Honda Civic

The Honda Civic’s cabin is clean, uncluttered, and focused on ergonomics and driver experience. The standout feature is a full-width metal mesh panel across the dashboard that stylishly hides the air vents. The high-end European feel improves airflow distribution. Depending on the trim, soft-touch materials cover key touchpoints like the dashboard top, upper door panels, and armrests. Even the lower trims avoid the glossy black plastic, and opts for more tactile and durable textures.

The front seats, as usual, are the most spacious. These have been redesigned with a new internal structure and body-stabilizing support system. The seats provide superior lumbar and pelvis support, ideal for long trips. The cushions are firm but supportive. The entry-level model gets durable woven cloth with a premium feel. Higher trims get a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Space on the rear seat is excellent for a compact sedan. It offers space for two adults comfortably, three is a pinch. All models get 60:40 split-folding rear seats standard. Honda has used acoustic windshield glass, additional insulation, and underbody materials to reduce road and wind noise.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Premium interior design

Cons: Limited rear-seat space

Features and Technology

The Honda Civic comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the higher trims get a 9.0-inch display. The interface is user-friendly. The Touring trim includes a 10.2-inch digital gauge display, providing a customizable interface for navigation, media, and vehicle information​. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard across all trims, allowing seamless integration of smartphones for navigation, music, and hands-free communication.

Standard across all trims, the 7.0-inch colour display offers clear graphics and can be customized to show essential information such as fuel economy, exterior temperature, and navigation data.

The entry-level models get a 160-watt audio system comprising four speakers. The top-level Touring trim introduces a 12-speaker Bose Premium Sound System, complete with a subwoofer. The Honda Civic gets a speed-sensitive volume compensation (SVC) system that adjusts audio levels in response to vehicle speed and ambient noise.

Pros and cons

Pros: User-friendly interface

Cons: Screen glare

Boot Space and Storage

The Honda Civic offers a generous boot space of 452 litres with all seats up. Folding down the rear seat increases the space up to 1,210 liters. The boot floor is low and wide, making it easy to load heavy items like suitcases or groceries. The loading lip is minimal, which is helpful when placing or removing heavier objects.

The cabin of the Honda Civic gets an impressively deep and wide central console with enough space to store a medium-sized handbag or tech accessories. It comes with a sliding tray and rubberized mat. There’s also a wireless phone charging pad on some trims. The central console gets two cupholders. The doors get large bottle holders. Rear-seat passengers also get cup holders integrated into the fold-down central armrest.

While there’s no specific under-seat storage compartment, the rear seats are high enough to tuck smaller items or bags beneath them.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Spacious boot

Cons: Limited size of glovebox

The Honda Civic measures 4,678mm in length, 1,802mm in width, and 1,415mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,735mm. 

The new Honda Civic marks a significant evolution in its exterior design, transitioning from its earlier ‘boy racer’ image to a more refined and mature car. The new design transformation aligns with the Japanese automaker’s strategy to appeal to young professionals and families seeking a blend of sophistication and practicality.​ 

The Honda Civic now sports a more aggressive grille, flanked by slimmer, sharper headlights. The car gets all-around LED lighting. The integration of the angular headlights and a prominent lower air intake contributes to a refined yet sporty appearance. 

On the side, the Honda Civic’s profile reveals a fastback-inspired roofline that gently slopes towards the rear. A strong shoulder crease and expertly crafted contours enhance the vehicle's dynamism. The body-coloured door handles and mirror caps maintain a cohesive aesthetic. The seven-spoke, 17-inch wheels and black contrasting outside rearview mirrors adds a sporty flair. 

At the back, the Civic continues its elegant design language with angular taillights and turn signals. The subtle integration of a roof spoiler accentuates its sporty character.

The Honda Civic is available in Lunar Silver Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Ignite Red Metallic, Meteoroid Grey Metallic, and Morning Mist Blue Metallic colour options. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Clean and sophisticated styling

Cons: Less youthful appeal

The combined fuel economy of the Honda Civic ranges from approximately 10.2kmpl to 21.3kmpl, depending on the powertrain configuration. The top-level RS e:HEV Sport Touring Hybrid returns an impressive combined economy of around 20.5kmpl within the city and about 21.3kmpl on highway. The mileage numbers are among the best in the class.  

Pros and cons

Pros: Efficient powertrain

Cons: Some rivals offer better highway mileage

The suspension system of the Honda Civic includes a MacPherson strut setup in the front and a multi-link rear suspension. The system effectively absorbs road imperfections, making the ride comfortable without feeling overly soft or excessively stiff. The car does a commendable job of smoothing out smaller bumps and imperfections such as potholes and rougher city roads. On highways, the Honda Civic remains quiet, with minimal road noise filtering through, creating a refined and comfortable environment. 

The suspension system is tuned to be a little firmer than that of a traditional economy sedan, giving it a more connected feel to the road. This firmness doesn’t make the ride uncomfortable, though; it just provides more stability when cornering or driving at higher speeds.

Honda has managed to strike a balance between sharpness with comfort, creating a chassis that feels responsive. The steering is precise with good feedback. It allows for a sense of confidence when maneuvering through corners or tight spaces.

The Honda Civic is an agile car. It feels nimble and easy to drive in both urban settings and on winding country roads. The car's well-weighted steering system provides ample communication with the driver

Pros: Balanced suspension tuning

Cons: Ride quality sometimes becomes stiff

The lower-level versions of the Honda Civic are hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 1.5-liter petrol engine that produces 176PS/240Nm. The motor is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The powertrain provides smooth acceleration, making it responsive in city traffic and on highways. The CVT is well-tuned. 

The top-level RS e:HEV variant introduces Honda's hybrid technology to the Civic series. It combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 184PS/315Nm. This setup offers immediate throttle response and seamless transitions between electric and petrol power.

All variants of the Honda Civic come with selectable Econ, Normal, and Sport (exclusive to the RS) driving modes that adjust throttle response and transmission behavior to suit different driving conditions and preferences.

Pros and cons

Pros: Strong performance in all model

Cons: Limited features in entry-level model

The 11th generation Civic comes with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist system. The RS e:HEV Sport Touring Hybrid gets HondaLink and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System. These systems provide seamless integration with smartphones, allowing drivers to access navigation, music, and messaging apps hands-free via voice commands. The HondaLink app further enhances connectivity by offering features like service appointment scheduling and vehicle status monitoring.

Other standard safety equipment includes a multi-angle rearview camera, rear parking sensors, multiple airbags, seatbelt reminders, and child safety locks. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Comprehensive driver-assist suite

Cons: Limited customization options

Competitor Comparison

The Toyota Corolla Altis is one of the closest competitors of the Honda Civic. Both are known for their reliability and efficiency. The Honda Civic offers a sportier design, turbocharged engine options, and engaging handling, appealing to driving enthusiasts. In contrast, the Corolla Altis emphasizes comfort and practicality with a smoother ride and user-friendly features. Both cars come with advanced safety technologies, but the Honda Civic tends to have a more premium interior. The Corolla Altis provides better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs. Overall, the Civic suits performance-minded drivers, while the Corolla Altis is ideal for those prioritizing comfort and economy.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Honda Civic sports a modern design and delivers reliability and fuel efficiency in a well-rounded package. With smooth handling, a comfortable interior, and advanced safety features, it’s a smart choice for daily driving. Whether commuting or cruising, the Honda Civic consistently stamps a position in its segment.