Honda launches much-awaited 10th-gen Civic

Now with a fast & furious turbo model 

Deliveries won’t start until June, but if I were you, I’d hurry now to a Honda dealership and reserve myself one of the best all-new Honda Civics to land on these shores since the late, great Civic SiR from 1998.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) unveiled the new 10th-generation Civic at Makati Shangri-La last night, heralding the return of one the world’s most iconic cars to a position of greatness.

After several generations of on-again/off-again styling success (or the lack thereof), this new Civic is absolutely brimming with inspired design. Honda fans, your beloved Civic is back.

This new version looks like a proper Civic. Not that the previous ones were lame ducks. It’s just that they failed to engender the excitement that Honda loyalists (and even non-loyalists) were looking for. 

For one thing, the new Civic looks oh-so-sexy. Its sheetmetal is a stretch fabric that hugs all the right curves. And speaking of stretch, the new Civic—when compared to its predecessors—looks like its front and rear ends have been pinched and stretched far apart.

It looks longer, lower, and wider (which it is), with a fastback roofline that has about the most raked angle we’ve seen in a Civic. It looks more hunkered down, almost like it’s been fitted with aftermarket lowering springs.

Its bold front fascia is complemented by Honda’s Signature LED lighting, which includes full LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights.

The beltine and greenhouse are very aggressive, with the former sporting a sharply rising flourish that terminates at a point at the radically shaped rear quarter window. The arrowhead-shaped LED taillights, too, look very new and dynamic.

Overall, the car projects that much-desired look of being in motion while standing still.     

Inside the new Civic is a cabin that reflects its cutting-edge exterior. Ergonomics in Honda’s traditionally driver-centric interior is top-notch. A handsome and very functional dashboard greets the occupants. The seats are big and overall space is generous. The whole cabin is covered with upscale, soft-touch materials, with the flagship modeling sporting leather setas, steering wheel and shift knob. Fit and finish, again, is typical first-rate Honda.   

The full-color TFT instrument cluster includes a Multi-Information Display that allows for quick browsing of vehicle speed and vehicle-related information. This is easily operated through a swipe on its Electrostatic Steering Wheel Controls.

For audio and entertainment, the all-new Civic is equipped with a 7-inch Advanced Display Audio (RS Turbo gets an incorporated navigation system) that provides advanced touch controls, entertainment features, and Smartphone connectivity. Climate controls are also featured on the screen, which may be adjusted through the Climate Control Button.

But while the inside and outside boast lots of stuff to tweet about, it’s what’s under the hood that’s making quite a lot of car enthusiasts quiver with excitement. That’s because the 10th-generation Civic is the first-ever locally available Honda to combine the genius of its pioneering VTEC variable valve timing technology with a turbocharger.

The engine is found in the top-of-the-line variant, the Civic RS Turbo (which also gets sportier treatment with RS Design 17-inch alloy wheels, gloss black grille, wing-type trunk spoiler, chrome door handles, LED fog lights and RS emblem).

Under its hood is a DOHC VTEC turbo engine that delivers 173ps at 5,500 rpm and 22.0 kg-m of torque at a wide 1,700-5,500-rpm spread.

It’s not going to butt heads with a Subaru Impreza STI or a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, but it’s eminently more tractable—not to mention a lot more fuel-efficient—for day-to-day driving than those two super-sedans. And it’s still a heck of a lot faster and more powerful than any other sedan in its class. 

The only other all-new Civic variant (the 1.8 E) retains the 1.8-liter engine which produces 141 ps at 6,500 rpm and 17.4 kg-m at 4,300 rpm. These engines are mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) developed under Earth Dreams Technology. The RS Turbo is also equipped with paddle shifters for a sportier driving experience.

The new Civic’s Smart Key features numerous added functionalities, including a Remote Engine Start Function that conveniently starts the vehicle engine and turns on its Auto Climate Control System from the outside, allowing the cabin to cool even before entering the vehicle. The Smart Key Entry System also consists of a Walk-away Auto Lock Feature, which automatically locks all doors after sensing the Smart Key away from the vehicle by approximately 2.5 meters.

The new Civic’s full suite of safety features includes driver and passenger airbags (with side and side curtain airbags for the RS Turbo), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Multi-view Reverse Camera with Dynamic Guidelines, Seat Belt Reminder, ISOFIX and Immobilizer.

The new Civic also gets an Electric Parking Brake (EPB), which replaces the conventional handbrake lever with an electronic switch. The Auto Brake Hold (ABH) incorporated in the EPB provides more convenience in different driving situations.

With its formidable array of features, the all-new Civic has already received several global awards. Since its global debut in North America, the 10th-gen Civic has earned global recognition with no less than 14 international awards from leading institutions, some of which include the “2016 North American Car of the Year” and “2016 Canadian Car of the Year” awards.

The all-new Civic is available in 1.8 E (P1,088,000) and RS Turbo (P1,398,000) variants and comes in Cosmic Blue Metallic (new color), Midnight Burgundy Pearl (new color), Lunar Silver Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, Rallye Red (RS Turbo only), and Modern Steel Metallic (1.8 E only).

The line starts here.