Test drive Honda Civic sedan 2006 - 2008 sedan

Extraterrestrial civilization

In one of the performances of the Moscow Theater, the school of modern play has a scene: the actor depicts an alien who has landed on the ground. Things that are completely ordinary for us make a shocking impression on him, and he excitedly reports about everything he sees, to the base. I am ready to argue if this alien was not landed in any abstract place, but in the salon of the new Honda Civic, he would not immediately understand what was on another planet.
 

I feel an alien here. And I honestly like it. As soon as I ended up inside, a smile spent spontaneously on my face, and an exclamation of admiration broke from my lips, which I did not expect from myself at all. It is infrequent to meet cars (especially in a golf class), which can immediately cause such strong emotions. And this is that the Civic interior was not a surprise for me - I saw it many times in the photographs and even managed to remember how all these space devices and controls in two ergonomic zones that encircle the driver's place are located. We are already used to the fact that even from mass inexpensive cars, designers learned to make individuals, but Honda image makers seemed to have everything. You sit in Civic and immediately feel like a hero of some star Odyssey. Even if you are in space for the first time

 
I am in the first. And everything here attracts my attention. First of all, the steering wheel. It is hard to believe that this small, slightly flattened vertical helm with an unusually convex central lining and plastic mesh on the knitting needles can be functional. But thanks to the successful thickness of the rim, the optimal diameter and the tide in the places of the grip it is very convenient to hold it in his hands. I just want to hold him in his hands.

 
Of all the devices in its usual place, only a tachometer, the center of its scale shines with a mysterious blue radiance, and on the right and left quite prosaic blocks of control lamps are placed. Ahead under the most frontal glass, large numbers of the speedometer, fuel level diagrams and coolant temperatures flashed. Bright and contrasting, they are perfectly visible at any time of the day, in any light and, in general, they are a rare case when the digital presentation of information loses little to the analogue - all thanks to a thoughtful location in sight. And how all this looks in the dark! The central console is helpfully turned to the driver, and the audio system and the climate control control unit are located on its surface surface - to use both is convenient, each has a separate, albeit small, display with understandable and bright graphics.

 
After some (rather long) time, when the futuristic decoration of the interior already ceases to rule over consciousness, other details become noticeable. You pay attention to a convenient planting, a floor gas pedal, an abundance of small household tanks and inexpensive materials. Almost the entire front panel is made of hard plastic, the steering wheel is polyurethane (which does not detract from its virtues), on the doors and seats a simple tissue upholstered, cosmism is also needed in order to hide some budget. But there are no complaints to the quality of the claims - everything is made excellently.


There is another important and unobvious nuance. He explains a lot. If you look at the photo of the cabin of the Civic that is sold in Europe and the fact that I got to our test, you can see striking differences. What's the matter? Where is the display in the center of the tachometer? Where is another large display in the center of the console? Where, in the end, the Start button is to start the engine of the spaceship with a regular key. The answer is simple - the sedan that is already sold, and the hatchback that will appear in the salons later, are different cars.
 

Even in the appearance of the sedan there was practically nothing left, which would speak of his family connection with the five -door Civic. The silhouette, lighting technology, door handles, bumpers, exhaust pipes - everything acquired ordinary, especially unremarkable forms. The quintessence of the potential difference in the two Civic potentials can be called triangles in the front stanks of the body, a la mini-van. Compared to hatch, the four -door Civic looks boring. He is more calm, mundane and technically advanced. Only the sedan has a multi -link rear suspension and a real automatic transmission (hatchback has an elastic beam and robotic mechanics). The advantages of both were appreciated in practice.
 

At first, the machine was scared by a long groove, because of which the selector can easily miss the desired position, the absence of a sectral and even sports mode of operation. But it turned out that its excellent settings allow you to easily do without all this. The programs are switched at the right time and with minimal delays, without even being a fan of automatic boxes, you can enjoy the process of communication with this transmission. The engine also fully justified those flattering advances that were given to him by the creators. A new 1.8-liter engine with I-VTEC system, like all Honda units, has excellent characteristics. And the accelerator pedal is sensitive - the motor willingly responds to any touch to it. He pulls a lot below, good at medium speeds, but in all its glory appears after 5000 rpm. When it is ignited by a pronounced grab until the very cut -off. At the same time, however, the most beautiful voice is not at all shy.

 
The list of advantages of the engine must include efficiency - to meet the declared 6.7 liters per 100 km, of course, it is very difficult, but 10-11 liters for test mode are also not bad. Justifying his name, Civic easily gets along in the urban environment. Maneuration is given simply - a large area of \u200b\u200bglazing and large mirrors help. But the tuner of the audio system does not shine with the stability of the reception - it can lose the radio station even when the car stands still.
 

To the joy of the driver, Civic is endowed with acute, even gambling. The steering wheel makes a little more than 2.5 revolutions from the stop to the stop, and at any speed, its deviation causes a instant change in the direction of movement. At the same time, the electric power filler fills it with natural and rather high reactive effort. It is excellent that the steering wheel of Civic turned out to be tight, in sporting dense. And for the road the car holds great, as if prescribing the arcs of the turns at any speed. It is only necessary to beware of bumps - on them the car strives to jump off the trajectory. The reason for this is a rather tough suspension by civilian standards, with small road flaws, it copes perfectly, and on large elastic it throws the riders, but does not allow breakdown even on the most disgusting coating. When under the wheels is an even free road, driving turns into pleasure, and each turn heats the blood with a sufficient amount of endorphin.
 

If the course is only straight a country line, then you can relax. At speeds up to 150 km/h, Civic will not require excessive voltage from the driver, holds the trajectory and almost does not respond to rut. But, continuing to accelerate further, you need to be prepared for the fact that some slack will appear in the nearoral zone at the helm, and control over the trajectory will have to be paid more attention. Workworms are easily given - the pedal has a short move and excellent informativeness, but in order to cause intensive slowdown, you will have to apply a rather big strength to it. And ABS, when he triggered, boils quite unpleasant under his foot. In contrast to the stabilization system, which is very correct to fulfill its duties.

 
I do not want to leave the driver’s place, but the car is also designed for passengers. And unfortunately, Civic does not indulge in any attention or expanse. The front, despite the huge supply of space to the windshield, experiences constraint in the knees. In order not to rest against the lid of a small glove compartment, he will have to push the chair back. And there is a decent oppressed one of the rear riders. But the fact that the floor is completely devoid of the central tunnel is an undoubted plus. The back folding in parts is also good, without its help the trunk contains 389 liters, which is far from a record indicator.
 

Honda Civic is perhaps the brightest premiere of the year in its class. And Civic sedan is a delightful space interior, almost earthly appearance and exemplary behavior on the road. Gathering my impressions of acquaintance with him, I come to the conclusion that he is a simulator on which he must take a course of training before the flight on a real alien ship - a five -door Civic.
 

Honda Civic prices and configurations
 

Sedans are sold with one single 1.8 liter engine. (140 hp). The car can be selected in the Comfort or Executive configuration. The COMFORT system includes ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, air conditioning, 15-inch steel disks, an audio system with a CD-reiver, a steering wheel, a fabric salon, frontal and side pillows, an electric package, a Central Complex and an immobilizer. A car with a 6-speed manual transmission costs $ 19,900, with a 5-speed automatic transmission-$ 20,900. The color of the metalline will cost an additional $ 300. In the EXECUTIVE configuration, window pillows, VSA stabilization system, alloy 16-inch discs, cruise control, and alarms are added. An audio system with CD-Changer is installed on 6 disks, a leather multifunction steering wheel with petals switches. Civic in the EXECTIVE configuration is supplied only with a 5-speed automatic transmission and costs $ 23,900.

 

Text: Dmitry Matveenko

 
 
 

Source: Magazine Motor