Honda Motor Company held an exclusive event for the launch of the all-new 2016 Honda Civic. The event was attended by Honda Middle East management and the members of the media (you can read more about the event here). The event comprised of a test drive to Fujeirah and back. The idea was to provide the journalists with the feel of the car to get first impressions. There was a Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra to drive as well for comparison. So, let’s look at the Civic in detail (you can read more about the car details here).
| Key Features: | |
| Engine | 2.0 liter |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Power | 158 BHP / 187 Nm |
| Top Speed | 195 km/h |
| Price | AED 73000 |
Also See: Honda Civic specs and prices
Exterior
From the first glance, the new 2016 Honda Civic is a winner. It is everything what the previous Civic wasn’t. The 2016 model has sporty looks, wider and lower frame, LED headlamps and taillamps. The car has presence on the road and due to its sophisticated styling, it is a head turner. Everyone loves the Civic: so, it should be worth looking at. Thankfully, the new generation is a worth a look or two. The only issue is that the RS model has twin tailpipes but there are no exhaust finishers. The pipes are tucked away behind the rear bumper and are very hard to spot.
Interior
The new Civic’s interior is a nice place to be. It was mentioned during the press conference that European luxury compact sedans were the benchmark while designing this car and that clear shows. The interior cabin feels upmarket. However, the armrest fabric in the EXi needs to be changed as I feel it will soon get dirty. Also, the glove box needs dampers as it just falls down when opened. The rear a/c vents are a nice addition to the Civic but for some reason, the intensity of the air blower is divided between front and rear vents. Other than that, the Civic has everything what a customer of today needs from this segment.
Drive
The new Civic has ditched the 1.8 liter engine for two new engines – 1.5 liter turbo and 2.0 liter naturally aspirated. The EXi incorporates the 2.0 liter while the RS model has the 1.5 liter engine. Both engines are mated to the CVT. For daily driving, the 2.0 liter CVT combination works like a charm. The engine is punchy and the CVT helps it in keeping high revs for those instant takeovers. However, the 1.5 liter CVT combo doesn’t really work for me. It is because, the whole sporty nature of the turbocharged engine is not felt due to the CVT. There is no ‘turbo kick’ present in RS. It is more of a progressive surge with engine noise. If Honda provides a normal automatic transmission with turbocharged engine then it will be a proper sporty sedan as having a manual transmission in this market is of no point. Other than that, there are no complains. The ride quality is smooth with negligible road noise. Driving back and forth from Dubai didn’t feel tiring and that itself is a compliment. All in all, well done.
Also See: Audi A8L Extended 2016 limousine
Verdict
The Civic we all love and adore is back and has the potential to sell in high numbers.
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