11th gen Civic the best of an impeccable Honda breed
What comes to mind when I mention the two words ‘Honda’ and ‘Civic’ in the same sentence? To me it’s an image of supreme engineering, reliability and something you’ll still faithfully be relying on in 30 years’ time. Faded headlight plastics, torn upholstery, a couple of hundred thousand kilometres on the clock, and all. Kinda like a Corolla, just with a touch of chilli added.
Now approach this latest eleventh generation Honda Civic RS in anything but perfect light and you’d be forgiven for believing that it’s something else completely. One fellow even said it reminded him of his old M5. Which pretty well wraps up how far out of its boots this car punches. That thanks to a broad feel stressed by short, wide DRL LED headlamps and a sharp, low beltline, flat bonnet, raked A-pillars, and large privacy greenhouse.
Black trimmed white Civic RS looks the part
Add our white sampler’s blackened trim, dual tailpipes and 18-inch matt black alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber. It’s completely different to its frumpy predecessor and this time it even knows that it’s a sedan. Rather than the transvestite hatch the previous one kinda was. In fact, this RS is now far closer to its big brother Type R. Some may find all the black trim a bit Vader garish. But we love it!
Find the start button, fire the131 kW 240 Nm 1.5-litre turbo VTEC it up and Civic RS rumbles to life. Sounds gruff, cool too. For a hoarse turbo four-pot that is. It’s up four horses from 127 kW and 20 torques to 220 Nm in the previous car. That turns an updated Step-Shift CVT automatic, which it probably the biggest improvement. It melds a great chassis and a fine engine together far better than before. And if you don’t prod it, you’ll never know it’s CVT. Solid and comfy on the road, the Civic is deft and fun to drive. Honda’s 6.2 litres per hundred is a reasonable claim. You should get around 750 kilometres out of a 47 litre tank. Even driven with a bit of vim.
Stronger with more grunt, but Civic RS is heavier
You feel the engine right away, even if it doesn’t translate to any major improvements on the road. Because it’s also 60 kilograms heavier. That said, the new one is significantly quicker where it counts, higher up the speed band and in overtaking. Getting back to that heavier shell, it is 4,677 mm long, 1,802 mm wide, 1,415 mm high, while the Civic now rides on a 2,735 mm wheelbase. Which means it is slightly lower and broader, and 25 mm longer than its predecessor on a 35 mm stretched wheelbase. Civic V11’s tauter ACE technology shell and uprated chassis promise improved handling, sharper steering, and a comfortable ride.
A ride that only adds to the ambience of an already superbly detailed high-quality leather and suede finished ‘human centred’ cabin a under a comforting black headlining. It has attention to detail way beyond what you’d expect from this neck of the woods, along with highly efficient space utility and excellent visibility out. Finely crafted switchgear and controls deliver a splendid tactile experience. Red lit by night, it has minimalist instrumentation and seamless interior surfaces, power adjustable heated seats and sport pedals. A metal honeycomb mesh panel stretches door to door across the dash to creates a fine visual divide while concealing the dual zone automatic climate control’s front vents.
Splendid cabin even has real knobs!
Civic RS has new CarPlay and Auto rich fast processor 9‑inch Advanced HMI Display Audio Connectivity. It even has a lovely real volume knob, home, and back functions to go with perfect manual climate controls. No halfwit touchscreen or swipe pads for these vital functions. Add funky Bose 12-speaker sound, wireless smartphone charging, and USB ports front and rear. 10.2‑inch interactive instrumentation enables scrolling through playlists, navigation, Honda Sensing functions and telephony. All via the multifunction steering wheel. Civic RS has power windows all round, auto wipers, cruise control, auto dimming interior and power wing mirrors too.
Active safety includes Vehicle Stability Assist, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, Hill Start and Brake Hold. Add front, side, and curtain airbags, ISOFIX anchors and front seatbelt pretensioners. Rear seatbelt reminders, a driver attention monitor parking sensors and a rear view camera.
Honda Civic RS: so little to criticise
Honda Sensing safety tech brings wider-angle, higher definition front camera more comprehensively detect driving conditions. Sensing kit includes adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning and mitigation braking. There’s also lane keeping and road departure mitigation, auto high beam, and a neat lane-watch camera. And it’s well backed, as one would expect from Honda, with a 5-year or 200,000km warranty, and a 5-year 90,000 km service plan.
It’s sometimes difficult to test a car when there is so little to criticise. Normally that happens when we consider more upmarket models from more exotic brands. Yes. It is expensive. But this humble seven-hundred and twenty-five grand Honda Civic RS punches so far above its weight that you may be excused for thinking that its far further up the market than it really is. Even if it’s still just a Civic. Bravo Honda! – Michele Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Honda Civic 1.5T RS
Engine: 131kW 240Nm 1498cc turbo petrol I4
Drive: CVT FWD
TESTED:
0-60km/h: 3.77 sec
0-100km/h: 7.93 sec
0-120 km/h: 10.80 sec
0-160km/h: 19.25 sec
400m: 15.7 sec @ 148km/h
80-120km/h: 5.19 sec
120-160km/h: 8.45 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 200km/h
Fuel: 6.2 l/100km
CO2: 144 g/km
Range: 750 km
Warranty/Service: 5y 200K/5y 90K km
LIST PRICE: R725K
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