2016 Honda Civic sedan previewed ahead of June launch

Honda confirms new engine, spec and packaging details for its most important new model ever. 

The tenth-generation of Honda’s legendary Civic nameplate made its local debut this week, with the sedan version previewed in Sydney and Melbourne ahead of its Australian launch in early June. 

The new Civic hatch is yet to be seen in production guise after being previewed by the Civic Hatchback Concept in Geneva last month, and Honda has confirmed the five-door will trail the new sedan by at least six months with an on-sale date in the first half of 2017. 

Full specifications and pricing will be announced closer to the Civic’s arrival in showrooms, but Honda has now confirmed several details for Australian-spec models. 

The new sedan builds on the looks of Honda’s recent designs like HR-V and the NSX supercar flagship, with sharp lines and the headlights and grille blended into one solid shape. 

You’d be forgiven for assuming the sedan is actually a long five-door hatch at first sight, as the rear window line now extends almost to the rearmost edge of the bootlid. This gives the Civic sedan a distinctive fastback profile that will also likely yield efficiency-boosting aerodynamic benefits.  

Unlike the current model, which has been sourced from Thailand in sedan guise and the UK in hatch form, both Australian versions of the new model will come from the same new factory in Thailand. 

The new-generation Type R has also been confirmed for Australia in the second half of 2017.

Sedan and hatch overall designs will also now be aligned, with only minor detail differences ahead of the B-pillar and a shorter rear overhang for the hatch.  

Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins confirmed that Australian models will feature both the 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol from the HR-V and a new 1.5-litre turbo petrol four derived from the current Civic Type R’s 2.0 litre.

The 1.8-litre will be available with either manual or CVT auto transmissions, but the 1.5 will be CVT-only. Just ten per cent of small car sales are manuals these days according to Mr Collins.   

There are no plans for diesel or hybrid versions in this generation, with the latter reflecting a shift away from Honda’s core business for petrol-electric variants. 

The pre-production model on display in Sydney this week featured the new sports-flavoured RS trim level. This will bridge the gap between four other regular trim levels and the upcoming new-generation Type R which has also been confirmed for Australia in the second half of 2017.

Purists will be disappointed to hear that the RS’s 1.5 turbo spec will limit it to the CVT transmission, but Honda assures the new Earth Dreams engine and transmission pairing will deliver a sporty experience. The next Type R will continue to be available with a manual transmission, however.

Purists will welcome a new multilink rear suspension system though, which is also set to replace the even cheaper torsion beam setup used for the last two generations of Civic hatches.

The RS gets a blacked out grille and discreet boot spoiler, and what looks to be unique front bumper inserts and 17 inch alloys. 

The inside also gets a fresh look, with a variety of material in the RS including leather on the seats and steering wheel. 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are set to be standard across Australian models, which should make satnav easier to achieve than the Honda Link-only setup on some current Hondas.    

The RS sedan on display had an adaptable centre console storage similar to the HR-V, with variable floor heights and sections to alternate beween cups, bottles or a small handbag. 

Also evident was a reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors, bottle holders front and rear, two ISOFIX child seat mounts and a spacesaver spare. 

The rear seat split-fold has remote releases, and the 20 per cent larger boot (therefore around 530-litres!) expands through a huge hole in the rear bulkhead. The sedan once again misses out on Honda’s Magic Seat system, but the brilliant setup is expected to remain for the hatch.   

Background

Honda’s automotive arm is still recovering from the development slowdown brought on by the GFC, but Australian sales grew by 22 per cent in 2015 with the arrival of the new HR-V into the booming small SUV segment.

Nonetheless, Mr Collins describes the new Civic as “the most important model we’ve ever launched.”

Australia is the biggest market for Honda in the ASEAN region, which has helped the local team have a say in the new Civic’s development from an early stage in its four-year gestation.

A key directive was a model to challenge the segment-leading Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 sedan and hatch lineups.

The Civic’s small car segment is also the largest in the Australian market, making up around 300,000 sales in our 1.1 million vehicle overall market each year. According to Honda, Australian preference for hatches sees five-doors making up two-thirds of sales.

Honda aims to make the Civic once again one of the top choices in its class, but is realistic about matching the Corolla and 3 for outright volume.

Thai-sourcing will put Honda on a more level playing field when it comes to pricing, but the local arm is aiming for the sweet spot rather than matching its Toyota and Mazda rivals.

The existing ninth-generation Civic is essentially in runout mode, with few examples remaining in showrooms ahead of the new model’s arrival.

Does the new Civic pack the looks at least to tempt you away from a Mazda3 or Corolla? Tell us what you think in the comments below.