Honda Civic remains number one

2012 Honda Civic Si HFP package

Iconic vehicle continues its sales success despite increased pressure from others in the segment

By Alan McPhee, The Daily NewsMay 3, 2012

 

While the Honda Civic has been the top selling car in Canada for the past 14 years, it has come under significant pressure from newcomers like the Chevy Cruze, Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus. Given the unprecedented problems caused by last year's tsunami, the subsequent earthquake in Japan and the resulting loss of production, it would be understandable if the completely redesigned, 2012, ninth generation Civic lost some momentum coming out of the gate. That was the big question. No problem; the Civic continues in first place and looks like a sure bet to stay there. Having set the pace in compact sedan design, performance and affordability for so long, the new 2012 model has, very sensibly, taken those attributes as a starting point to build on.

Stylistically the new model bears the unmistakable Civic 'look' but with a number of subtle refinements. The sloping hood is longer with a smaller grille opening while the A pillars, supporting the windshield are thinner, providing better forward vision when turning. The front, integrated bumper is reshaped with a shallower air intake and flanking fog lamp pods. Compared to the previous model, the new profile has a more aggressive, pitched-forward look with a roofline that is more coupe than sedan. While overall length and height remain unchanged, Honda designers managed to add some width to the body providing more shoulder room for front and three rear seat occupants (three children would be quite comfortable, three adults not so much).

For 2012, the Civic Sedan comes in 6 flavours: DX (starting at $16,485), LX, EX, EX-L, Si and Hybrid while the coupe is available in LX (starting at $19,375) EX, EX-L and Si models. All models - except Si - come with Honda's 140 horsepower, 1.8-litre DOHC, four-cylinder engine and standard five-speed manual transmission (except EX-L) or optional five-speed Automatic. The high performance Si models up the ante with the 201 horsepower, 2.4-litre DOHC, four-cylinder engine and six-speed, close ratio manual transmission.

Our tester was the Civic Coupe EX-L with navigation system, and standard five speed automatic, finished in taffeta white with grey leather trimmed seats. Slightly shorter than the sedan, the Coupe features a shorter, steeply raked hood with a deeper, lower air intake and 16-inch, 10-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. The cockpit features the Civic's unique two-tier, i-MID (intelligent Multi-Informational Display) dashboard.

The upper tier is positioned at eye level as before, with a bold digital speedometer reading directly above the lower level analog tachometer. New for 2012 is the additional readout to the right of the digital speedometer with an analog clock plus digital readout for time, date, day and year plus all the trip functions like odometer readings, instant and average fuel economy, ambient temperature, and range. The i-MID is your "mission control" for Bluetooth, hands-free connectivity, accessing your phone book, streaming your playlist, plugging in your MP3 device and using the bi-lingual, voice-activated Navigation System. More importantly, virtually all this information can now be controlled by fingertip steering wheel controls.

The centre stack houses the 6.5-inch screen for the Navigation and premium 360-watt, sevenspeaker Audio System consisting of AM/FM/CD/ WMA and 3 months complimentary XM Satellite Radio. Conventional controls for the multi-mode Heating and A/C functions are positioned below.

The cabin is finished in a pleasing mix of charcoal, black and grey surfaces complemented by the Grey Leather upholstery and brushed metal trim for the main gauges, secondary switchgear and steering wheel controls. Fit and finish is excellent and all the controls have a pleasing tactile feel.

The manually-adjustable, heated front bucket seats provide excellent under-thigh and torso support with height and lumbar control for the driver while the front passenger seat folds and slides forward at a touch to provide easy access to the rear seats.

Acceleration is prompt thanks to the drive-bywire throttle control and the re-engineered fivespeed Overdrive Automatic with 100 km/h coming up in under 9.0 seconds. With four-wheel independent suspension featuring variable, gas-filled struts up front and a multi-link, double wishbone set up at the rear plus front and rear stabilizer bars, I expected a stiffer ride. But while the ride is sedanlike, the Coupe carves its way around corners accurately thanks to the precise, electric variableassist, rack-and-pinion steering. Better mid-range torque also adds to the improved performance across the board.

The five-speed automatic provides seamless shifts and with its Grade Logic Control, automatically holds lower gears for long hill climbs or descents. In Drive, the engine is just loafing along at 2000 rpm and using only 5.0 L/100 km (56 mpg), down from 5.7 L/100 km (50 mpg) in the previous model. Want to save even more? Push that green ECO button on the dash and the Civic will shortshift gears and monitor fuel flow to use even less gasoline. Four-wheel power-assisted disc brakes (ventilated front and solid rear) with ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist provide confident and controlled stops. Traction Control prevents acceleration slippage and VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) corrects understeer (when front wheels drift wide) and oversteer (when the rear wheels slide out).

Standard equipment includes all the usual power amenities and remote keyless entry; power door locks and windows with driver one-touch up/down; power glass moonroof; heated, power outside mirrors; CFC-free A/C with air filter; remote trunk and fuel door releases and anti-theft security system. Multi-stage front seat airbags, side seat airbags and side curtain airbags take care of security along with the LATCH system for child seat anchors.

"The 2012 Civic is a better buy than ever," says Paul Robson of Nanaimo Honda. "It's better equipped, more fun to drive, gets better fuel economy and it's more affordable than ever."

- Alan McPhee is a Canadian automotive journalist and is former editor of Carguide Magazine. His articles appear each week in this space.

BOTTOM LINE
Type: FWD compact couple
Engine: 1.8-litre, SOHC I4
Horsepower: 140@6,500 rpm
Torque: 128 ft-lb@4300 rpm
Fuel economy: city-7.2L/100 km; highway - 5.0L/100km
Base price: $24,890
Price as tested: $26,285
 

Source;

http://www.canada.com/cars/Honda+Civic+remains+number/6557819/story.html

HONDA CIVIC STAYS ON TOP AS CANADA'S TOP-SELLING CAR (13th yr in a row!)

TORONTO, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - With sales of 57,501 units in 2010, Honda Civic retained its position as Canada's top-selling passenger car for the 13th consecutive year. Since 1973, nearly 1.6 million Honda Civics have been sold in Canada, making Civic a leader in the Canadian automotive landscape. An all-new, 9th-generation, 2012-model Civic will go on sale this spring.

"We thank the thousands of Canadians who bought Honda Civic models this past year to make it Canada's number one car for the 13th year in a row," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. "We appreciate and value these new car buyers' vote of confidence in Civic with its strong resale value, excellent fuel efficiency, top-of-class safety features and fun-to-drive character."

"With the exception of the Civic Hybrid, all Civic models sold in Canada are made here in Canada. We are proud of our investment in Canada as a leading vehicle manufacturer. In fact, nearly half of all the vehicles we sold in Canada in 2010 were built in Canada, including the Honda Civic and Acura MDX, ZDX and the Canadian-exclusive CSX."

Of the more than 5.3 million Honda and Acura vehicles that the Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly plants in Alliston, Ontario, have produced over the past 24 years, more than 3 million of those have been Honda Civic models.

Now in its 41st year of operation in Canada, Honda Canada builds the Honda Civic and Acura MDX, ZDX and CSX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario, and produces fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines for Civic production at its adjacent engine plant.

Source;
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2011/05/c8692.html

Honda Civic remains number one in Canada

By Alan McPhee, Special to The Daily News December 2, 2010

Now in its eighth generation, the Honda Civic has come a long way from the stubby sub-compact hatchback that landed on our shores in 1972. It was a revelation, with many industry-leading design and engineering features that would, over time, be copied by others. Over the years it has been steadily refined and improved, growing from sub-compact to compact, adding more performance, fuel efficiency and convenience features in response to customer needs. Since 1997 it has been the top-selling car in Canada, comfortably ahead of Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.

The big difference today, is that that the Civic is available in no less than 9 different models -- five sedans and four coupes -- appealing to a diverse audience with different needs and desires. No other company offers a vehicle with so many choices. Today's Civic is leaner, cleaner, more sophisticated and, with nearly 40 years of development behind it, reliable as a hammer.

For the rest of the article, follow the link;
http://www.canada.com/Honda+Civic+remains+number/3916502/story.html