2019 Honda Civic Review: Features and Specifications in the UAE

Overview of the Honda Civic

While the Honda Civic is one of the longest-running nameplates in the automobile industry, the outgoing iteration does have its work cut out for itself. Competition within the C-segment sedan stable is rife with some really accomplished offerings from several automakers, and the new tenth-generation Honda Civic is certainly one of the best among them. Some of the Civic’s most compelling challengers include the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, and Mazda 3.

First unveiled back in late 2015, the latest-gen Civic sports a modern and eye-catching fastback design on the outside, with a well-made and fairly stylish interior. The Civic now uses Honda’s new compact Global Platform for its underpinnings, which has helped engineers make the new model strike a near-perfect balance between handling and ride quality compared to any of its predecessors.

Variants and Pricing in the UAE

In the United Arab Emirates, the new Honda Civic is available in up to four different variants:

• 1.6 DX: Priced at AED 69,900
• 1.6 LX Sport: Starts from AED 72,900
• 2.0 EX: Costs AED 86,900
• 1.5 RS: Priced at AED 98,900

Apart from their prices, there are notable differences between the Civic LX and EX, particularly regarding engine specifications. The 1.6-liter normally aspirated inline four-cylinder engine in the LX trim produces 123hp at a high 6,500 rpm and 151Nm of peak torque at 4,300 rpm, all sent to the front wheels via continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Performance Specifications

However, the 1.6-liter unit in the Civic doesn’t translate into stellar performance on the road. Even if you pin the gas pedal, the Civic 1.6 will take over 11.5 seconds to reach the 100 km/h barrier, with a maximum speed restricted to 200 km/h. If fuel economy is your priority, this motor’s 5.4 L/100 km figure is impressive.

If you opt for the Civic EX variant, priced at approximately 14,000 dirhams more, you get a 2.0-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine that produces 158hp at 6,500 rpm and 187Nm of maximum torque at 4,300 revs. While the gearbox remains a CVT, the more powerful engine allows acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 9 seconds, maintaining a top speed of 200 km/h. Fuel economy is rated at 6.9 L/100 km.

Equipment and Features

The Honda Civic LX Sport is equipped with:

• 17-inch alloy rims
• LED daytime-running lights (DRLs)
• Front & rear fog lights
• Decklid spoiler
• Remote-controlled engine starter
• Keyless entry with push-button ignition
• Paddle shifters and sport pedals
• Cruise control
• Automatic air-conditioning with rear vents
• Electronic parking brake with auto-hold function
• Multifunction steering wheel
• 4-speaker sound system
• 5-inch infotainment system with USB and Bluetooth support

Safety features include:

• Dual front airbags
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
• Hill Start Assist (HSA)
• Agile Handling Assist (AHA)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)

The Civic EX trim further adds:

• Power sunroof
• Dual-zone climate control
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Upgraded sound system with Apple CarPlay & HDMI support
• Honda’s Multi-Angle rearview camera
• LaneWatch
• 7-inch touch-infotainment head unit
• A total of six airbags