2008 Honda Civic Reviews

Honda has long had a reputation for building high quality prestige cars that are packed with technology. The front-wheel drive Civic is one of its most popular; it’s been a mainstay of the company’s range since it was introduced here in 1973, and the eighth generation model introduced in 2006 continued that

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Ewan Kennedy reviews the Honda Civic sedan and hatch between 2003 and 2015 as a used buy.

Honda’s four-door excels at the duller virtues of safety and reliability. The dash is another matter. New There are few more respected badges in the car business than the Honda Civic. It’s been with us since the 1970s and its loyal band of followers wouldn’t drive anything else. Honda built its reputation on

That the Civic Honda launched in 2006 was the eighth generation of the popular nameplate says much about the small car.

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.

If the previous generation Civic seemed a little cheap and cheerful the eighth generation model reignited the Civic brand. It really needed a boost given that it was then facing off against some classy European models from Ford and Holden and a number of price-driven small cars from Japan.MODEL WATCHHonda's Civic has been a mainstay of the brand since the 1970s, but most models have tended to be conservative. The eighth generation stepped away from the past with an adventurous shape and a futuristic cabin that set it apart.Only available as a four-door sedan, there was no hatch available, the Civic came in three models, plus a hybrid. For the moment we'll leave the hybrid for another day, as it really is a subject all on its own.Under the shapely new skin lay the choice of two four-cylinder petrol engines; one a 1.8-litre that put out 103kW at 6300rpm and 174Nm at 4200rpm that was fitted to the VTi and VTi-L, the other was a 2.0-litre that boasted 114kW at 6200rpm and 199Nm at 4200rpm. Both had more than enough power for the job, and they were also quite frugal.Buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed auto. Underneath was all independent suspension, which copped some criticism. The handling was fine and grip level good, but the ride was choppy and not as comfortable as it should have been.The VTi was quite well equipped with air, cruise, electric windows and mirrors standard, along with a full-sized spare. Further up the range the VTi-L had a six-stacker CD system with MP3, alloy wheels and auto air, while the Sport had a sunroof and leather trim.IN THE SHOPHondas are generally robust and reliable and the Civic is no different. It's well engineered and well built, which flows through to its use in the hands of owners. Few issues are reported to CarsGuide, and those that are tend to be of an individual nature and not widespread. Check for a verifiable service record, Hondas need regular and proper maintenance to live a long ad happy life.IN A CRASHAll models came standard with ABS brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution; electronic stability control only became available in 2008 when it was fitted to the Sport. The base VTi had dual front airbags, but the VTi-L also had side front airbags, and the range-topping Sport had all of that plus head airbags for the best crash protection. ANCAP rated the base model at four stars.AT THE PUMPHonda claimed the 1.8-litre would average 6.9L/100km, the 2.0-litre 8.4L/100km. The latter was confirmed when CarsGuide tested the 2.0-litre Civic Sport and it returned 8.2L/100km, quite impressive for a 2.0-litre engine.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $22,990 to $31,990Engines: 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 2.0-litre petrolPower/Torque: 103 kW/174 Nm (1.8); 114 kW/188 Nm (2.0)Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic; front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.2 L/100 km (1.8), 8.4 l/100 km (2.0)Body: 4-door sedan Variants: VTi, VTi-L, SportSafety: 4 star ANCAPVERDICTGood looking, nice driving small car that delivers on most fronts. 3.5 stars Pros Sleek looks, frugal engines, full-sized spare Cons No hatch, choppy ride, rear visibility Price; $10,800 plusRATING3.5 stars

Toyota has trumped that by coming up with a car that everybody gets to pay for, even if they don't want it.European carmakers, whose fuel efficiency is measured by each model, bitterly refer to Prius as a case of `greenwashing'; relentless promotion of a single eco-friendly model to obscure the relative unfriendliness of the wider model range. It certainly suckered our Prime Minister, who fell over himself to give Toyota $35 million to build a token 10,000 hybrid Camrys at Altona, which Toyota was going to build anyway.Still, it could be worse. You could be a Victorian. They've stumped up another $35 million in tribute to Toyota. If it ain't easy being green, being seen to be so is certainly expensive. This has also obscured some highly pertinent rivals, not the least of which is the car you see pictured on this page, one that also uses petrol/electric propulsion.We were keen to re-try Honda's Civic Hybrid given a bunch of the Toyotas are used in News Limited’s company fleet. The drivers reckon they're averaging five litres per 100km; worse than Toyota's claimed 4.4L, but exceptional in any of our capital cities where traffic flow is approaching permanent gridlock. Resembling a prop rejected from The Jetsons as too silly-looking, it's eco-self-consciousness in the extreme. Which is why the likes of me tend to call it the `Pious'.The antidote, we thought, might be the Honda — a car that despite being five grand cheaper than the least-expensive Prius has inspired almost no notice since its introduction two years ago. Yet recently it made a list of Australia's 10 most fuel frugal cars, the best of which was the Fiat 500 diesel. That lack of attention is due in no small part to the fact that Honda's Civic Hybrid looks entirely normal.Aside from the discreet badging and low-wind-resistance wheels, it could be ... well, any Civic. So, while Honda's next generation hybrid gambit (a circa $25k-priced five-door that could make it here as early as 2011) is more distinctive, the Civic is not a visual statement for the greener-than-thou. Rather, it's pleasingly anonymous. That sense of anonymity holds within. Whereas in Prius the state of the electric battery's charge is conveyed by a lurid, psychedelic light-show display, the Civic tells all you need to know via a simple (and non-distracting) gauge on the dashboard.And as with the standard issue Civic, this dash is something of a modern design classic, with that prominent digital speedo that's always within the lower part of the driver's field of vision.This is indeed a welcome fixture these days, when you need to drive with eyes glued to your instruments rather than the road if you want to retain your licence. And there is actually a passable chance of speed infractions occurring in a Civic Hybrid.It's driven by an 85kW 1.3-litre four cylinder teamed with an electric motor that produces combined torque of 170Nm. Although both Civic and Prius have electric motors that recharge as brakes are applied, below 40km/h or so, Prius hums along on voltage alone.While the Civic's engine cuts once you're halted, it re-engages with a lurch and a thunk when the go pedal is pressed. So while Prius uses the petrol engine to assist electric propulsion, the opposite is true of the Civic. In essence the Honda gets off the line and generally handles like its Civic siblings as opposed to the dynamic bowl of custard that is the Prius.But — and it's a big but given the hybrid's raison d'etre — the Honda's mode of propulsion results in greater cost at the pump. Honda claims 4.6 litres per 100km. Sorry, but even with a feather touch on the pedal we could manage no better than 6.8 litres per 100km and worse in heavy traffic.Audi's newest A3 hatch, the 1.9TDIe, has achieved extraordinarily low figures: sub-four litres per 100km (in the contrived circumstances of economy runs), and in our testing was even better than the Civic in the city by up to a litre. It is better than both hybrids on the open road.Still, the Civic Hybrid's return is far from poor for a small-medium car that can carry a family. But most of the population is city-bound and forced to drive by a public transport system that is diminishing in proportion to the increasing population.It is urban consumption figures that count and by that measure the Civic Hybrid doesn't quite deliver like its humming rival. But at least you don't have to pay for it if you don't want it.Don't believe all the hybrid hype.

Only 100 cars are presently confirmed for owners in the US, but the head of Honda Australia, Yasuhide Mizuno, is keen to also see it in local showrooms.The FCX was displayed as a concept at last year's Melbourne Motor Show but now, with production about to begin, Mizuno is planning a local future for the car.“We want to bring it, if the research and engineering allows it,” Mizuno says. “If the infrastructure is set up then we have some opportunity to sell it here. Now we are just considering. We are talking with the product planning team at Honda headquarters.”Mizuno says there are problems but, just as Honda Australia made an early dive into hybrid cars with the Insight, he is keen.“Production capacity is one of the issues,” he says. “Specification is another issue. Australia is quite a tough country, so we have to consider the weather.”While Honda Australia is chasing the FCX, Mizuno confirms a big year in 2008 with new models. He adds; “This year is the Accord, Accord Euro and the Jazz. Also there will be a minor model change for the Legend.”The Accord will hit the road in February, while Honda is forecasting 12,000 sales for the Jazz as it aims for another record showroom results.Mizuno says Honda Australia is benefitting by importing cars from Thailand, which has a Free Trade Agreement with Australia, though it has to pay the bills in Thai baht through US dollars. More cars will be coming from 2009 as production of the CR-V and the Civic is transferred to a new Thai plant.He says the exchange rate is a problem for Honda Australia, but has no plans to chance sourcing or to go to the US for the Accord.“The Thai baht is still very strong,” he says. “But mostly the Japanese manufacturer can enjoy the declining yen and the high Aussie dollars.”