- Ten generations and more than 20 million units produced. These are eye-popping numbers, which attest to the validity of the «Honda Civic» formula and which reinforce the responsibility of this 10th generation.
It is noted in several details of this Civic that Honda did not leave its credits for "others" — nor could it. But before any further considerations, let's start with the aesthetics of this Honda Civic 1.5 i-VTEC TURBO CVT Prestige. With the exception of the all-powerful Type-R, the Prestige version is the most expensive and best equipped in the Honda Civic range.
There are those who like and there are those who do not like the aesthetics of the new Honda Civic. I confess that I was once more critical of your lines than I am today. It's one of those cases where the lines make the most sense live. It is wide, low and therefore has a strong presence. Still, the rear still doesn't totally convince me — but I can't say the same about the trunk capacity any more: 420 liters of capacity. Okay, you are forgiven…
Are we going to the interior?
Jumping in, there's nothing missing from this Honda Civic 1.5 i-VTEC TURBO CVT Prestige — not least because the 36,010 euros requested by Honda demand that nothing is missing.
Everything is neat. Excellent driving position.
The driving position is superb — there is no other adjective. The design of the seats together with the wide adjustments of the steering wheel and position of the pedals guarantee long kilometers of fatigue-free driving. A compliment that can be extended to the very wide rear seats, where heating is not even lacking.
As for materials, it is a typical Honda model. Not all plastics are of superior quality but assembly is rigorous and faults are difficult to spot.
Space also convinces, whether at the front or at the back. Part of the responsibility for the generous living allowances in the rear seats owes, once again, to the decisions taken regarding the shape of the bodywork in the rear section. It was a pity that the 9th generation of the Civic didn't have the famous “magic benches”, which allowed the transport of taller objects by retracting the base of the rear seats.
Turning the key...
Forgiveness! Pressing the Start/Stop button brings the willful 1.5 i-VTEC Turbo engine to life. It's an excellent ally for those who like to walk a little faster than they should — If you know what i mean. Otherwise the 129 hp 1.0 i-VTEC engine is the best option.
The association of VTEC technology with a low inertia turbo resulted in 182 hp of power at 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 240 Nm, constant between 1700 and 5000 rpm. In other words, we always have an engine at the service of the right foot. As for the gearbox, I liked this engine associated with the six-speed manual gearbox more than this CVT (continuous variation) gearbox.
It's one of the best CVTs I've ever tested, even so, it loses points in the “feeling” of driving compared to the “old lady” manual gearbox. Even in manual mode, using the paddles on the steering wheel, the engine-brake generated on downshifts is virtually none — after all, there is really no downshifting. In short, it's an excellent option for those who drive a lot in the city, but for other drivers… hummm. Better the manual box.
As for fuel consumption, given the performance it advertises — 8.5 seconds from 0-100 km/h and 200 km/h of top speed — the numbers are acceptable. We achieved averages of 7.7 liters per 100 km, but these numbers are too dependent on the pace we have adopted. If we want to make carefree use of the 182 hp of power, expect consumption in the region of 9 l/100 km. It's not little.
Even because the chassis asks for
The chassis of the Honda Civic 1.5 i-VTEC TURBO CVT Prestige invites you to fast paced. The torsional rigidity of this 10th generation is an excellent ally of the adaptive suspension geometry, especially of the rear axle which uses a multilink scheme. Unfazed. Anyone who likes predictable and stable chassis will love this Civic, anyone who prefers agile and responsive chassis will sweat to find the limits of rear axle grip. And you won't be able to...
For its part, the front does not show any difficulty in dealing with the 182 hp of power of the 1.5 i-VTEC Turbo engine. For that we have to raise the «stop» to the 320 hp of the Honda Civic Type-R.
When the tune takes on a calmer rhythm, it is worth noting how the suspensions deal with the holes in the «normal» mode. Electric Power Steering (EPS) also deserves praise for the feedback that conveys correct assistance.
Distraction proof technology
The 10th generation Honda Civic integrates the latest innovations in terms of active safety: recognition of traffic signals, collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, lane maintenance assistance system, among many others. All systems on the standard equipment list of this Honda Civic 1.5 i-VTEC TURBO CVT Prestige.
It is also worth mentioning the LED headlights (usually optional) with automatic high beam, automatic window wipers and tire deflation warning system (DWS). In terms of comfort and wellness equipment, nothing is missing either. Including panoramic roof, adaptive suspensions, parking sensors with rear camera and HONDA Connect™ infotainment system. The latter, despite offering a lot of information, is difficult to operate.