2012 Honda Civic Hatch VTi-S Long-Term Review – Update One
Vehicle Type: Small hatchback
Engine: 1.8 litre naturally-aspirated petrol inline four
Power/Torque: 104kW/174Nm | Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel economy claimed: 6.1 l/100km
OVERVIEW
After testing the new Civic hatch in August this year, I was pretty sure it would prove to be one of "the better ones" for the year.
Why? Inside and out it, for individual style and finish, and for the nifty features that improve day-to-day liveability, there is an air of quality about the Civic that is uncommon in a sub-$25k small car. It’s also a pretty decent drive.
• MORE: See Tony's August review of the Civic Hatch.
Fast-forward to December... a lot can happen in a few months. It's now gotten a bit hotter in the segment: Hyundai’s box-fresh i30 and Toyota’s new generation Corolla have since arrived.
An opportune time then to revisit the Civic and put it through the wringer. Except this time for a period much longer than the usual seven-day loan. How well - with these new entries to the segment - will it now stack up?
We’ve elected to test the entry point to the Civic hatch range, the manual VTi-S.
Coming in with a retail price of $22,650, the Honda is already off to a bad start.