Driven: Honda Civic 1.8 CVT
The Honda Civic is one of the most iconic vehicles in motoring history. It’s synonymous with fuel efficiency, build quality and driving satisfaction. Over the last nine generations of Civic, around 23-million have been sold around the world. The latest Honda Civic takes the reliable foundation of its predecessors and infuses it with dynamic styling, class-leading technology and sophisticated luxury.
The design of the new Civic is more daring than ever. It has a confident look thanks to its chrome grille, nestled between two automatic LED head lights. A sporty lower bumper gives it good styling proportions while the lightweight 17-inch alloys add a bit of flair to the side view. The rear gets a swoopy roofline that flows into a large, but not extreme, boot spoiler. Body coloured front and rear bumpers, side mirrors and door handles complete the look, giving the design a premium appeal.
The interior is where the premium element of the Honda Civic is really felt. The leather seats, available with heating, correspond with the rest of the leather interior, such as on the steering, dashboard and gear knob. Speaking of the dashboard, the Civics has been redesigned to be on par with a few of its bigger German rivals. An interesting metallic insert adds a sleek contour to the dashboard while integrated air-con vents retain some of its functionality.
The digital instrument cluster was another pleasant surprise, relaying speed, revs-per-minute, fuel efficiency and other useful vehicle information directly to the driver. To the left of the instrument cluster is a 7-inch touch screen display that handles vehicle infotainment. It offers CD, radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity as well as smartphone link applications like Apple CarPlay. Once your media is hooked up the very capable sound system gets involved from all corners of the car with impressive bass and treble tones.
Another useful feature on the 7-inch touch screen is the reverse camera which is summoned by entering reverse gear. There’s also a rear parking sensor to make things extra safe. The list of features and creature comforts go on and on, spanning over things like air-conditioning, power steering, central locking, an electric handbrake and cruise control.
Power is supplied by a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that produces 104kW of power and 174Nm of torque, which is enough to accelerate the sedan from 0-100km/h in 10.4-seconds. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a CVT gearbox, complete with flappy-paddles, and top speed is claimed at 200km/h. The Honda Civic was surprising to drive. It handles traffic and city driving with ease and efficiency thanks to its ability to get to lower speeds quickly and coasting. You can feel how smooth it is and you can also observe the efficiency, but it’s a different story once you release the Civic onto the open road. The CVT becomes a bit noisier and you can feel the engine and gearbox working hard to maintain speed. This also has a direct effect on fuel efficiency, with my 8.4-litres/100km straying very far from Honda’s claimed 6.3-litres/100km.
Living with the Civic is still quite pleasant. The cabin is spacious enough for four-adults, with the same going for the big boot which could easily swallow luggage for a long road trip. At a starting price of R399,900 the Civic looks like good value for money, especially considering the vast amount of features that are included in the package.
Also worth a look: the Honda Amaze and the Honda Elevate: WR-V Successor Debuts in SA.
FAQ
Q: What does the 2019 Honda Civic 1.8 CVT cost in South Africa?
The 2019 Honda Civic 1.8 CVT originally retailed for around R389,900 when new, but you can now find decent used examples starting from about R280,000 to R320,000 depending on mileage and condition.
Q: Is the 2019 Honda Civic 1.8 CVT reliable?
Absolutely, the Honda Civic has built its reputation on bulletproof reliability over 23 million units sold worldwide, and this 2019 model continues that tradition with Honda's proven 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engine that can easily clock 300,000km with proper maintenance.
Q: How fuel efficient is the Honda Civic 1.8 CVT?
The CVT gearbox helps the Civic achieve impressive fuel consumption of around 6.2 litres per 100km in mixed driving conditions, making it one of the most economical sedans in its class for South African conditions.
Q: What are the main problems with the 2019 Honda Civic 1.8 CVT?
The biggest complaint is the CVT gearbox which some drivers find sluggish and noisy under acceleration, plus the infotainment system can be a bit laggy, but overall reliability issues are minimal compared to European rivals.
Q: Should I buy a Honda Civic 1.8 CVT or Toyota Corolla?
The Civic offers more premium features, better interior quality and sportier styling than the Corolla, but the Toyota edges it slightly on resale value and service network coverage in rural areas, so it depends on your priorities.
Should You Buy It?
The best reliable sedan under R320,000 in South Africa is definitely the 2019 Honda Civic 1.8 CVT. Yes, you should buy it if you want a premium feeling daily driver that sips fuel and won't leave you stranded. The combination of Honda's legendary reliability, impressive fuel economy of 6.2L/100km, and genuinely upmarket interior makes this Civic a solid investment. Sure, the CVT gearbox isn't the most exciting thing on four wheels, but for the money you're getting LED headlights, leather seats, Apple CarPlay and build quality that'll outlast most German alternatives. At current used prices of R280,000 to R320,000, it's significantly cheaper than a comparable Volkswagen Jetta or BMW 1 Series, with better long-term reliability prospects. Just make sure you get a full service history and you'll have a dependable companion for years to come.
