The 2009 Honda Civic is a far cry from the stubby little hatchback that landed on our shores in 1972. Since then Honda has stayed the course, year after year adding, improving and perfecting the Civic in response to customer needs and the ups and downs of market conditions. It's a business model that Ford, GM and Chrysler have never understood.For the 10 years between 1997 and 2007, it was the top-selling car in Canada and today, it remains the benchmark for all compacts in North America.
Not only that, it comes in three models -- high-performance Coupe, Family Sedan and Hybrid -- neatly covering the all the bases in the marketplace and appealing to a broad range of individual tastes. Now in its eighth generation, the 2009 Civic is leaner, cleaner, more sophisticated and, with nearly 40 years of development behind it, reliable as a hammer.
Our test car was the Civic EXL Sedan finished in Crystal Black Pearl with Gray Leather Seating. Introduced last year, the latest Civic has a sleeker, more aerodynamic shape that flows in continuous curves from the integrated front bumper, over the steeply raked windshield, before sloping gently back to the rear deck lid. The smoother shape means less wind resistance and optimum fuel efficiency.
The slightly flared fenders and elegant ten-spoke, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels give the Civic a purposeful look while the body-colour outside mirrors and door handles add a touch of understated luxury.
A great handling car starts with a rigid body structure that resists flexing or twisting when negotiating bumps or cornering.
The Civic's ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure takes this a step further by incorporating load bearing substructures to disperse energy away from the cabin in the event of collisions.
Power is provided by a 140-horsepower four-cylinder 1.8-litre, 16-valve, SOHC engine with i-VTEC, Honda's exclusive " i" for intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control.
Without getting too technical, the system provides more efficient combustion for increased performance and fuel economy while lowering emissions, earning the Civic EPA's ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) status. The engine delivers 140 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels via an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission while The Drive-By-Wire Throttle System replaces mechanical parts with electronic impulses for a more immediate and smoother response to the accelerator pedal.
A 5-speed manual transmission is standard but our tester came with the optional 5-speed Automatic with Lock-Up Torque convertor. (The high performance Si Coupe and Sedan come with a 197-horsepower, 2-litre I4 while the Hybrid combines a 1.3-litre I4 with an Electric Motor Assist).
The EXL combines heated (front) leather seating with manual seat controls. Not a usual combination but perfectly acceptable. Getting comfortable behind the wheel is no problem thanks to the tilt/telescoping steering wheel and the 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat (4-way adjusters for the front passenger).
The Civic's two-tier instrument panel features a bold digital speedometer flanked by linear gauges for engine temperature and fuel, positioned in the direct line of sight. At first, I found the digital speedometer a distraction as the large numbers kept changing with the car's speed. But after a while, your peripheral vision accepts it without taking your main attention away from the road.
A more conventional tachometer, redlined at 6,300 rpm, is positioned in the lower tier with a read-out panel for odometer and trip odo, plus transmission mode indicator. I particularly liked the three-spoke steering wheel. It features audio and cruise control buttons plus thumb notches that allow for comfortable (and correct) 3- and 9- o'clock hand positions. The interior, finished in soft shades of grey, uses a pleasing mix of surface textures, highlighted with brushed metal trim to convey a high-tech look.
All the controls are intuitive and easy to reach. An info panel for the clock, trip odo, ambient temperature and audio system tops the centre stack. Simple controls for the speed-sensitive audio system are set below, featuring AM/FM/CD plus MP3/WMA compatibility. Conventional controls for the AC (with air filtration) and heating are positioned below. The multi-functional centre console features two beverage holders, stores up to 20 CDs and serves as an armrest for both front seat occupants.
On the road, the Civic provides a quiet, comfortable ride. With its tall fifth gear, the engine is only turning 2,000 rpm at highway speeds, enabling it to deliver 5.7 L/100 km (50 mpg). The supple suspension smoothes out road irregularities and the power-assisted, variable rack and pinion steering is light and direct with a strong on-centre feel at highway speeds. In stop-and-go city driving, I found it best to select D3.
This allows the transmission to utilize the bottom three gears, leaving fourth and fifth for higher speeds. Power-assisted anti-lock (ABS) disc brakes with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) inspire confidence with short, controlled stops on any surface. New this year is standard VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) with Traction Control that checks wheelspin to maintain directional control on any surface. Occupants are protected with 3-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners for all five positions, active front head restraints and the full complement of airbags: dual-stage, dual-threshold front; front seat side (with Occupant Position Detection); and full, side curtain airbags.
The trunk capacity of 340 litres (12 cu.ft.) is almost doubled by folding down the rear seat and easily accommodates two golf bags and weekend luggage. Other amenities include keyless-entry system; power remote/heated outside mirrors; Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System; power windows with auto up/down driver's side; variable, intermittent wipers; MP3 auxiliary input jack and LATCH tethers for child seats.
"The EXL is a great addition to the Civic line," says Kelvin Frumento of Nanaimo Honda. "We didn't have a model with leather seating before and so it gives people a chance to enjoy a new level of comfort and luxury without giving up Civic's well known affordability and economy."
Alan McPhee is a Canadian automotive journalist and is former editor of Carguide Magazine. His articles appear each week in this space.
Source;
http://www.canada.com/Honda+Civic+still+benchmark/1281690/story.html
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