1978 Honda Civic Reviews

Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Honda’s Civic sedan and hatchback are two quite different machines. While other companies come up with cars that are identical except for their rear end treatment, Honda chooses to build two quite different models to significantly broaden buyer choice. Civic four-door sedan has been on sale in Australia for several months. It’s aimed at relatively conservative buyers and is built in either Thailand or Japan.While the Civic hatch is very much a European machine, it has a dynamic look and feel and is bought by the young and the young at heart. Interestingly the Honda Civic hatch is totally built in a factory in the UK.If you thought the previous Honda Civic hatch had striking good looks just wait until you see the new one. The first batch is already on board a ship on its way down under and will go on sale late in June.We have just spent three solid days in the UK and Germany, watching the Civics being built and driving them on the autobahns of Germany as well as on some stunning scenic backroads of that beautiful country. More about our driving impressions in a moment.Though there are obvious similarities in the front end styling of the new Civic hatch, everybody panel is different to that on the sedan. The rear has a stunning new shape. In particular the rear lights act as an integrated spoiler with their sculpted shape designed to smooth the air as it leaves the back of the car. Thus achieving a class leading Cd figure of just 0.27 - something that seemed all but impossible until now.Honda Civic is one of the best looking five-door hatches of all. Yes, it does have five doors, just check out the concealed handles and view the way it seems to have the sleek lines of a two-door hatch / coupe.As well as the rear light / spoiler, other aerodynamic aids are in the shaping of the front end, the semi-blister rear guards and out of sight panels beneath the car that make air pass cleanly under it. This aero shape has been achieved without any loss of headroom under that sleek rear roofline.Inside, the Civic hatch has a similar layout to the sedan we reported on the other day. This includes the clever double-level instrument panel, with the digital speedometer sitting high for virtually instrument readout.Working in conjunction with the body shaper are changes to the 1.8-litre petrol engine, the manual and automatic transmissions and suspension changes combine to give the new Civic an official fuel consumption figure of just 6.1 litres per hundred kilometres.Yet Honda has given us a strong hint that even better engines are on their way. Apparently the current unit, while significantly better than the 1.8 it replaces, is in its final stages of revisions and will be replaced by an all-new power plant within about two years.In an interesting move, the European arm of Honda has suggested the Australian importer also takes delivery of turbo-diesel engines. So Australian buyers will have the option of a super-economy 1.6-litre Civic diesel midway through 2013.Unfortunately the diesel is only mated to a six-speed manual gearbox at this stage as that’s the way European drivers prefer them. Honda Australia has teamed with some other markets to try and push Honda into designing an automatic transmission to sit beside the turbo-diesel engine.New Civic hatch has a many primary safety aids, including intelligent ABS brakes and vehicle stability control systems. Sadly, active cruise control and crash mitigation systems that are offered on topline versions of Civic have been discounted for our market due to relatively high costs.Systems like these are only seen on ultra-expensive European cars in Australia at this stage so we understand Honda Australia’s point of view. But, who knows, if enough Australian buyers indicate a willingness to pay for these items they may yet eventuate. Perhaps make a call to your local Honda dealer…In the meantime, six airbags will do all they can to protect your body and those of other occupants should things still go badly wrong.We saw the 205km/h on our speedo during our German motorway drive and there was more in hand. (Curiously, we didn’t die, so it appears the laws of physics in Germany must be different to those in Australia where our governments tell us 111 km/h could claim our lives at any moment…)Civic hatch is smooth and quiet to ride in thanks to having an even stiffer body than before. Part of the refined feel is due to the use of fluid-filled suspension bushes at the rear, another feature that’s normally only found in expensive European saloons.Engine performance is good without being outstanding as there is now a leaning in the direction of economy and low carbon emissions in the performance / consumption compromise. Torque is strong and the six-speed manual has neatly chosen ration and is positive in its actions. Steering leans in the direction of sportiness with a good feel through the steering wheel.As it’s still several weeks before the new Honda Civic hatchback arrives in Australia the company won’t reveal its pricing strategy at this stage - other than to say the price list will begin in the mid-twenties. The fact that the new model should rightly be regarded as European is likely to assure buyer acceptance at that price point.

Sex usually sells, but not in the case of the British-made Honda Civic hatch. The sexiest of the small-car hatches is expected to only account for one in three Civic sales, compared with the more sedate-looking and slightly less practical and less flexible sedan made in Thailand. Honda Australia director Stephen Collins says the Civic hatch has previously been priced as a more niche product. He says the lower price will give this model more mass-market appeal, but still not as high as the sedan.He expects to sell about 400 hatches a month while the sedan, launched in February, will sell about 1000 a month. Surprisingly the Poms have got it right with only their locally made hatch being available in Britain. Collins says there are no plans yet for the even sexier Type R hatch, but if there are, Australia would take it.Buyers can expect a saving of as much as $5000 when the ninth-generation Honda Civic hatch arrives in Australia in June. Collins says it will start at "the mid-$20,000s" compared with the previous five-door Si hatch which sold out at prices starting from $29,990. He says this is the result of the strong Australian dollar and "an aggressive pricing strategy" and follows recent price reductions of up to $4300 on the Accord. We can only imagine how cheap the hatch would be if it was built in Thailand like the sedan, rather than Swindon, west of London.It will arrive in two trim levels - VTi and VTi-L - with six-speed manual available in the base model with hill-start assist and a five-speed also available in the VTi-L. Unfortunately, VTi doesn't come with cruise control which is standard in most of its competitor because Honda Australia wanted to "keep the price competitive", says Collins. The VTi-L adds leather seats,rain-sensing wipers, dual zone air con, front fog lights, 17-inch wheels, rear camera, leather seats, cruise control and a premium audio system with subwoofer in the boot. A locally developed satnav will be available as an accessory.There has been little change here. It features the same 1.8-litre VTEC naturally aspirated engine, with slight tweaks that give it just 1kW more of power and the same amount of torque. The improvement in fuel economy of 0.8L/100km in the manual and 0.7L/100km in the auto is a substantial 10 per cent gain, due mainly to aerodynamics in the body and underbody. Honda Europe spokesman Christoph Rust says "two or three" former F1 engineers were involved in the aerodynamic design. It also has an 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 will not be coming to Australia in a further effort to keep a lid on prices. Instead, a 1.6-litre diesel engine with manual transmission will be available in the first half of next year, says Collins. Technology inside is presented on two information screens and there is USB and iPod connectivity plus Bluetooth audio streaming in the VTi-L.This is the Miranda Kerr of the small hatch world - petite, pretty from every angle and just enough curves to be sexy as hell. Unlike Kerr, the Civic hatch sits lower and wider than before. The most polarizing feature of the design is its tasty rump with the new combination lamp design and brake-light cluster.It retains the hidden rear door handle now adopted in the stunning Hyundai Veloster. The cabin has a familiar Honda feel which is not luxurious, but certainly a quality build. It now adds soft-touch trim and extra-smooth leather with more comfortable stitching in the VTi-L. Hatch comes in seven colours – Yellow Topaz, Alabaster Silver, Crystal Black, Deep Sapphire Blue, Milano Red, Polished Metal and White Orchid - with a black interior. The VTi has cloth trim while the VTi-L gets leather trim and heated front seats. Honda’s flexible rear folding seats add practicality to the interior layout.Collins says it will receive a five-star Australian safety rating based on European results. The Civic hatch has the same level of safety equipment as the sedan with six airbags, including full-length curtain airbags. It also has a strong body, stability control, tyre deflation warning system and a reversing camera for the VTi-L. That camera should be standard in both trims as the rear hatch creates a huge blind spot. Rust says the rear window has been increased to reduce the blind spot, but it still presents a large blind spot for following traffic which can't be fixed by a reversing camera. Also, the rear wiper only sweeps the top half of the split window. Under the massive, flat cargo floor is a temporary spare.At 206km/h on the autobahn between Nuremberg and Munich, the Honda is fizzing at over 6000 revs in sixth gear but still not king of the road. Here it's at its upper limits and having to get out of the way of rapidly encroaching Vorsprung Durch types. But these are unfamiliar and irrelevant conditions for Australia where it will run in the 100km/h highway traffic with ease. The suspension is tweaked a little tighter than in the sedan, but it's still a compliant ride, although it is difficult to determine just how plush it will feel on our lumps and bumps. Rust says the rear suspension bushes are filled with fluid for a smooth ride over corrugations.We drive only the six-speed manual over almost 1000km in Germany, mainly on autobahns, and find the ratios well suited to grand touring. But with Australia's limited speed zones, sixth and even fifth cogs may be a little too high for regular use. Honda's rev-happy engine is better when worked around 4500rpm in gears one through to four. The pedals and the gearshift feel a little mushy and light, but some drivers prefer that feel. We would prefer a more positive and direct sensation. Steering is tighter, but the ratios are the same, resulting in a confident and stable feel even at 200km/h-plus. Cabin noise is low, even at high speed. It only becomes a concern on some coarse tarmac and over abrupt changes of surface such as cobblestones. We found the driving position ok, but the steering wheel reach adjustment too short and the seats way too hard with a protruding and non-adjustable lumbar support. Our backsides were crying for relief after an hour in the saddle. For those who like the steering wheel positioned high, it also gets in the way of the speedo.

The all-new Honda Civic is larger than ever, to the extent that it can be used as a family car by those downsizing from a traditional six-cylinder Ford, Holden or Toyota.Civic is all about style these days and the new model has that ‘sculpted from a single billet’ look that’s a strong evolution of the now superseded car. A strong seller in Australia, indeed worldwide, for many years, the Civic is sold in a big variety of models here and there are even more in the offing.Now in its ninth generation, the Civic is being sold in three versions Civic VTi-L and Civic Sport and, the most interesting one, the Civic Hybrid. Interior space in the Civic hatchback is fine for four adults, with space in the centre-rear for another without too much discomfort. Despite the slim and sleek appearance headroom is fine.We liked the complex double-decker styling of the dash and instrument area, with the digital speedo sitting high to make it easy to keep track of. Good quality plastics are used on the trim, but we were a little disappointed in the somewhat mundane grey-on-grey colour scheme. Boot space is good and the luggage is reasonably easy to load through an opening that’s wide and practical.There’s a big emphasis on in-car entertainment and communication in the latest Civic. A screen in the right-centre of the dash displays the functions of the phone, iPod and audio systems. These are controlled by buttons on the steering wheel to minimise driver distraction. Two conventional petrol engines are being offered, something that’s not common in this class, where ‘sports’ generally means some extra badges and larger wheels.The Civic VTi-L is powered by a 1.8-litre, 104 kW engine, the Sport’s powerplant has a capacity of 2.0 litres and produces up to 114 kW of power and 190 Nm of torque. Honda Civic VTi-L has a choice between a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Oddly, the Sport only comes with the automatic.Arguably the most caring of all car companies about the environment, Honda is continuing its work on petrol-electric hybrids. 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 it more grunt off the line and, while not turning it into a sports machine in its acceleration, it has plenty of performance for day-to-day driving.Our test review of the new-gen Civics was done chiefly on the Sport, though we did spend a little time in the Hybrid as well. We will get back to the latter in weeks to come. Only the four-door Civic sedan is coming to Australia at this stage, it’s imported from the recently reopened Honda factory in Thailand. As before, the five-door Honda Civic hatch will be built in Honda’s plant in the United Kingdom.We have been invited to tour that factory in a couple of week’s time, followed by a substantial test drive of the cars. Thus we will be able to report on them two to three months before they arrive downunder. Ride comfort is good as Honda has increased suspension travel and worked on recalibrating bushing compliance so they are more suited to rough and ready Australian country roads.The 2.0-litre engine in the Civic Sport is very Honda in the way it loves to rev. While there’s reasonable torque in the low and midrange, it’s when you get the engine towards the top end of the tacho that it really starts to sing. Keen drivers will love it and learn to make the automatic transmission work in the areas they like best.Fuel consumption during our test period was in the eight to ten litres per hundred kilometres range around town, falling to sevens in the country. Handling in the Civic Sport is quite sharp and it turns in neatly and positively, with good feedback through the steering wheel.

Believe it or not this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Honda Civic. More than 20 million Civics have been sold world-wide since production began in Japan back in 1972.Over 200,000 of those cars have found homes in Australia where it sought after by young drivers, with its reputation for being sporty, reliable and economical. A couple of years ago the Civic actually morphed into two cars but both kept the same name: a European designed and built hatch and Japanese produced sedan (although the sedan actually comes out of Thailand).Our test car, the Civic Sport sedan, which was released earlier this year, is now in its ninth generation.The Civic has evolved into a large small car over the years, with comfortable accommodation for four adults, along with a good-sized boot (seats up to five). At a pinch it's big enough to use as the family car but you could run out room when the holidays roll around. It's easy to get in and out of and easy to drive and park, with a 50-litre fuel tank that takes standard unleaded fuel.At $27,990 it's a whopping $7000 more than the standard VTi-L. The badge suggests something far more exciting than the standard fare, but if it's there we missed it.For starters the fact you can't get a manual is going to rule it out for many, especially the "doof-doof" boys. Bluetooth with audio streaming and steering wheel phone and audio controls are standard, with AUX and USB ports. For the extra dosh the Sport gets the auto ($2300 option otherwise), leather, fog lights, 17 inch alloys and a sunroof  but that's the extent of it.The Sport gets a 2.0-litre engine instead of a 1.8, with an output pf 114 instead of 104kW and 190 instead of 174Nm of torque. Both are single cam jobs but the jump in power is really not that great and not much of a drawcard (surely it's the primary reason for buying a sporty model?).You can get the VTi-L as a manual or automatic, but the Sport comes only with the five-speed auto  albeit with paddle shifts. The car goes well enough and dropping the transmission into sport mode elicits a more aggressive response, but you won't want to leave it there for long because the engine races and is unable to settle.It lacks low down torque and in typical Honda fashion doesn't really get going until you have around 4500 revs on the dial where its more responsive. There's plenty of grip and it sits nice and flat on the road with a low centre of gravity that gives the car a real "planted" feel.Fuel consumption is rated at 7.5 litres/100km (we were getting 8.5) and the car has a full 5-star safety rating with all the latest safety gear.We like the big digital speedo. The dash is divided into upper and lower tiers, with controls grouped according to function. Despite the leather upholstery it still has that overly plastic insubstantial feel that many Hondas seem to have.It sits on 17 inch alloys with a temporary spare. The rear looks like a lift from the Benz C-Class. There's no sign of satnav, no climate air, no power seat adjustment, no lumbar adjustment for driver's seat, no cool LEDs, no rear spoiler, no body kit and certainly no dual exhaust outlets.

Imagine Jon Bon Jovi in comfy trousers crooning with a cocktail bar ensemble. That's the Honda Civic Si Hatch. It's built in Britain alongside the Type R which wears tight leather pants and screams punk rock. The Si is a toned down and mellowed-out version with softer suspension and more sedate performance.VALUEWhile most of our Honda product hails from Thailand, this Civic hatch comes from Britain, so it has some nice styling touches that make it stand out from the Thai-built sedans. However, at $29,990, it's more than $5000 above the corresponding Civic sedan and several thousand more than comparative Japanese and Korean five-door hatches. It aligns more closely in price with Euro-made hatches such as the Ford Focus, Peugeot 308 and Renault Megane. Value is aided by features such as climate control airconditioning, Bluetooth, rain-sensing wipers, fog lights and rear parking sensors, plus Honda's traditionally good resale value, reliability and build quality.TECHNOLOGYHonda was the first to use variable valve technology in its engines which converts it from a mellow kitten at low revs to a screaming wildcat at high revs. While this 1.8-litre engine is hardly a wildcat, it does work much better at high revs. The i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is mated to a five-speed auto or six-speed manual gearbox which earn their keep by maintaining optimum revs to get the most out of the 103kW peak power and 174Nm torque. The Si hatch now comes with Bluetooth which is quick and easy to connect and reliably pairs every time, even with my iPhone 4 which can be difficult to pair with many car Bluetooth systems. Unfortunately the Bluetooth connection doesn't include music streaming, but there are AUX/USB connectors and a convenient 12V outlet in the centre console.DESIGNI owned a 1979 Honda Accord hatch which seemed smaller than this Civic. Apart from growing in size, the Civic hatch has also leapt ahead with modern styling inside and out. The design also has a racing influence with a mesh grille replacing the clear plastic grille, a race-style petrol cap, integrated tailpipes like the Type R and Flash Gordon door handles including hidden door handles on the rear door. On the tailgate there is a stylish spoiler in the middle of the glass. Inside, there are drilled pedals, sporty steering wheel, a big red start button like S2000 and a futuristic dashboard with controls that are easy to understand. SAFETY There are six airbags, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability and a tyre-pressure warning system earning it five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. However, it fails on the visibility stakes with the stylish rear spoiler splitting the rear window and creating a blind spot.The rear three-quarter view is also limited by a thick C pillar and the driver's door mirror doesn't fold out far enough to view the next lane, although there is a convex end to the mirror which I find confusing because it is distorted. Although it comes with rain-sensing wipers, there is no wiper on the rear and the top half definitely needs it as water pools there. A roof-mounted wiper would fix that. DRIVINGIt might look like a Type R, but this is a sheep in wolf's clothing. You have to vigorously stir the gearbox to get good motivation and the shifter feels notchy and frail. At least the clutch is also light so it's good for city driving with lots of cog-swapping. Handling is capable and consistent, never messy or fussy. Just point and go. There is a lot to like about this Civic. It feels classy inside, if a little noisy on the highway. Honda has also given quite a bit of thought to the package with some useful touches such as the 12V outlet in the cargo area, wide-opening rear doors and clever, flat-folding 60-40 split rear seats. There is plenty of room in the back for three adults and the centre rear seat has a lap-sash belt, but there is a bump in the seat which makes it uncomfortable. Niggles include the driver's door mirror, temporary spare and tailgate vision. But the biggest bugbear is the futuristic split instrument panel with the all-important speedo at the top obscured by the top of the steering wheel. Not everyone will experience this, but I like the steering wheel high and close and in that position I simply couldn't see how fast I was driving. VERDICT Like Jon Bon Jovi, the Honda Civic Si should appeal to those who like their adult-oriented rock in a more palatable form. It looks like a Type R, but it's actually a hatch for everyday use.Honda Civic Si HatchPrice: $29,990 ($32,290 auto)Warranty: 3 year/100,000km; 6 year rustService: 10,000kmResale: 53% after 3 yearsEngine: 1.8-litre i-VTEC, 4-cylinder, 103kW/174NmTransmission: 6-speed manual (5-speed auto), front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.9L/100km (7.2 auto)CO2: 163g/km (172 auto)Dimensions: 4270mm (L), 1765mm (W), 1460mm (H),Kerb weight: 1285kg, (1320kg auto)Tyres: 225/45 R17, temporary spare

Forty years and 20 million cars after it was launched in 1973 Honda’s Civic is right up there with the world’s all-time best selling cars.Now the ninth generation of the small Japanese car has been launched in Australia. Civic has arrived several months late because of the horrors created by the Japanese tsunami and the Thai floods.Honda suffered more that most auto makers by the twin disasters as many of its cars, including the Civic are sourced from a factory in Thailand.Australia is fortunate in that our Civics are right-hand drive so the slack has been taken up, temporarily, by Civics built in Japan. Within a matter of months the Thai factory will be back online again.In the meantime Australian buyers of Civics may choose to opt for the prestige of getting one of the Japanese plated cars. Honda Australia assures us build quality is tightly controlled in Thailand so the cars are as good as those from Japan.But we know that prestige can be an interesting thing and, who knows, when it comes to resale time your ‘Japanese’ Civic may be fetch more than a ‘Thai’ Civic. No promises, though…This new Honda Civic is the ninth generation. All previous models have been imported to Australia as the then importers of the marque realised the importance of the car right from the start.This new Civic is larger, substantially larger, than the original models, indeed it’s significantly bigger than the earliest Honda Accords. Though a lot of the extra size is due to crash protection crush zones the new Civic can certainly be used as a family car. Many Australians downsizing from family sixes will be giving the Civic the eye when it comes time to trade in.Interior space is fine for four adults, with space in the centre-rear for another without too much discomfort. Despite the slim and sleek appearance – the new Civic almost looks as though it has been carved from a single block of metal – headroom is fine. Quality plastics are used on the trim, but we found the grey-on-grey colour scheme on the drab side.Only the four-door sedan is coming to Australia at this stage. Boot space is good and luggage is reasonably easy to load. A five-door hatch, built in Honda’s English plant, will be imported here from July this year.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.Honda is continuing its push on petrol-electric hybrids and has made major changes to the electric motor in the new Civic Hybrid. It now uses a lithium-ion battery in place of the nickel-metal-hydride of the previous model. However, at $35,990 the hybrid is far more expensive than its petrol-engined brothers, these are priced at a highly competitive $20,990 for a manual Civic VTi-L ($2300 more for the auto) and $27,990 for the Civic Sport.Ninth-gen Honda Civic is being sold in three models; as well as the hybrid there are the Civic VTi-L and Civic Sport. The former is powered by a 1.8-litre, 104 kW engine, the Sport by a larger unit displacing 2.0 litres and producing up to 114 kW of power and 190 Nm of torque. The Civic VTi-L has a choice between a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The Sport - despite its name - only comes with the automatic.We sampled all three powertrains and it probably comes as no surprise we preferred the Sport engine - though we would have loved it with a six-speed manual gearbox - but the 1.8-litre is fine and the hybrid certainly has more oomph than in the past.Ride comfort is good as Honda has increased suspension travel and worked on recalibrating bushing compliance. We didn’t get a real chance to sample handling on the tourist-type drive route Honda chose for the media-launch of the new Civic, but it certainly doesn’t look as though there will be any surprises.Over 200,000 Australians have bought new Honda Civics in Australia since its introduction in 1973 revolutionised the design of small cars in this country. This new model certainly looks set to continue the sales success.

Price cuts always go down well with buyers and the new Honda Civic sedan benefits from a fairly hefty price cut while gaining more kit into the bargain. How does Honda do it? The previous entry level Civic VTi started at $22,490 while the new ``entry level’’ VTi-L Civic, a much better equipped car, starts at $20,490. It must be the result of productivity improvements and we like it -- a lot.But new Civic is hardly a technology tour-de-force rather, it is a repository for fairly old-school stuff that includes a single overhead camshaft engine, a five-speed fluid automatic (no DSGs here thank you), port instead of direct fuel injection and nothing sexy like keyless entry/ignition or even satnav at this point in time. Diesel engines? Wot?Engine stop/start is only fitted to the Hybrid Civic which is perhaps the most advanced model in the new line-up, now with a lithium ion battery and a more electric-only drive bias.Civic sedan comes out of Japan for the time being with Thai production expected to resume about June this year. We get three grades starting with the well specified VTi-L, rising to the Sport in five-speed auto only for $32,990 and then up to Hybrid at $35,990 with CVT only. It is sharp pricing by anyone’s measure. And Honda has been generous with equipment with the all models scoring intelligent multi-information display, automatic climate control, cruise control, Honda’s clever ECON driving mode with drive coaching instruction, integrated Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, multi media connectivity and steering wheel mounted controls. Civic Sport adds leather upholstery, an electric sunroof, 17-inch alloys and auto wipers. The UK five door hatch arrives later this year to complete the new Civic line-up.It’s an evolution of the previous model in what Honda calls a monoform design using  a MIM (Man Maximum, Machine Minimum) philosophy. By that we deduce it’s been space-optimised inside with a compact underbonnet area and a large boot.The arcing roofline remains and the front has a distinct Honda Odyssey look . The rear looks to have been influenced by Subaru’s Impreza sedan. But it’s not offensive even though ``over conservative’’ springs to mind.The interior is in a similar vein – nothing too avant-garde here. It’s a rework of the previous model with a crescent-shaped instrument pod capped with a digital speedo. The tones are grey on grey or brown on brown, and the switches are generic Japanese.Though it’s not up with its competitor’s powertrain technology Civic sedan does have some decent stuff on board notably the audio and trip computer. It’s fully wired for connectivity and uses some sophisticated interventionist safety systems to maintain stability and a chosen line.We were surprised by the ECON drive system that was barely detectable even though it changes throttle response, auto gear changes and the airconditioning.Technology changes are more extensive on the Hybrid model which now uses the engine as a generator some of the time. Friction has been reduced in key areas including the lighter electric drive motor and there’s better harvesting of regenerative electricity. The second generation lithium ion battery has three times the capacity of the previous Hybrid Civic. Hybrid Civic also scores extensive aerodynamic enhancements to aid fuel economyThere are two petrol engines, both single cam units in 1.8-litre for VTi-L that’s good for 104kW and 174 Nm, a 2.0-litre for the Sport good for 114kW and 190Nm and the Hybrid which gets a 1.5-litre petrol four and a electric boost motor. We haven’t got our head around how hybrids are rated  but Honda says the Civic Hybrid has 82kW and 172Nm.If you want a manual it’s got to be the six-speed VTi-L – only. A five-speeed auto is offered on VTi-L and is the only choice in Sport. Hybrid has a CVT which was surprisingly good to drive.Civic sedan scores a five star ANCAP rating thanks to its six air bags, stability control, strong body/chassis construction much of which is in hi-tensile steel and neck injury mitigating seats.Pedestrian safety rates highly thanks to an energy absorbing bonnet, break away wipers, steeply raked windscreen and other devices.We got a steer of all three new Civics in mostly city and urban areas though there was a short country road stretch of a few kilometres. The Hybrid is a good drive offering smooth and strong engine response and minimal fuel consumption expected to be in the 4.5-litres/100km area. It’s not really an engaging drive but fulfils its task as a general runabout well. There’s plenty of kit inside, it has a decent boot and comfy seats though none of the new Civics has lumbar adjustment.The VTi-l is a good thing offering decent performance that’s accessible and smoothly delivered. Like other Hondas, it likes to rev and goes better when it is. Handling is best described as ``mainstream’’ – definitely not sporty but a good for mixed driving.It’s surprisingly refined inside with minimal noise intrusion or engine noise. Throttle response is good from most engine revs and the five speed auto is accurately geared for the engine’s power and torque.But we preferred the Sport because it has more of everything, leather, bigger 17-inch alloys and a sharper rasp to the exhaust. Still the same ride/handling feel though and same (electric) steering.All autos get paddle gearshift which works a treat. We really like the multi function wheel which offers controls for cruise, audio, trip computer, phone and the paddles.There’s adequate rar seat legroom for adults and even with the sunroof, plenty of head room inside the Sport. We like the ECON mode but the hard dash is disappointing though it looks OK. In the Sport we ticked over 6.4-litres/100km – impressive.

Honda Civic and Renault Megane go head-to-head in this comparative review.

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.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.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.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.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.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.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.