Designed for safe driving
“The Civic has been an iconic nameplate in the market,” said Masahiko Nakamura, president of Honda Cars Philippines Inc., at the virtual launch of the all-new Honda Civic. “Local sales started back in 1991, and it was the first Honda vehicle that was offered in the country.
“The 11th-generation all-new Honda Civic is one of the most competitive entries in the compact sedan segment,” he continued, “all thanks to the VTEC turbo engine, advanced technology and safety features, including the Honda Sensing, which altogether demonstrate Honda’s commitment to ‘Safety for Everyone.’”
It was with much anticipation that I waited for the announcement of what new tech the 11th-gen Honda Civic would feature. After all, anyone who has been behind the wheel of a Civic knows just what a great sedan it is.
It comes as no surprise for Honda Civic lovers that the iconic sedan features a new, clean-cut look along with a range of high-tech features, and a standard VTEC turbo engine for a powerful and engaging driving experience.
But what’s interesting is that Honda, through its Civic, continues to aim for greatness.
For the 11th generation, Honda was able to achieve the "Exhilarating Civic" through focusing on three core values: Design, Dynamics, and HMI (Human Machine Interface).
What’s new
The all-New Civic now has a more mature look in its 11th generation. The design was executed with a mixture of elegance and sportiness. Out front it has a pair of newly shaped headlights that either houses full LEDs or projector halogens. For style and functionality, Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are made standard across the range. Its cleaner yet more prominent front can also be seen with LED fog lights that are reserved for both the V Turbo CVT Honda Sensing and the RS Turbo CVT Honda Sensing.
The 11th-generation Honda Civic has an elegant and sporty stance. Plus, the long hood and its sloping roofline give the compact sedan added character. Integrated turn signals in the side mirrors are standard. Its front pillar was also pushed back by nearly two inches, which elongates its hood for a premium silhouette. Visibility has also been improved, all thanks to the design changes with its door mirrors.
Wheel options include a set of 16-inch rims on the S, 17-inch alloys on the mid-range V, and 18-inch matte black wheels on the RS.
The entire rear end has also been redesigned, having a new pair of LED taillights that elegantly illuminate in the night. Other RS-exclusive details include black-painted side mirrors, door handles, shark-fin antenna and trunk spoiler, along with chrome-finished dual-exhaust pipes for a sportier look.
What’s inside
At the virtual launch we were shown how the 11th-generation Civic’s minimalist interior design has been executed with quality materials, from its soft touch points to the honeycomb pattern found on the vents. Depending on the trim level, the all-new Civic could either come with fabric seats or a fine combo of suede and leather upholstery exclusive on the RS.
“Impressive, simply elegant and classy” were thoughts that came to mind as I viewed the Civic. I also welcomed the additional space added to improve the ease of getting in and out of the car. Its new dimensions also translate to better rear-seat comfort. Compartments are located all around the cabin for personal possessions. Passengers will definitely enjoy their conversations inside the car with improved noise, vibration and harshness levels.
For in-car entertainment, all variants come with touchscreen display audio that either measures 7 or 9 inches. Both screens are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capable, while the larger screen has Wireless Apple CarPlay. These infotainment systems power four speakers for the S, and eight speakers for the V. The RS variant, on the other hand, comes with a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Other features include automatic climate control and a dual zone that is exclusive on the RS variant, while rear air vents, on the other hand, are available for both the V and up. A 7-inch digital display with analog is available for both audio and Bluetooth functions, while the larger 10.2-inch full-digital cluster is exclusive on the RS — all supported with steering wheel-mounted controls.
Get the engine ready
But the big news for me came with the announcement and demonstration of Honda Cars to provide “Safety for Everyone” through its Honda Sensing, which is now a standard in all variants of the 11th-generation Civic.
The features included are Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow (LSF); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW); Auto High-Beam (AHB) and the new Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN).
As Honda continues to strengthen its “Safety for Everyone” global slogan, the all-new Civic helps realize this vision through Honda’s G-force Control (G-CON) Collision Safety Body that enhances impact absorption for the added protection of passengers in the event a collision occurs. This includes Speed Sensing Door Locks, Multi-View Reverse Camera, and Keyless Entry System that are standard for all grades, while the Side Curtain Airbags, Honda LaneWatch Camera, and the Walk Away Auto Door Lock function are exclusive on the RS variant.
As all Civic sedan lovers know one of the main highlights of the 11th-generation Civic is the 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder DOHC VTEC Turbo engine. Unlike its predecessor, the latest model now has an all-Turbo variant range. All trims of the Civic are paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The compact sedan even gets distinct driving modes, including Econ, Normal, and lastly, Sport, which is found particularly in the RS variant.
The other features such as the Driver and Front Passenger Airbags, Side Airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Child Lock, ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor, Security Alarm, and immobilizer are standard safety features for all variants.
“Bringing the 11th-generation All-New Civic to the Philippine market is part of our commitment of providing products that meet the needs of Filipinos,” added Ryohei Adachi. “Its design and features are a fine mixture of elegance and sportiness, perfect for those who want to turn heads on the road.”
Customers who reserve the All-New Civic V Turbo CVT Honda Sensing variant until Dec. 31 are entitled to a free Modulo Trunk Tray and Modulo Exhaust Pipe Finisher on top of all other promotions offered for the month of the vehicle release until January 31, 2022.
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For information, visit www.hondaphil.com virtual showroom or the nearest Honda Cars dealership.
