Introduced 40 years ago as a two-door model and soon after in a three-door hatchback, the 1972 Honda Civic included a basic AM radio, heater, foam-cushioned plastic trim, two-speed wipers, and painted steel rims with a chromed wheel nut cap. A lot has changed in four decades.
Now in its ninth generation and its first redesign since 2006, the 2012 Civic showcases one of the best-selling cars in history at its best.
Like all Honda models, the 2012 Civic is available in numerous configurations with gasoline, hybrid and natural gas variations. The gasoline-engine lineup includes a sedan, coupe and two Si performance versions.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
Like driving a Volkswagen Beetle or Toyota Corolla, test driving a Honda Civic is experiencing history. None of the trio is particularly enticing, but the threesome is among the best selling cars in history — and there’s plenty to be said for that.
My test car for the week was the top-of-the-line EX-L model sedan with navigation. The sportier, Euro-styled new exterior upgrade has been criticized by some reviewers, but I like the new look. It’s not edgy, but let’s not forget the Honda Civic is designated as a compact car.
The Civic’s designers did well with space allocation. Open any of the four doors and the entry to the cabin is cavernous. Likewise, and remembering it’s a compact, the trunk is also quite spacious.
Honda is heavily promoting three Civic features: the econo button on the left side of the dash, the corresponding digital readout that changes from green to blue or vice versa with efficient driving and the “Intelligent Multi-Information Display” screen.
The latter allows the driver to navigate through the audio-system, fuel-economy and vehicle-info readouts via steering-wheel-mounted buttons.
0 comments:
Post a Comment