Honda Civic Si 2011 review

Style Room Handling

Low quality Hard plastics Press-button start

ONCE the shining star of the econo-car brigade, Honda has been punched and kicked from everything as diverse as a damning US Consumer Reports review - citing downsides including the quality of the cabin - to a merciless Mother Nature.

Both helped make severe dents in global sales. Australia, which despite the views of most Americans is actually a part of the globe, followed suit with Honda car sales down 23.4 per cent year to-date October.
Tsunamis in Japan and floods in Thailand and a tidal wave of compact cars from Korea are crippling Honda's style.

There are other factors - it is one of the very few car makers without an alliance with another carmaker - but for me it comes down to the Civic five-door hatchback's very ordinary, yes even disappointing, quality.

Value

Explore the 2011 Honda Civic range

• Honda Civic 2011 review
• Honda Civic Si 2011 review

The UK-built Civic looks great and at $29,990, the six-speed manual version is an okay proposition. It is roomy, has a neat fold-down rear seat arrangement, most of the necessary safety credentials and a pleasant drivetrain. But it feels like it is assembled by the ghosts of BMC workers. It's discomforting to wake up in the morning ready to endure the midweek freeway and wrap your fingers around a stiff, ill-fitting door handle. The door closes with a metallic "ting" and the dashboard - clever in design - is mainly shiny hard plastic once used to make "unbreakable" outdoor furniture. Value? Not quite.

Design

This still looks so good, despite the years on the market. This is the crux of my grizzle - it looks great but is cheaply built, blowing the illusion. Not only is it edgy and distinctive, it works. There's very good interior room, the rear seats fold dead flat and the boot is big, though the space-saver spare goes against previous Civic trends. Sit in the driver's seat and the car feels comfortable; one you sit in rather than on. Things that work, work well. But though the split-level instru ment panel that places the digital speedo high up on the dash is very clever, there's not much logic in the placement of many of the switches. The push-button starter - in red - is just silly, especially as you still have to insert and twist a key in the steering column barrel.

Technology

This was once a Honda by-word. The Civic of 2011 is modest in its mechanical technology, being built under the oppressive hand of design conservatism and economic parts utilisation. Yes, it works but the sparkle isn't there. The six-speed manual is nice but no-one's going to buy it. Instead you have to go to the transmission that Civic buyers want - the five-speed automatic that adds $2300. Previous Civic generations had interesting double wishbone and multi-link suspension but now there's conventional MacPhersons at the front and a torsion bar behind.

Safety

The Civic hatch presents as a safe package - based on its comprehensive suite of equipment such as six airbags, ESC and even things like rear park sensors - but the body rates only as a four star. Many of its rivals have the maximum crash rating of five stars.

Driving

First impressions - the cheap-feeling door handles and the tinny sound when the door shuts - aren't great. Even fiddling with the ignition key and press-button starter don't raise a hearty chuckle. But the 1.8-litre engine is quite good, keen off the mark while being quiet and fuss-free through the gears. The box is pretty good with short throws and an even spacing between the cogs but the shift action could be less clunky. The steering is electric-assist and while light enough to appease the feeble, is low on feedback for someone that enjoys a corner or two. I did, however, appreciate the ride comfort above 60km/h (a bit jiggly below that) and was happy with the low noise levels. The car seats five people but the rear seat is best for two adults as legroom is good but headroom is limited.

Verdict

This is the automotive equivalent of a young, troubled US actress - and for legal reasons I can't name any of them - which look sensational but which disappoint once you get up close and personal. There's just too many rising stars that can do a better job.