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Already operational in the United States, the 11th version of the Honda Civic is setting its sights in Europe. Honda Japan will deliver the hatchback with the only hybrid powertrain, identical to the Jazz, HR-V and CR-V. On the other hand, it will be more powerful.
Better late than never. Honda seems to have reappropriated the adage since it will offer the European continent the 11th generation of the Civic, born in 1972 and sold more than 27.5 million copies worldwide. This new Civic has already been offered for almost a year in the United States in a hatchback or trunk version.
Patience will nevertheless be required, as orders will be taken from the summer of 2022 for deliveries scheduled for the fall of 2022. Unlike the United States, the Honda Civic will only be offered with a hatchback and the hybrid engine called e:HEV, the same that equips the Honda Jazz, HR-V and CR-V.
We will therefore find under the hood two electric motors, the first (synchronous with permanent magnets) used to propel the car, while the second will act as a generator. The gasoline engine is that of the CR-V Hybrid, namely a four-cylinder 2 l I-VTEC Atkinson cycle. The total power announced is 135 kW (184 hp) for a torque of 315 Nm.
As for the lithium-ion battery, whose capacity is unknown, it consists of 72 cells against 60 previously. The Japanese manufacturer promises a consumption of 5 l / 100 km (WLTP cycle) for CO2 emissions limited to 110 g / km, thus avoiding the Civic to be subject to the ecological malus.
At 4.55 m in length, this new Civic is 4 cm larger than its predecessor. The wheelbase has been revised upwards (+3.5 cm), thus offering better ability, even if access on board – rear passenger side – may be a little more complicated. The fault of a roof line lowered by 2.5 cm. As for the tailgate itself, its weight has been reduced by 20% thanks to the use of resin in its manufacture. This will make opening and closing easier.
Cleaner interior and wider field of vision
Once on board, we are faced with a very wide dashboard with a honeycomb-style air duct with the most beautiful effect on the edge. Said board supports a 9-inch touch screen (22.86 cm diagonal). This layout breaks with the old pattern where the screen was placed lower, forcing the driver to take their eyes off the road.
The instrument cluster is a 10.2-inch (25.9 cm diagonal) color HD LCD display providing “better visibility” according to Honda. Modernity obliges, the Honda Connect multimedia system will be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, all in wireless mode. Let us add for music lovers that the Advance finish will offer audio equipment signed Bose with 12 speakers against 8 in the Sport and Elegance finishes.
Return of Honda Sensing, the driver’s guardian angel
It is now difficult for a manufacturer to ignore driving aids, whether active or passive. Like the rest of the range, this 11th generation Civic uses the Sensing system, a panoply of driving aids and a veritable guardian angel for the driver and passengers.
The Civic also incorporates a new front camera offering a 100° viewing angle. It makes it possible to better recognize road signs, to identify pedestrians, cyclists, bicycles, and of course other vehicles. Other on-board new features, the Civic incorporates front and rear sound sensors and improves its anti-collision braking system, lane keeping assistance, i-ACC (intelligent cruise control) technology, low-speed braking control, blind spot information, cross-traffic monitoring and traffic jam assistance. About the blind spot alert, the exterior mirrors have been fixed directly to the front doors.
In terms of passive safety, the Civic has been reinforced on the side of the structure, in particular at the level of the doors allowing better absorption of side collisions, without forgetting the presence of 11 Airbags and the presence of a protective cushion between driver and passenger in the event of a frontal collision.
With the arrival of this hybrid Honda Civic, the Japanese manufacturer is keeping its promise of electrifying its European range by the end of 2022. Also we should see the arrival of the HR-V’s little cousin, the e:Ny1 prototype 100% electric. It will be accompanied by a new C-segment hybrid SUV and a new CR-V available in full hybrid and rechargeable hybrid, or plug-in.
The icing on the cake, Honda has confirmed that there will be a Civic Type R in Europe, 100% thermal. Good news for fans of the genre after the shutdown of the Honda NSX and the disappearance on European soil of the Nissan GTR. On the other hand, no electric sports coupe like the Sports EV Concept, seen at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2017.