Test drive Honda Civic sedan 2006 - 2008 sedan

Civic for generation Next

This model from Honda is doomed to success if those who want to purchase it do not grow old in line
 
The world's debut at last year's Frankfurt car dealership was unforgettable. I remember how the heads of the largest automobile concerns went to the Honda stand, as if to the sounds of a magic flute. Like everyone else, they fascinated them, literally fascinated the unusually brave and simultaneous design of the new, eighth Civic generation. True, it was a hatchback, and not even a year passed to the Russian market, the sedan arrived first. This is a slightly different car and in some other respects. But we will talk about the hatchback, but for now we are taking a closer look at the sedan.
 
In the style of techno
 
First, it is worth noting that Civic is the most significant model for the Japanese Honda. It is on it that the lion's share of sales in most countries accounts. But everywhere in recent years, the picture that did not delight the company began to emerge: the average age of Civic buyers came close to the age of fifty. For any car manufacturer, this means a bad perspective. Young people denied love for Civic, in particular, because his appearance was too ordinary. Therefore, designers and designers decided on a revolutionary step, and as a result they created a very original product in the High-Tech style. Undoubtedly, capable of attracting a generation of Next. Moreover, this product is not rude at all, it is not devoid of grace either in general or in detail.
 
The new Civic has become 35 mm shorter and 35 mm lower, but as much as 65 mm wider. What benefited him only to good. Of course, the sedan looks more traditionally compared to the hatchback, but it also attracts the attention of a spoiled Moscow public, and also looks good in the surroundings of a large city. Any city, I risk assuming Russian, Western European, and American. In this case, some characteristic of the Japanese (and Italian, by the way, too) designer school have gained elements, I would say, cosmopolitan meaning. What Honda sought.
 
The interior demonstrates the desire for unity of form and content. In front of the driver's eyes are an unusual front panel. It seems to fall into his control zone clearly separated from the rest of the cabin. This zone is a two -level system called Dual Link. You start a motor, and a blue tachometer appears in its lower part, which is clearly visible in any light. Here are a number of control lamps and sensors. Closer to the windshield, under the second visor, another scoreboard with indicators of the fuel level and the temperature of the power unit and the digital speedometer in the middle. It should be noted that such a layout is unusual, but logical, it does not distract from the road, you get used to it quickly, as if it should be.
 
And in general, Civic is in order with ergonomics. What you need to use on the road is in the zone of easy reach. Some functions can be controlled without removing the hands from the steering wheel audio system, cruise control and even automatic transmission: the left petal over the rim switches the transmissions down, and the right upwards. The convenient and comfortable location in the driver’s place is facilitated by a wide range of seats adjustments with good lateral support, as well as moving both the steering column in height and in departure. And even a handbrake, although it is intricate and is located near the ACP handle, is convenient to use.
 
The rear seats are also not bad in general. This is indicative: the car was shortened, and there was no less space, and the space above the head of claustrophobia bouts should not cause. And in the shoulders area, of course, it became more frequent. But the trunk is small in large part of it was attended by a full -size reserve.
 
In the traditions of the brand
 
One of the main advantages of Honda cars has always been motors. Let only one power unit is available in Russia, but this is a in a number 4-cylinder engine with a volume of 1.8 liters. He develops 140 hp. Power and 173 Nm of torque. Of course, the engine reaches the peak of its capabilities after 4000 rpm, however, thanks to the proprietary system of changes in the phase of gas distribution I-VTEC, most of the moment is available in a wide range of revolutions. Unfortunately, the car that got to the test was equipped with an automatic gearbox, but with it the sedan showed enviable agility. Acceleration is quite confident, and a 5-speed automatic transmission is even able to adapt to the driving style. True, for dynamic movement, it is better to immediately transfer it into a sports regime, moving the lever to the stop down. Now in each gear, if you well drown the accelerator pedal, the engine will spin to the limit of 6500 rpm, filling the cabin with a rather pleasant sound. Moreover, when braking, the box encourages a lower gear.
 
By the way, there are no complaints to the brakes. At first, a rather soft pedal in fact allows you to clearly control the slowdown. In addition, ABS will always suffer from blocking the wheels, although it comes into effect with a little delay, as if hinting at the sports orientation of the model. The pendants are whispering about the same. They don’t speak with extreme clarity, they are whispering, because the rolls of the body in vihi are tangible, albeit not critical. When I imitated a sharp rearrangement on my free road, the car behaved predictably. With the stabilization system turned on, he sought to instantly return to the course. And with the BSC disconnected, for this, a Civic button has a ski button in a skid, which is easily extinguished by turning the steering wheel and gas supply.
 
In general, running qualities made a very pleasant impression. On gentle arcs, the car demonstrated almost neutral rotation with a slight tendency to excess. By the way, from a technical point of view, the eighth generation Civic is not as revolutionary as the design of the model. The suspension scheme has not changed dramatically, which, nevertheless, cannot be attributed to the disadvantages of the machine. In addition, let the rolls are present, but the comfort and energy intensity of the chassis is pleasantly pleasing. Even when you get into rather deep potholes, it does not break the pendants. And minor irregularities generally remain imperceptible.
 
I was also pleased with the sports setting of steering. Firstly, the steering wheel is acute (only 2.67 turns from the edge to the edge), and therefore the car is responsive to the driver’s commands. Secondly, the participation of the amplifier is noticeable only at low speeds or in parking, with an increase in speed, the force increases and the proper feedback appears.
 
Boring marketing
 
So, we can assume that with the new Civic Honda, interest in the model has achieved the goal. One trouble: the car is good, but corporate marketing is useless. In the salons of the official dealers of the brand, a line lined up, almost a year ahead and no explanation, apology! Such an arrogant attitude of the company and its Russian representative office to the Russian market does not at all strengthen the image of the brand. It is not surprising that the study conducted by our colleagues from Readers Digest claims that the Russians least trust the brands of VAZ, GAZ and Honda. The management of the Russian office of Honda, such a company, apparently, does not bother. What is there: we, to journalists, even to get information about Honda, have to use foreign sources and call dealers.
 
Civic himself, I will say in conclusion, the car is still quite competitive, is sold (well, you understand how) at a price of $ 20,200.
 
Text: Andrey Osipov
 

Source: "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 13 (103), 2006]