- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.5T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
127kW, 220Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 6.1L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto (CVT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2017)
2017 Honda Civic hatch VTi-LX new car review
Honda has big hopes for its new Civic.
It wants its once popular small car to connect with Australian buyers and emerge from the pack to become a direct rival to the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3 at the top of the sales charts.
It certainly stands out from the crowd with what can most kindly be referred to as 'bold' styling. But whether you like the looks or not there is more to the new Civic hatch under the skin.
We're testing the top of the range VTi-LX model to see if it has what it takes to take on the best in the small car class.
What do you get?
The new hatch range copies the same line-up as the Civic sedan launched in 2016. It starts with the VTi (from $22,390) and then moves up through the VTi-S ($24,490), VTi-L ($27,790) and RS ($32,290) before the VTi-LX which is priced from $33,590.
As the crowing model in the range, the VTi-LX is loaded with everything Honda throws at the Civic. It gets 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, heated leather seats, dual-zone air-conditioning, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation with live traffic and a 10-speaker sound system.
It is the only model in the Civic range available with active safety features including autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.
There is capped price servicing but the Civic requires a visit every 10,000km, which is less than the industry average (15,000km). Despite a base price of $281 for most services, because of the increased frequency over the first 60,000km, you'll spend $1998 for the first three years.
What's inside?
The busy, angular styling of the exterior carries over to the interior where there are a lot of buttons and other styling elements that give it a busy appearance.
But the ergonomics of the cabin are great. The dashboard and high centre console feel like they wrap around you to make you feel a part of the car. There's also plenty of adjustability for the seat and steering wheel to make you feel comfortable.
The stereo does away with conventional buttons and replaces them with controls printed on the touchscreen. It looks nice but can be difficult to adjust the volume on the move.
Space is good in both the front and back, with respectable knee and headroom for rear passengers.
The boot is a spacious 410-litres which isn't class-leading but is still big enough and will make most people happy.
Under the bonnet
Honda has gone for a two engine line-up with the Civic range. The VTi and VTi-S make do with the previous generation model's 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. But the rest of the range gets Honda's new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant which 127kW of power and 220Nm.
It's paired exclusively with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and drives the front wheels only.
Having driven both engines, the new turbocharged option is a clear step ahead. It offers up more bottom end, with peak torque arriving from as low as 1700rpm and staying strong until 5500rpm it feels steady across the range.
The performance is good without being spectacular, hampered somewhat by the CVT that drones and feels laboured under acceleration.
Fuel consumption is rated at 6.1-litres per 100km which is right at the respectable end of the segment, without being class-leading.
On the road
Despite its decline in sales and several generational changes, the Civic has always remained one of the best small cars to drive. That character trait remains with the new model, which performs admirably on the road.
Again, it doesn't reset the small car benchmark but the ride offers a good balance between comfort and control. The steering is direct and offers good feedback while still having nice weighting for around town driving.
The chassis is nicely tuned too and offers good response to inputs and feels agile when pitched into a series of corners.
It's not a hot hatch, or even a warm hatch, but it certainly lays a good foundation for the forthcoming Type R hot hatch.
Verdict
Honda has done a good job on the new Civic but its hard to see it becoming a best-seller in one of the toughest and most competitive segments of the new car market.
The engine is good, as is the handling, and the interior packaging is competitive too. But the lower grade models with the 1.8-litre engine lack punch on the road and the lack of active safety features on anything but the VTi-LX is disappointing and off the pace.
But for those who want to stand out, the Civic offers a competitive alternative to the best-in-class.
2017 Honda Civic hatch VTi-LX pricing and specifications
Price: From $33,590 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 127kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 220Nm at 1700-5500rpm
Transmission: CVT automatic, front-wheel drive
Fuel use: 6.1L/100km
The Competitors
Toyota Corolla ZR
Price: From $30,020 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 103kW at 6400rpm
Torque: 173Nm at 4000rpm
Transmission: CVT, front-wheel drive
Fuel use: 6.1L/100km
Our score: 6/10
Mazda3 SP25 Astina
Price: From $33,490 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 138kW
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or automatic, FWD
Fuel use: 6.5L/100km
Our score: 6.5/10
Hyundai i30 SR Premium
Price: From $33,950 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 150kW
Torque: 265Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, FWD
Fuel use: 7.5L/100km
Our score: 6.5/10