1978 Honda Civic Reviews

Over a decade ago Honda brought the first ever mass-produced hybrid to Australia early in 2001. The Honda Insight was something out of the ordinary not only in its petrol-electric powertrain, but also in its radical styling.Sales have been slow for the Insight and its original near-$50,000 price tagin 2001 didn't help either - you could get into a mid-range Honda Civic for less than half of that. Honda quickly learned its lesson, so from 2004 began to import Civic hybrids rather than Insights. These have been moderately successful in the sales race over the years.In its strong push towards clean, green vehicles Honda now sells three hybrids in Australia: the Civic which is the subject of this test, the sporting CR-Z that picked up Wheels magazine’s car of the year award in 2011, and new Honda Insight. The latter being considerably more mainstream than the model that held that name 10 years back, though with a good dash of individuality.With the new model Civic hybrid for 2012 Honda is making a strong sales and marketing push. Amongst other methods it gave several motoring journalists the opportunity to live with a Civic hybrid for six months. We are now halfway through that period and are thoroughly enjoying the experience.The Civic hybrid loses a little boot space to house its battery but is better than many older generation hybrids. As the battery sits upright behind the rear seat here’s no fold-down facility to let you carry extra long items within the car. Interior space is fine for four adults, with room in the centre-rear for another without too much discomfort. Despite the sleek appearance of the body headroom in the Civic is fine.There’s a big emphasis on in-car entertainment and communication in the all-new Civic, with a screen in the right-centre of the dash devoted to phone, iPod and audio systems. These are controlled by buttons on the steering wheel to minimise - but obviously not eliminate - driver distraction.Owners of turbo-diesel cars, particularly those built in Europe, will point out that they can achieve similarly low fuel figures. However there’s a lot more to saving fuel when it comes to trimming the danger vehicles can cause to the air we breathe. Diesels put out significantly more CO2 than petrol-hybrids; as an example the Honda Civic hybrid is rated at 104 grams per kilometre in the Green Vehicle Guide, whereas diesel cars of this size typically push out 150 to 160 grams - a huge difference.Having covered almost 2000 km to date, we have found the Honda Civic hybrid using fuel in the range of 5.6 to 6.2 litres per hundred kilometres in commuter driving in town. This can be pulled down to the high fours on motorways while still flowing along easily with the traffic. A mixture of city and country driving usually had the fuel meter sitting in the low to mid fives.Major changes have been made to the electric motor and it is now powered by a lithium-ion battery in place of the nickel-metal-hydride of the previous model. This gives the Civic hybrid added torque off the line and it has plenty of performance for day-to-day driving. The petrol engine stops completely once the speed gets below about 10 km/h. It restarts as soon as you want to move off again.Because the ‘starter motor’ is the same one that helps drive the car, restarting is significantly smoother than that of a normal four-cylinder engine with a stop-start feature. The driver can select between economy and performance in several ways. As in many recent Hondas (not just hybrids) you can push an ‘Econ’ button to go for minimum fuel consumption.We found that using this can trim as much as five per cent off the routine fuel use. On the downside it really does deaden the feel of the engine and we weren’t all that keen on it. There’s also a Sports mode if you really wanting to pedal along hard and it certainly adds a fair bit of oomph to the performance. In reality we seldom felt any need for this as the hybrid isn’t that sort of car.

There are several sci-fi directions you could go when talking about the styling of the UK-sourced Honda Civic.Rather than get into some frivolous debate with chatroom dwellers around the globe, we'll just say this head turner from Honda is not short on looks.Keeping the aesthetic theme of the outgoing car but slicing the price could do wonders for the appeal in this price-conscious end of the market; we're in the Vti-L five-speed automatic hatch.The new UK-sourced hatch has a sharper price tag to the tune of $4000 over the outgoing model but its features list has not been culled to suit.The Civic Vti-L has automatic (halogen, not xenon) headlights, rain-sensing wipers, mirrors that are heated, power-adjustable and folding, front fog lights, LED tail lights and daytime running lights, a rear wiper for the expansive rear glass area, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, cruise control with speed limiter and three 12v outlets (two in-cabin, one in the boot) alloy pedals.And a height-adjustable driver's seat height, heated front seats, a trip computer, insulated windows, leather trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, splitfold rear seat, 17in alloys (although there's only a temporary spare) and a USB/AUX equipped seven-speaker premium sound system with Bluetooth phone and sound system link, but no satnav.The Civic gets a i-VTEC variable valve 1.8-litre engine, offering a meagre 104kW and 174Nm from 95RON fuel. The long-serving i-VTEC system picks between two cam profiles according to what demands are being placed on the engine to give it a bit more flexibility but the powerplant is definitely aiming for frugal fuel use - it claims a 10 per cent improvement over the outgoing car.The five-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and has a Sport mode and paddleshifts (it will hold a gear too) but you'd have thought six-speeds might have been forthcoming in a 2012 car. The driver can play with the economy mode of the car's throttle and climate control system - which also has blue (thirsty) to green (economical) dash lighting to encourage more frugal driving.Unlike some of the current Honda range, you can't call the new UK-built hatch boring, conservative or plain. Lower and wider than the outgoing model, the nose is aggressive and its flanks have some curvy lines to catch the light, but the rump is a little unwieldy. The high back probably works for the aerodynamic engineers and the rear visibility is improved by the extra window, but it's not as pretty a beasty from the rear. Most drivers (except perhaps the shorter pilot) will get plenty of forward vision through the large windscreen but rear-three quarter isn't as good - sensors teamed to the camera would make life a little less daunting in a close-quarter car park situation. The cargo space - which includes the area inhabited by the rear seats - is flexible and spacious.The Civic makes plenty of its solid construction and safety rank - it gets five stars from NCAP - and has dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and a tyre pressure deflation warning system.Apologies for borrowing from a weight loss company, but this car is light and easy to drive. But any expectation of spirited performance is unlikely to be met as its no firebrand masquerading as a shopping trolley. That's not really a criticism - for metro running and kid-carting, the Civic is a useful conveyance. The seating is comfortable and flexible, there's enough cabin space and storage for occupants to get comfy and stow their gear. The good-quality sound system's sub-woofer eats 10 litres of space from the boot, leaving 390 litres, but clever rear seats make the rear load space very flexible.The dash and instruments are mostly easy to use, although some prefer dials to digital readouts; shorter drivers may have trouble getting a good position to see all instruments and over bonnet at the same time given the steering wheel's location and the dashboard configuration.Night running revealed plenty of reflection from the instrument and infotainment display, perhaps a deeper cowling might fix that. The dashboard looks like it could display a satnav image but it's nowhere to be seen - unlike much of its competition. Steering assistance has rendered the helm beyond light and not over-run with road-feel - it isn't going to usurp the Honda sports cars of olde for feedback.Ride is firmer than expected - it did transmit small sharp bumps more than expected but general compliance on the larger ruts and bumps was acceptable. Some of the systems seem overly complex - the Bluetooth menu system is fiddly to set up - and despite being built in a right-hand drive market, the hatch has Euro traits like the handbrake and indicator set up for left-hand drive.

No matter how schmick the car looks, though, at this sort of money there are probably one or two expensive time bombs lurking within it.

Honda Civic began as a small car but increased in size over the years to become a small-medium by the period we are considering here.Because of the expansion in body size Honda also imports a smaller model, the Honda Jazz. Those who loved the smaller Civics of old may care to check out the Jazz. The Honda Civic has long had a reputation for build quality and reliability and this has lifted it a notch or two in the image stakes in Australia.Civic is a Japanese design in sedan format, with a fair bit of European input in the hatchback. The latter is built in England, the sedans in Japan or Thailand, the Civic petrol-electric hybrids are all made in Japan.Build quality doesn’t appear to be dependent on the country the Civic is manufactured in because the Japanese head office keeps a tight rein on the output of the factories. Interior room in the Honda Civic is good without being outstanding. There is space for four adults but in reality the rear seat is probably best left to children.Boot space is fine. Sedans are longer than hatches and most of this extra body size is put into a larger luggage area. There is some loss of boot space in the hybrid due to the installation of a large battery, but it’s better than many hybrids in this area.The Honda Civic is easy to drive and park thanks to light controls and good feel for the driver. These cars are popular with suburban users, but can be used on the open road, although bumpy secondary roads in the bush can cause a rough ride at times in older Civics as they have relatively short-travel in their suspension. Later models, from 2006, are better than the older ones.On smooth and moderate roads the Civic offers the sort of relaxed noise and vibration levels that are generally only found in cars from the next size class upwards. Engine sizes in the standard Civics are 1.6 litres and 1.7 litres in the older models; rising to 1.8 and even 2.0 litres in the current versions, introduced in 2012. The 2.0-litre engines are fitted to the sportier Civics and give plenty of performance.The semi-race Civic VTi-R, sold from 1996 until 1999, is very quick and is a delightful hot four. However, its engine only has a capacity of 1.6 litres and you have to work vigorously at the gearbox to keep it high in the rev range. If you’re not a keen driver you may find it frustrating and should perhaps avoid it. But if you do love pushing a car hard all the time then a VTi-R should definitely be on your short list.Five-speed manual gearboxes are standard in most models. Four-speed automatic transmissions are offered in all except the sporting Civic VTi-R. A five-speed auto is used in the eighth-generation Civics, launched at the start of 2006.The Civic Hybrid was introduced to Australia in early 2004 and is less extreme than previous Honda hybrids. As a result it’s more favourably priced. It has significantly lower pollutants from the exhaust as it runs a small 1.3-litre petrol engine, as well as an electric motor.The automatic fitted to the Civic Hybrid is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Repairs and servicing can be relatively expensive. Spare parts also used to fall into that category, but Honda has worked hard with its parts network in recent years and things have improved considerably on the later Civics.Civic is reasonably simple mechanically so a good amateur mechanics can do a fair bit of the work themselves. Having a workshop manual at hand makes a lot of sense. Don’t attempt to carry out repairs to safety related items unless you have top class experience.Insurance costs are generally reasonable, with few companies making any real differentiation for the sportier versions of the Civic. Which is a surprise for such a little hotshot, it probably hasn’t sold in sufficient numbers to have come up on the radar of the insurance guys, let's hope it stays that way.Bodywork should be undamaged and free from rust. A Civic that has been poorly repaired after a smash may turn rusty later. Make sure the engine starts promptly and responds quickly and positively to the throttle. If possible arrange to start it when it’s cold after an overnight stop. Any engine that hesitates when revved suddenly should be treated with suspicion.A worn engine will smoke from the exhaust when it is driven hard after a period of idling. A conventional automatic transmission should be crisp in its changes and not hold onto any gear for too long. A continuously variable automatic transmission feels different in its operation so have an expert drive it if you are not confident it’s working correctly.The clutch pedal should be smooth in its operation. All manual gear changes should be light, positive and quiet. Problems will show up first on fast down changes, usually when going from third to second. Make sure the brakes pull the car up without any pulling to one side and that no one wheel locks while the others are still rolling freely.Look for Civics with a full service history as many belong to people who are very fussy about their cars.

Fuel prices have edged higher in the past week and that's the direction they'll keep going for now.This week the Australian Institute of Petroleum fuel price report shows the national average for unleaded petrol rose by 1.5 cents a litre in the past week to 137.7 cents.The metropolitan average rose by 1.8 cents to 136.3 cents, while the regional average rose by 0.9 cents to 140.5 cents.CommSec chief economist Craig James says: "The bottom line is that motorists should expect petrol prices to edge their way higher if the positive mood on financial markets continues.Filling up the car with petrol is the single biggest weekly purchase for most households, so the future course of petrol prices will be keenly watched by any consumer-dependent business."But surely not so closely as they're being watched by you. With that in mind, we've found the cars that on current prices can be fuelled for about $1000 in a 15,000km driving year.These cars get Carsguide's Triple-F rating - they are all family and fuel friendly. We've used the manufacturers' claims for combined conditions, so if you're driving is mainly urban you'll go north of these numbers; if there's a good open road component it will be south.We've taken broad averages to arrive at our round figures (see below) but they are indicative of what you can achieve with judicious driving and making your visits to the bowser on the days of the lowest pricing.ANNUAL JUICE USE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT:National average price in the 12 months up to Friday July 27 according to Australian Institute of Petroleum15,000km annual averageManufacturer's claim for combined fuel useULP: 134.7 centsDiesel: 137.9 centsFAMILY SEDANToyota Camry HybridPrice: from $34,990Thirst: 5.2L/100km unleadedAnnual juice use: $1068.60If Toyota is synonymous with sci-fi looking hybrids, its best one is cloaked in anonymity. Indeed it doesn't get much more anonymous than a Camry, the Hybrid version of which looks exactly like the common or garden petrol version.It shares the good bits - seven airbags, five-star crash rating and a full-size spare wheel - but its economy is staggering: 5.2L/100km versus 7.8L/100km for the petrol Camry.  It's also quieter. In addition to using one-third less fuel, it costs $130 for each of the five services for the first four years or 75,000km.The price premium - $1,500 more than an equivalent petrol-only model - might pay off but the Hybrid model can tow only 300kg and the boot is slightly smaller. The top version, with near-Lexus levels of luxury, costs $41,490.FAMILY WAGONHyundai i40 Tourer dieselPrice: From $34,490Thirst: 4.7L/100km dieselAnnual juice use: $1,001.10In contrast with the gormless i45, Hyundai has done a great deal of local adaptation work on the i40 sedan. Even if the wagon does not yet have its specially-adapted-for-Oz suspension settings, it is a much better proposition than the i45.That miraculous fuel figure is for the manual, the action of which is a bit like stirring a stick though thick mud. Yet while the auto is claimed to use almost a litre more per 100km, on open road run between Sydney and Brisbane Carsguide recorded only 4.4L/100km.In any case, the sheer driveability of a diesel combined with a good auto makes it preferable. In solely city duty, the i40 is more likely to use above 8.0L, which is surely still worth it given the diesel's open road flair.SMALL SEDANHonda Civic HybridPrice: $35,990Thirst: 4.4L/100km unleadedAnnual juice use: $937.20Honda does a couple of obvious hybrids and one that's far less so. And the Civic version is arguably the best of its breed. The new Civic is a big jump from its distinctly average predecessor. It is up on quality and is simply far better to drive.It uses two power sources - petrol engine and electric motor - but unlike the Camry (and Prius) which can separate the two when needed, in the Civic Hybrid they work in tandem.This is technically simpler but returns higher fuel figures. The Civic Hybrid gets 4.4L/100km against the Prius's 3.9. Still, it's more spacious than the old model and needs smaller batteries so the boot is bigger.The rear seats don't fold down to increase luggage space. It gets a five-star crash rating, electronic stability and traction control, brake assist and six airbags, but a space-saver spare.SMALL HATCHVolkswagen Golf BluemotionPrice: $28,990Thirst: 3.8L/100km dieselUnlinkAnnual juice use: $809.40Golf can be played in a range of colours but the most efficient is blue. In VW-speak, it's BlueMotion, the in-house term for those selected models tuned for maximum economy and minimum emissions.The Golf BlueMotion costs $28,990 $1000 more than the Golf 77TDI that it replaced but comes only with a manual gearbox. But you're prepared the shift for yourself in order to save the planet, aren't you?A plethora of fuel-miser tech here  low-rolling resistance tyres,  stop-start system, brake energy recuperation, slippery aerodynamics, tall gear ratios and a gearshift prompt indicator  are added to the already frugal 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. It's also a brisk performer with Golf's usual excellent handling and ride comfort. It works as well in city traffic as it does loping along a country road.COMPACT SUVMazda CX-5 Maxx Sport dieselPrice: from $39,040Thirst: 5.7L/100km dieselAnnual juice use: $1,214.10This slips us well over the grand mark, but torque isn't always cheap especially not 420Nm of it. CX-5s are selling like cold beers at the cricket because they are at least in diesel form very lively, economical and practical wagons.There's no doubt the CX-5's success is due to it enlarging in the appeal of the Mazda3 hatchback. But it's a better vehicle thanks to the SkyActiv tech that covers body, engine, transmission, suspension and platform. The bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine has class leading economy via its six-speed auto, despite the added weight of all-wheel-drive. Compact enough for comfort in city traffic, it's also very roomy with excellent rear seat leg and head space. The cabin could be a bit more stylish, but it’s simple and the controls are easy to operate. The rear seats split and fold flat. On the road the diesel version slaughters the petrol model.CITY CARFord Fiesta TDCiPrice: from $21,490Thirst: 4.4L/100km dieselAnnual juice use:  $937.10In any guise the Fiesta is well made, affordable and a driver's delight. As a diesel it's also lean running. Made in Thailand, it's big on value. The 88kW/200Nm make this lightweight city car something of a hot hatch, with steering and handling to match.As with other diesels originally derived from Europe, you have to change gear for yourself, though with the arrival of the next EcoBoost petrol engines next year, Ford's excellent twin clutch automatic could become available. Sedan and hatch are identically priced.Though the five door brings the extra load flexibility of its ilk, the sedan's boot approaches that of the next class up in terms of capacity. It'll swallow a monthly grocery shop all right. The diesel is specially calibrated for maximum fuel efficiency and features a coated particulate filter to keep emissions low. The Zetec spec, at $23,490, is worth the extra spend.

A truly global vehicle, the new Honda Civic is manufactured in Britain and was developed with extensive testing throughout Europe.Civic VTi-S is available with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, while the VTi-L is auto only.Prices start at a very reasonable $22,650 for the VTi-S manual and peak at $29,950 for the VTi-L. On-road costs have to be factored in.To start the ball rolling on sales of the new model Honda is offering the VTi-S at drive-away prices of $24,990 and $27,290 respectively. They are on sale now.Honda is placing much store on its new Civic Hatch and predicts sales of both models will be split down the middle 50:50. The company says it is also looking forward to adding a further buyer inducement with the stable being joined by a 1.6-litre diesel version next year.The standard audio has USB connectivity, iPod integration, auxiliary jack and speed-sensitive volume control. Bluetooth, fitted on VTi-L only, can be had on VTi-S at extra cost. The VT-L carries a premium sound system with seven speakers including tweeters and sub-woofer. Hill start assist is standard across the range. Cruise control with variable speed limiter is available on VTi-L only.The new Hatch comes in two models – the VTi-S and VTi-L – both powered by an upgraded 1.8-litre four-cylinder i-VTEC engine producing 104 kW of power at 6500 rpm and 174 Nm of torque at 4300 rpm.Civic VTi-S is available with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, while the VTi-L is auto only. Prices start at a very reasonable $22,650 for the VTi-S manual and peak at $29,950 for the VTi-L. On-road costs have to be factored in.Improved aerodynamics, together with Honda’s fuel efficient technology, have the new Civic Hatch coming up with consumption figures of 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres for the manual transmission and 6.5 L/100 km for the automatic on the Australian combined driving cycle. Carbon dioxide emissions are put at 146 g per kilometre (manual) and 155 g / km (automatic) on 95 RON petrol. Emissions standard is Euro IV.Fuel efficient technology featured on the Civic hatch is called ECO Assist using the car’s speedometer illumination – blue (bad) or green (good) – to tell drivers how their driving is affecting fuel economy.A green dash-mounted Econ switch activates the most economical and environmentally friendly settings for the car by selecting the best throttle position for accelerator pedal pressure to smoothly increase torque. Eco Assist also improves the efficiency of the air-conditioning system, again saving fuel.Honda research found drivers liked the styling of the previous model, with its futuristic looks and practicality but baulked at the car’s limited rear vision and felt that the rear design could look more sophisticated.The car’s spacious and user-friendly cockpit design was well liked, with the clever ‘magic seat’ system in the rear offering added cargo room receiving much positive comment. Users, however, were not too happy with the quality of materials used.As a result of this feedback, the new Civic Hatch has a sporty sleek exterior with a cabin cleverly packaged to offer versatile occupant and cargo space together with comfortable and stress-free driving conditions.The designers took their lead from the ‘blended body’ aircraft in which fuselage and wings fuse into a single unit for superior aerodynamic performance and quietness.The result is a lower and wider Civic Hatch front and profile, with smooth surfaces combining with the sculpted wheel arches and concealed rear door handles, tailgate treatment and flat underbody to produce improved aerodynamics (Cd 0.30).A new functional cockpit layout includes a full-colour Intelligent Multi-Information Display screen incorporating the Eco driving facility, audio display and other information.Soft-touch surface materials are used throughout for an improved quality feel, a new tilt and telescopic steering wheel has easy-to-operate controls, while the VTi-L wheel is finished in extra-smooth leather with more comfortable stitching.A low extra rear window gives a better view from the driver’s seat and there’s improved crosswind stability.The new Civic hatch has already gained a five-star ANCAP safety rating. LED day-time running lights (switched off when headlights are on) and LED brake/tail lights ensure the vehicle is highly visible to other road users at all times.On a run organised by Honda through Sydney’s southern suburbs and on a mix of country and highway driving the new Civic Hatch performed up to Honda expectations.The six-speed manual shifted gears with little effort, making for comfortable and relaxed going. Steering was direct and well weighted, offering good road feedback, while the ride was supple yet responsive to changing driving conditions.There was no getting away from differences in performance in Econ mode with the need to change down a gear or two more often to cope with inclines or overtaking. The automatic transmission was sufficiently sorted to take similar conditions in its stride.

Britannia is still ruling the wave of Honda Civic hatches. While the Honda Civic sedan we get here comes from Thailand, the hatches arriving in showrooms this week are being shipped from Britain.Honda says Australia is a unique market in getting product from both factory streams. And the flagging carmaker is determined to make the ninth-gen Civic hatch a success in the increasingly competitive C segment – and get back closer to their former glory days of strong sales. So the hatch has been given an exterior makeover, revised engine and fuel efficiency tricks from the CR-Z hybrid, along with a sharper starting price.The revised 1.8-litre 4 cylinder engine produces 104kW/174Nm and boasts fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100km six-speed manual and 6.5 litres per 100km in the five-speed auto – an improvement of about 10 per cent, but it does require a diet of 95 octane fuel. However eco modes are there to try and encourage you to drive more efficiently. The manual comes with a shift indicator light while the automatic gets paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.Research into noise has resulted in a much quieter cabin -- for a car in this price range we were surprised at 110km/h to be able to hear approaching cars.Priced from $22,650 for the VTi-S (manual), the entry point is significantly less than the Civic Si hatch model it replaces. It’s just over $7,000 cheaper than the starting price of the old model and compared with the 2009 price of the Civic Si a whopping saving of over $17,000. There's now a choice of six-speed manual or five-speed auto transmissions ($24,950) in the VTi-S trim, and the top of the range VTi-L only comes as an auto ($29,990).The features list includes 16-in alloys, hill-hold assist, LED daytime running lights, climate control, intelligent multi information display and a four speaker audio system with AUX and USB input. Bluetooth is a dealer fitted option of the VTi-S and disappointingly there’s no cruise control offered on this model. Most competitors have this option covered as standard.The automatic only VTi-L gains extras like 17-in alloys, auto headlights and wipers, fog lights, electric side folding mirrors, dual zone climate control, reversing camera, leather trim, seven speaker audio system as well as Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. Satellite navigation and sunroof are notably missing even from the extra options list. Leather heated seats in the VTi-L are inviting and obviously more comfortable than the standard fabric seats in the VTi-S.Exterior changes are minimal at first glance. The LED daytime running lights give the car a sportier look, and aerodynamics have been improved, but the problem is that the car looks very similar to its predecessor. The new hatch won’t be seen as revolutionary as when the Si Civic was first unveiled.The redesigned dash layout is uncluttered and easy to read, is arguably now the benchmark in this segment. It’s a smart looking interior all around with good quality plastics used throughout.There’s a lot of room in both the front and rear, and Honda also retained their ‘magic seat’ configuration that can flatten the back seats to create a huge cargo area, or fold them to make more room for tall items.It gets a five star ANCAP safety rating, and has six airbags, stability control, anti-skid brakes and a good helping of other active and passive features.The focus is clearly on saving fuel and for most situations in urban driving this is more useful than brisk performance. So the engine performance is capable rather than startling.The manual gearbox was smooth but the auto box with steering wheel mounted paddle shift was not as responsive as we’d like when left in auto mode. For extra overtaking oomph the ability to quickly drop down a couple of gear ratios without your hands leaving the steering wheel worked well.The Civic’s smooth suspension system is quiet, and handled bumps quite well during our drive. It was surprisingly well composed during our run through the Royal National Park near Sydney. Steering felt light, responsive and direct thanks to the electric powered rack and pinion system. The car’s agility and stability through corners was better than expected.

Honda Civic Sport and Subaru Impreza 2.0i-L go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Over the past few years Honda has lost its mojo. It axed sporty cars such as the Integra in 2006 and the S2000 in 2009, it quit Formula One in 2008 and when the GFC hit it canned the next NSX supercar and sat on its hands while other car companies forged ahead with research and development.Honda has been left with a range of boring city cars and people movers with no more soul than a Camry hire car. But things are changing with the announcement of a return of the NSX, a spunky new British-made Civic hatch arriving in our showrooms now and rumours of a Type-R version down the track.However, in its 40th year in Australia, the rather boring Civic sedan remains the Japanese manufacturer's top-selling vehicle.In the lead-up to the launch of the attractively priced Civic hatch, Honda dropped its prices on the Thai-made sedan by several hundred dollars.Honda Australia director Stephen Collins says the Civic hatch and sedan prices are the result of the strong Australian dollar and "an aggressive pricing strategy" and follows massive price reductions of up to $4300 on the Accord.It comes in three variants - VTi-L, Sport and Hybrid. Build quality is excellent which is reflected in strong resale values, however servicing intervals are frequent and spare parts prices are high.The VTi-L we drove features the 1.8-litre VTEC naturally aspirated engine, with better fuel economy thanks to the ECO Assist button which reduces air conditioning drain, changes the characteristics of the throttle and displays how economically you are driving.But the fuel-saving auto stop-start function available in Euro models is not be coming to Australia to keep prices down. The engine has just 1kW more of power and the same amount of torque.Technology inside is presented on two information screens and there is USB and iPod connectivity plus Bluetooth audio streaming in the VTi-L which works well.While the hatch is a sexy swimsuit model, the sedan is the dowdy cousin operating the lights for the catwalk. The "boomerang" shape of headlights and grille is a nice touch but the rest of the car is rather plain.Inside Honda has tried a little too hard to look futuristic with its split-screen instruments. Unfortunately, when the steering wheel is in the right position for me, I can't see the speedo properly.The cabin has a feeling of quality without being luxurious, but the cloth seat trim is very "hire car".All Civics, except the four-star Hybrid, get a full complement of five ANCAP safety stars. Safety equipment includes six airbags, including full-length curtain airbags, stability control and rear parking sensors. Under the cargo floor is a temporary spare.Comparing the Civic sedan to a Toyota Camry is not completely fair. The latest Camry is a vastly better car while the Civic has made only marginal improvements.However, the two can be compared favourably in cabin noise. Both are eerily quiet and represent industry benchmarks. This makes for a relaxed and unhurried drive experience. Just as well because the engine isn't exactly fiery. Like most Honda engines it likes lots of revs and that's not possible with the automatic.With the ECO Assist button deployed it's quite asthmatic. Even with the button switched off it struggles on hills thanks to low levels of torque. Steering is light enough for traffic duties yet stable on the highway, however it has a disengaged feeling. The pedals feel a bit mushy and soft, also with limited feel.Suspension is compliant for a plush ride that doesn't give a lot of feedback when the car is pushed a little hard. Accommodation is comfortable all round for five adults and the seats are soft, but supportive, and adequate for long-haul duties.

Inoffensive. In a word. The Civic used to be such a fun, sporty little car but who's hiding it and when can we get it back?Honda is doing a great job out of Toyotaring Toyota, with a car that does everything extremely well but is almost totally devoid of character. This one on the other hand feels like it is targeted at retirees (not a bad thing considering this is a growing market).PRICE AND EQUIPMENTPrices for the VTi-L start at $20,990 plus on road costs. The auto adds $2300 bringing the total to $23,290. But the Sport at $27,990 is another $4700 but includes the auto. The extra dosh buys you a sunroof, leather upholstery, fog lights and 17 inch alloys. Standard features in both models include Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.TECHNOLOGYEven though the VTi-L has a smaller engine than the Sport, it goes nearly as well and is not disappointing. The VTi-L model’s 1.8-litre SOHC four-cylinder petrol engine with 16 valves and a dual-stage intake manifold is a refined version of the previous engine.The engine produces almost identical figures to last year's model at 104kW of power and 174Nm of torque. It's hooked up to either a five-speed manual or five-speed adaptive auto with steering wheel mounted paddle shifts. The Sport in comparison produces 114kW/190Nm seems hardly worth the effort.The new engine has extensive changes that reduce friction, improve emissions and increase fuel economy. The changes have reduced fuel consumption from 7.2 litres/100km to 6.7 litres. During our test program the car returned a figure of 7.4 litres/100km which shows it is more than achievable. CO2 emissions are slightly down too at 158g/km (previously 164g).SAFETYGets a full five stars for safety. A long list of standard safety equipment including front, side and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes and next-generation Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA).DRIVINGThe VTI-L is a big vehicle for a small car with plenty of room for mature adults. It’s easy to get in and out of and easy to drive and park. The Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) improves steering response at low speeds. I like the big centrally located digital speedometer which makes it easy to tell exactly how fast you're going at a glance. But I don't like the space saver spare, even though there's room for one in the biggish boot.The VTI-L is extremely smooth and quiet inside and zips through traffic with consummate ease. It lacks the low down torque of the Sport with its larger 2.0-litre engine but there is very little difference in the way they drive once it's up and running. With the ECON economy option activated, throttle response is more gradual, shift pattern is reconfigured in the auto and climate control operation is altered. It certainly saves fuel but throttle response is sluggish.VERDICTAfter driving the two Civic sedans back to back I've come to the same conclusion as last time. And that is, forget the Sport, save your money and stick with this the entry level VTi-L model.2012 Honda Civic VTI-LPrice: from $20,990Warranty: Three years/100,000 kmEngine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl petrol, 104kW/174NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel driveBody: 4540mm (L); 1755mm (W), 1435mm (H)Weight: 1180kgThirst: 6.8 L/100km, 161 g/km CO2