2011 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

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.

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.

This is the Brit'-built Honda Civic hatch, much more handsome than the "nanna" sedan we also get here. It's recently been value added in an attempt to attract buyers but remains a $30K proposition start price in a market that says it should be $25K. Honda Australia has sweetened the deal with extra kit like rear park sensors, climate control, multi trip computer, auto headlightsand wipers, and a style tweak from Civic Type R.The six-speed manual test car goes for $29,990 plus on roads. Five-speed auto is more, metallic paint is more and leather is more. Pay up to $35K plus on roads for a small, 1.8-litre hatch ... ouch.Legion ... Mitsubishi Lancer, Sooby Impreza, Corolla, Cruze, Cerato hatch, i30, Mazda3, Focus, Golf, SX4.Runs a 1.8-litre, SINGLE CAM, petrol four cylinder with variable valve timing. Bit of a blast from the past with only one camshaft.Pretty good actually, better with the revs up. Can fall into a torque hole if you are careless but the close-ratio six-speed box masks deficiencies. Generates a fair old din at highway speeds. Need to slip it back a few cogs to overtake quickly. Excellent gearshift, undoubted reliability.Claimed 5.7-litres/100km. We achieved 6.5 with relative ease and it runs on 91 RON so there are savings there.Possibly due to the low fuel use and linked low carbon dioxide emissions. Probably has green manufacturing credentials _ paint, recyclability, low tox' materials.Gets a five star ANCAP  rating with the recent update.Pretty good. No lumbar support adjustment is a pain in the back, protruding dash on driver's side door, driving position is good, relatively little road or wind noise penetration, decent array of luxury goodies (to offset the price).Mixed bag. Has great steering and slick sporty gearchange and sporty overall feel to the dynamics but it doesn't have enough oomph to capitalise. Average performance but looks like a hot hatch. Bit disappointing. Audio is good, has good connectivity (no audio streaming), Bluetooth phone connect is a bonus. Amazing how Honda can get such a good result from simple Macpherson strut front and elementary beam axle rear suspension.Not really.No, would buy the 2.0-litre Mitsu' Lancer SX hatch for $21K drive away including fixed price servicing.