C000900001H

Friday, February 18, 2011
road test
theprovince.com
driving | C9
the honda civic has been the best-selling car in canada for years, and a test drive of the 2011 Se coupe demonstrates why the model is so successful.
Spirited and scrimping on fuel

civic: Latest generation offers great value, performance, handling and a lot of style
By Graeme Fletcher
Postmedia News
Postmedia News
For years, the Honda Civic has been the best-selling car in Canada. Spend a little time with the eighth-generation model and the reason for its success is not difficult to grasp. Not only is it rightsized, it possesses something many of its peers lack a fun-to-drive quotient that is surprisingly high for something that is not exactly an outand-out sports car (Si aside). The mortal Coupe is powered by a 1.8-litre four that features Hondas iVTEC variable valve gear. This puts 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque at the drivers disposal. Where this engine differs from many is that it loves to rev and rev. And, again, it differs because the noise it makes as it reaches for redline is far from thrashy. It also has the wherewithal to put 100 kilometres an hour on the clock in 8.4 seconds and turn the 80-to-100-km/h passing move in 6.9 seconds. However, when the gas pedal is not buried, it is equally at home prowling suburbia
short- shifting up through the fivespeed manual box maximizes economy. In this case, I got a test average of 7.1 L/100 km, which is good enough it qualifies as Scrooge approved. The SE is a true delight in a corner. The front struts, double-wishbone rear suspension and anti-roll bars combine to dial out practically all unwanted body motion without beating up the riders on a rough road. When pushed, the SE just hunkers down as the P205/55R16 tires deliver the required grip. It is such that understeer remains at arms length, which is a pleasant departure from the usual front-drive push. Likewise, the steering is balanced. At low speeds, it is light, but it firms up nicely as the driver ramps up the rate of the drive. The final part of the dynamic equation is found in the anti-lock braking system. Not only are the stops short (40.1 metres from 100 km/h), the pedal is easily modulated, which keeps unwanted intervention at bay. For a car that cashes in at less than $20,000, it does not get much better, although the lack of an electron-
ic assistant on the base and SE models is a glaring omission. Inside, the Coupe is both attractive and functional. Unlike many, I like the two-tier dash configuration, as it splits the information into two easy-to-read segments. The upper tier contains the speedometer along with the temperature and fuel gauges; the lower half houses the tachometer and secondary information. The design, however, is not perfect. First, I would like to see the key warning lights housed in the upper tier and not buried at the bottom of the lower tier. Second, I dislike the digital speedometer it flashes away like theres no tomorrow. Frankly, I really dont need to know if Im driving at 51 or 52 km/h. That aside, theres little to complain about. The front seats are boldly bolstered and comfortable, theres plenty of elbow room, ample headroom and enough seat travel needed to accommodate a taller driver. Throw in the height-adjustable drivers seat and the tilt and telescopic steering wheel and establishing the
right driving position is a snap. The SEs other bonus is found in the plastic that rings the cabin. The two-tone black/titanium dash fascia not only brightens up the appearance, the quality of the plastic imparts a rich feel. This aspect eliminates one of the common complaints found in many affordable automobile reviews. So far, theres nothing to complain about until one checks the features list the lack of heated seats and Bluetooth stand out. Move rearward and the Coupes 2+2 nature is born out by the fact that accessing the back seat is a bit of a chore and once back there, the confines are tight. No complaints about the trunk. It features the needed split/folding seats, 11.5 cubic feet of squared-off space and a suitably low liftover. The SE Coupe delivers great value in spite of the equipment omissions. It has style, even as it sits on the cusp of replacement, the performance is spirited, the fuel economy is wonderful and it handles like the dickens. Not a bad combination.
The Specs
type of vehicle: Front-wheel-drive compact coupe engine: 1.8L soHC four-cylinder Power: 140 hp @ 6,300 rpm; 128 lbft of torque @ 4,300 rpm transmission: Five-speed manual Brakes: Four-wheel disc with aBs tires: P205/55R16 (optional winters) Price: base/as tested: $18,880/$19,580 Destination charge: $1,395 transport canada fuel economy l/100 km: 7.4 city, 5.4 hwy. Standard features: a/C with filtration, power, windows and heated mirrors, programmable power locks, power sunroof, cruise control, cloth upholstery, height-adjustable drivers seat, tilt/telescopic steering, 12-volt outlet, outside temperature readout, variable intermittent wipers, keyless entry with panic alarm, remote trunk release, 60/40-split/folding rear seats, rear defroster, anti-theft system with immobilizer, maintenance reminder, rear spoiler, front mud flaps.

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Friday, February 18, 2011

Spirited and scrimping on fuel

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