Road Test

Honda Civic

Honda lent Disabled Motorist a Civic 3 door SE auto. Paul
Talbot put it through its paces

The external appearance of the car is pleasing. It is well-proportioned with a medium level waistline, corporate nose and slightly rounded rear, together
with a small spoiler adorning the top of the tailgate. It has the standard remote central locking and alarm fob separate to the key, which is a good security measure. What immediately struck me was the height of the car, which follows the current trend of short vehicles with plenty of height. The car was finished off with attractive
wheel trims which could easily be mistaken for alloy wheels.

Interior

The three door model obviously has wide opening doors and anyone using a wheelchair would find it relatively easy totransfer from their chair into the car. The seat is height adjustable and can be tailored to suit the individual.
This model comes with a height adjustable steering column and the usual seating adjustments. In the side of the backrest of the front seats are side airbags to
complement the driver and passenger ones that are standard fit.
A comfortable driving position is easy to establish: simply raise the backrest, lower the seat and steering column and that’s that. In fact, it couldn’t have been
easier. One aspect that may annoy drivers of the three door model is that the seatbelt can be a long way away from the chosen driving position, but this obviously
varies with the height of the driver.
Also fitted in the car are electric door minors and electric sunroof with blind. For entertainment, there is a radio and CD player which provide excellent quality
sound.
The interior of the car is finished in good quality rubberised plastic and there’s an attractive aluminium effect panel surrounding the gearlever, which is placed at the foot of the dashboard in a higher than normal position but still easily accessible. It’s surprising how soon a driver can adapt to a new concept!
The upholstery is of good quality and the sports style seats are very comfortable. Three seatbelts are fitted in the rear, together with head restraints. Access to the back is very easy —pull a lever, the back rest falls forward and the seat is released to move forward all in one simple action. Three passengers can be accommodated in the back, but if they are adults it could be awkward and uncomfortable.
The tailgate of the car is easy to operate and quite light. Upon inspection of the boot, a flat floor is present and
260 litres of space is available. A shopping trip proved it easy to fill and it simultaneously accommodated a
collapsible scooter.

On the road

This car is fitted with Honda’s revolutionary VTEC (Variable valve Timing (and lift) Electronic Control) 1600 cc engine and it acted like a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Testing the car’s performance on a local motorway, it became evident that once 4,500 rpm is reached the engine grabs a new lease on life and the rev counter climbs viciously towards 6,000 rpm, gathering _ pace very quickly. Around town at relatively low speeds the car is very easy to drive and is very quiet.
Reversing the car around a right hand bend is a little difficult as the rising waistline toward the rear of the car
obscures some of the view. Resorting to the use of mirrors is a way out, but not something I am totally comfortable with. That said, reversing the car into a parking space is very easy as the power steering is light, but not without feel, and the back of the car is easily established from the driving position since there is no overhang or extra bodywork in a blind position.
The VTEC system is very clever and it’s as though the greyhound has spied the rabbit after being let out of the
cage! In most engines, the valves open and close at set times regardless of engine speed. Although the VTEC engine produces ample torque across the rev range, it comes to life when it reaches 4,500 rpm giving very keen acceleration.
This is particularly useful when climbing a hill and wanting to pass slower vehicles. The valves draw more air and fuel into the cylinders and produce much more power. Being controlled electronically, it responds instantly to every change in engine speed and load providing confident, exhilarating driving.
Only the shoddiest of road surfaces upset the car’s handling and it gives a smooth, refined ride. Using a
combination of 195/60 x R15 size tyres and a brilliant chassis its cornering capabilities are excellent, feeling sure footed through the tightest of bends. I took the car on motorways and local A and B roads and it was at home on any of them. Essentially, it is an enjoyable car to drive whatever the road.
During our time with the car we covered 150 miles and it returned 28 mpg. I thought this was quite acceptable
given that the car had been used in a variety of routes and conditions.

Technical information
• Maximum engine power ps/rpm — 110/5600
• Maximum torque nut/rpm — 152/4300
• Fuel tank 50 litres
• 0-60 mph 12.5 seconds
• Max speed 109 mph

Verdict

A car that’s lots of fun to drive and easy to live with. As it’s a Japanese model it will be reliable and have relatively low running costs. If, like me, you’re able to purchase a VAT exempt car this brings the purchase price down to £11,280.85, which represents a VAT saving of almost £2000. We’d spend some of that saving on alloy wheels to replace the standard plastic trim and we’d have a car with great looks and, most of all, great value for money.

My thanks to Natascia Leone of the Honda Press Office for arranging the loan of the vehicle. For more details on the Honda, visit www.honda.co.uk or phone 0845 200 8000.