911er or Defender, Golf or Corolla, Beetle or G-model - there are these perennial burners, which in principle are a term for everyone - and can be clearly assigned even without a mark. Of the Civic belongs to this species as well. In contrast to his colleagues in this elite club, the Honda in compact format, however, looks back on an even more agile history. Because with the exception of the "world champion" Toyota Corolla, who is even a step further, so far has brought no other current series nine generations change. The tenth generation of the Civic now starts in Germany on 18. March at prices from 19.990 Euro.
And it is not the first time that a new Civic stands out significantly from its predecessor. The outfit of the 2012 ninth generation introduced in this country rather than the too early implemented design of a compact car of tomorrow, so the new edition of the Japanese stylistically returns more into the here and now, presents the previously offered exclusively five-door on the front a pout like a wide-mouthed frog but no less noticeable. Which also applies to the rugged rear with the spoiler pulling across the rear window and the powerful pseudo-air outlets in the bumper. The four-door sedan, which will be added in the summer and resembles a flow rather than a notchback with a coupe-like lines, looks much more adult in design.
The departure from the spooky designs of the predecessor in the cockpit becomes even clearer. The dashboard was again designed on a conventional scale. The displays can be read in a more classic arrangement behind the steering wheel. All well and good, but of course also a bit more normal, which also applies to the retirement of the "Magic Seats" in the second row. Because the tank previously installed under the driver's seat moved back under the - as usual in the compact class - back seat, the option for those “cinema folding chairs” that could be set up to better store voluminous loads in the rear seats fell, of necessity, to the red pencil to the victim.
All the more pragmatists are likely to enjoy the abundant space in the rear and in the luggage compartment. Rear-seat passengers lack neither headroom nor legroom, and the unchanged 478 liters of luggage space, which can be expanded to a maximum of 1.120 liters, are an announcement in the compact segment. The space gain is of course not by chance, because Civic number 10 stretches to a whopping 16 centimeters on now 4,52 meter length, which he actually blows the limits of the compact class but already. In conjunction with the increase in width by three inches and a two centimeters flatter roofline is the Honda runner now burly and self-confident on the road.
This is also reflected in a lower seating position for the driver. And in the engine range. Because who decides from March for the new Civic, the performance with 95 kW / 129 PS already significantly higher than previously with an 100-PS variant was the case. Alternatively, there is only a second 1,5-liter turbo gasoline engine, the 134 kW / 182 PS even more muscles can play. Both engines are combined with a six-speed manual transmission, but can also be ordered with a continuously variable CVT transmission (1.300 Euro surcharge).
The added dynamism is really not an empty promise. On the first test laps, the newly developed 1,0-liter turbo proves quite a thrust even in the rpm cellar for a three-pack, but also turns Honda atypically into the red zone on 5.600 tours. Acoustically, however, the three-cylinder engine does not keep up with the comparable engines; under load, its growling way of life never remains hidden.
The stronger 1,5-liter four-cylinder can be any discipline much better, reveals more revving and is, if you do not pay attention to every penny, undoubtedly the better choice. As a good compromise, we found the vote on the first offered and front and rear acting, adaptive damper on board, which are designed in the normal position comfortable, but also in the sports position no excessive hardship in the day.
The advanced continuously variable CVT automatic transmission simulates seven transmission stages and is intended to give the driver the familiar feeling of gear changes. In fact, the Honda people have at least got the acoustic bad habits of this type of transmission largely under control. We would still prefer the manual gearshift. After all, with the CVT variant, it is possible to use the shift paddles on the steering wheel in a manual mode.
The fact that the prices for the compact Japanese have climbed significantly and range from 19.990 Euro for the base model 1.0 VTEC Turbo S to the 31.460 Euro expensive top model 1.5 VTEC Prestige, is of course due to the poor, but more powerful engine selection, but above all at one Commendable all-inclusive concept: With the "Sensing" package, Honda wants to make intelligent, safety-relevant assistance systems available to all customers.
The comprehensive safety package, which is standard in the basic model, includes an automatic spacer with traffic sign recognition, which automatically ensures compliance with the speed limits with an intelligent speed limiter - a novelty in this vehicle category. The active Lane Keeping Assist with steering and braking intervention, hill start assist, a high-beam assistant and a collision warning system with active braking intervention and pedestrian detection are also part of the package.
However, a rear-view camera and a blind spot assistant are standard equipment on board in the higher-end Executive, Sport Plus and Prestige outfits.
The Civic engine range is to be extended at the turn of the year to a 1,6-liter diesel with 88 kW / 120 PS. Before that, the sporty spearhead Type R with probably 350 PS will be starting in the summer after the sedan. A hybrid version as well as a four-wheel drive version on the new platform is technically possible, but there are no concrete plans yet.
It is clear, however, that the Kombi-Alternative Sport Tourer in the tenth generation will have no future. Since the Civic is designed for the first time in decades again as a world car, which is offered largely identical on both sides of the pond, the Japanese may not fry for the European estate market probably no more extra sausage. As a compromise, the current Sport Tourer based on the ninth generation will continue to be produced until 2018. (Michael Lennartz)