Honda Civic Review

The Honda Civic Hatchback used to be rated as “subcompacts,” but the later recent seventh- and eighth-generation models have been promoted to “compacts” because of the noticeable higher centres of gravity and added weight. These cars are popular tuner projects and are also growing in popularity in the vehicle leasing industry because they are reasonably priced and practical. The styling of Honda Civic Hatchback models produced before 2006 were more main stream, but all eighth-generation models are decidedly more aggressive. Amber Rating – 4 Stars

Specs

The most recent models replaced the traditional front “double wishbone” suspension with the newer MacPherson struts – something that seems to have disappointed not only the tuner community but also car reviewers. While the MacPherson struts have made manufacturing the Honda Civic Hatchback much cheaper and simpler, the quality of this compact car’s responsiveness seems to have been compromised. Amber Rating – 3 Stars

Performance

You can’t expect a lot of pure power from the Honda Civic Hatchback, but the responsiveness of its 1.8-litre petrol model is decent. Performance is strong for its class, and there’s plenty of pulling power. It’s harder to work the 2.2-litre diesel, which tends to surge only mid-range. However, if you just need a city car and intend to use the Honda Civic Hatchback for car leasing, then the entry level, 1.4-litre 82bhp petrol model is already sufficient. Amber Rating – 4 Stars

Ride and Handling

Compared to Ford hatchbacks in the same class, the Honda Civic Hatchback does not quite handle well enough. There’s an overall lack of grip, and while the steering responds fast during city driving, it is frustratingly short at higher speeds. The Honda Civic Hatchback’s suspension is rather noisy on bad urban roads, too. Amber Rating – 3 Stars

Refinement

The Honda Civic Hatchback’s firm ride tends to jiggle at both high and low speeds. However, it still is a decent cruiser. Wind noise and road noise is there, but minimal. It’s the suspension that really gets clunky over bumps. If you want a quieter ride, choose a petrol engine. The diesels tend to wheeze when revved, but they’re not as bad as other diesel rivals in the same class. Amber Rating – 3 Stars

Safety & Security

The Honda Civic Hatchback does not hold back on safety and security, which is probably why it continues to be a popular contract hire option. Standard safety equipment include twin front, curtain, and side airbags and stability control systems for preventing skids. There are also standard engine immobilisers and deadlocks. The higher-end models (SE and above) are equipped with “active” head restraints for minimising whiplash injuries. Amber Rating – 5 Stars

Ergonomics

Because the Honda Civic Hatchback is styled like a coupe, the rear headroom is compromised, and taller adults may find the back cramped. Driver visibility is not one of the car’s strongest suits, either. The upside is that there is a lot of legroom for all passengers both in the front and rear seats. The boot is huge (485 litres); fold the rear seats to get a flat, longer-than-usual load area, or flip them up (like you would flip up cinema seats) to store more in the rear foot well. Amber Rating – 5 Stars