Honda Motor Southern Africa is hanging onto the sedan heritage of the brand with a single model in the ‘C’ segment in the form of the new Honda Civic RS – the 11th generation of the model that is now Honda’s longest-running nameplate.
The latest model is also the first Civic for the local market to carry the RS badging, and the new car rides on 18-inch matt black wheels on each corner, which is now 25 mm longer than its predecessor. It is also slightly lower (1 415 mm high), with an additional 35 mm added to the wheelbase.
Thus, this gives it a long bonnet and low beltline with large glass areas.
Inside is a combination of leather and suede upholstery and the seats are both power adjustable and heated, while the two sport pedals pay homage to the RS badging.
It is equipped with a 9-inch HMI Display Audio with Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto Connectivity, the same system used in the Honda Fit and features a simplified navigation structure with fewer embedded menus. A wireless smartphone charger and USB ports front and rear are also standard.
In a first for Honda, the Civic offers a branded audio system as standard. Featuring Bose CenterPoint 2 and Bose Surround Stage digital signal processing, the new 12-speaker system was custom-engineered for the Civic.
The car has a more rigid body structure and houses Honda’s enhanced 1.5L VTEC turbocharged engine, with outputs boosted to 131 kW of power at 6 000 r/min and peak torque to 240 Nm between 1 700 r/min and 4 500 r/min, driving through an updated CVT transmission.
Active safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hill Start Assist (HAS), Brake Hold, and a rear-view camera and parking sensors.
The Civic also offers front, side and curtain crash bags, ISOFIX child seat anchors and seatbelt pretensioners for the front seats.
The R669 000 price includes a 5-year/200 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. Also included is 3-year AA roadside assistance.
