The hatch, which is produced in England, will be the platform for such future performance models as the 300-horsepower Civic Type-R currently sold in Europe.
It’s part of their strategy to maintain Civic’s 18-year run as Canada’s best-selling car, in an increasingly competitive segment. Honda hopes to sell 10,000 per year, 15 per cent of overall Civic sales, with the LX as the volume seller. Honda’s aiming at being the “number one global hatch,” a lofty goal when you consider the success of Volkswagen’s Golf, the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra GT and the Mazda3.
From the B-pillars forward, the Civic hatchback is virtually the same as the sedan. The hatch’s body is 135 millimetres shorter, but the wheelbase is exactly the same. In keeping with its sportier image, the hatch wears a more aggressive face with a black grille stretching side to side, accentuating its wide stance. From some angles, it recalls the CR-Z with futuristic taillights bracketing the sharp blocks of its rear sheet metal.
Like the coupe, the Civic hatch’s sheet metal features numerous sharp folds and creases, creating an arresting visual design that’s sure to alienate some buyers while endearing itself to others.
Inside, the cabin is pretty much a carryover from the sedan, with what Honda boasts is “class-leading rear legroom.” Reflecting its more premium price point, the hatch is well-equipped even at the entry level. Standard is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, automatic climate control, Bluetooth, heated front seats, a rear-view camera, remote entry system, a TFT display, a rear spoiler, and automatic headlights.
Honda Sensing, a package of advanced radar and camera-based safety technology, is available as an option on all trim levels. It includes adaptive cruise control with low speed follow, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation and lane keeping assist. It’s impressive to think that this sort of technology is now available in the compact segment, however it’s important to note that the new Toyota Corolla now includes these features as standard equipment – on its $16,290 base model.
Civic claims class-leading trunk space with 728 litres, compared to the the Focus’s 674, the Golf’s 646, and the Mazda3’s 572L. According to Hui, that’s enough for two suitcases and a golf bag. In order to support opening up the back-end of the Civic platform to create the 1,120-millimetre trunk, engineers added extra bracing to ensure there’s no chassis flex. And instead of a retractable cargo cover contained within a bulky bar, there’s a slick new piece that rolls back side to side like a window blind. No more fiddling around, trying to figure out how to put the damn thing back again.
The Civic hatch rides on a MacPherson strut suspension up front and independent multilink rear setup. The dampers are tuned specifically for the hatch, and the bushings are hydraulic rather than rubber. Aside from its divisive appearance, the sheet metal’s been stroked to produce the least amount of drag while keeping the car planted on the road. Strakes and body covers underneath are designed to keep the air flowing freely instead of buffeting about and creating potential lift.
Via: Driving.ca - http://driving.ca/honda/civic/reviews/road-test/first-drive-2017-honda-civic-hatchback
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