Honda Civic VTi-LX 2018 Review

Nadine: It’s hard to start a conversation about the 2018 Honda Civic without commenting on its polarising design. I think its angular lines and unique silhouette is a good thing in an era of predominantly risk-averse styling and design conform. However, I prefer a more subtle exterior. It’s exterior design feels a bit The Fast and the Furious circa 2001, which I think speaks volumes in the Type R variant, but not so much in the standard Civic hatch on test. So maybe stepping outside the box doesn’t always pay off?

Tim: I think the most important element when you’re putting together a nicely-styled car is the proportions. The Civic hatch is off to a good start here with its low-slung dimensions and sleek glasshouse, although to me the VTi-LX’s apparently oversize (but actually quite small) front air inlets and complex, overworked rear-end are a bit try-hard for an essentially mainstream small hatchback. Then again, a Honda Civic in a dark hue stands out nicely on the road (our white review car was more anonymous) and looks a cut above your average hatch.

Nadine: Most of us loathe continuously variable transmissions, but I actually think the Civic is a good example of CVT done well. And I also liked the feel at the wheel. It was a truly fun steer and its driving dynamics more than compensate for its style shortcomings. Its nimble manoeuvrability was a highlight for me, the Civic revelling in its around town duties without feeling like a mundane A-to-B car. I’d also praise the Civic’s balance; it sits confidently and comfortably on the road. Its handling was a bit of a surprise package to be honest.

Tim: The Honda Civic VTi-LX hatchback’s 127kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol is refreshingly urgent and flexible, although it tends towards being intrusively audible when being worked even a bit hard. In general terms, the CVT masquerades as a regular auto when being driven conservatively, then begins to exhibit some of the usual raucous traits under pressure. It’s not the worst in this regard, though. I like the steering too: There’s good feel at the wheel and the response is pretty crisp, and I thought the ride, for a sportily-inclined hatch, is well-controlled, resistant to fore-aft pitch and actually quite absorbent.

Nadine: I can’t really sing the same praises for its technology interface. I find it a little clunky and not as intuitive to navigate as many of its rivals. At this VTi-LX spec, the Civic also gets all the good safety tech which is part of the Honda Sensing Suite, including neat stuff like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and forward collision mitigation systems. Shame it’s only on the top-spec offering. Same goes for satellite navigation. Yes, the Civic’s technology offering ticks a lot of boxes, its execution, however, feels dated.

Tim: I tend to be more interested in the way a car drives, how well it is built, and how it is packaged than the swag of in-cabin tech being applied to today’s cars. For me, providing that Bluetooth and sat-nav are easily activated, I’m usually happy. I’m not a fan of touchscreens, though, and the Honda Civic VTi-LX proved to have an issue here with its over-reliance on inaccurate finger-stabbing to bring the result you want. Operating the sat-nav is bad enough: To adjust the climate-control or the radio, it’s necessary to go through the same screen-smudging processes. Frustrating.

Nadine: I was quite surprised by the Civic’s space: it felt much larger than it’s footprint would have you believe. Standing at almost a foot (30cm) shorter than Timmy, I had no problem with vehicle in terms of access or comfort. It was the second row that most impressed me. With three kids on board, there was plenty of room and comfort. With just two they made use of the armrest and cup holders, too. What they didn’t have were air vents or charge points. Charge points I can concede. Air vents… I struggle to understand their absence in a family-friendly car. I agree that the while the liftback shape isn’t the largest on offer it does offer flexible load space that’s really easy to access. So glad to see it also features four anchor points, one bag hook and a light. The horizontal action of the cargo cover felt a little awkward to engage.

Tim: The Honda Civic VTi-LX hatch is spacious inside, though its low-slung body means the seats are set quite low and cabin access might prove difficult for some. It loses some boot space compared to the sedan version (414 litres v 519) but with the seats folded it opens up to an unquestionably handy space which Honda strangely fails to quantify. The whole 60:40 rear-seat folding process is simple and straightforward, although there’s a small step midway in the luggage compartment floor that can trip bulky, awkward-shaped loads (like mountain bikes) when they are being put on board. Not an uncommon annoyance though. On the plus side, as a taller bloke, I had no trouble fitting inside, and there was generally enough room behind the driver’s seat for people of average height once I had myself installed at the wheel.

Nadine: Safety should be a key consideration in any car, but often it’s overlooked – particularly when you’ve got to dig deep though specs and models to sort the standard fair form the rest. Our test vehicle is well covered, but models without Honda Sensing fall short. A five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is common ground in this segment and the Honda holds strong on resale, close to on par with the top-selling Toyota Corolla in this regard. With pricing this close, you’ll need a spreadsheet and a clear idea of your non-negotiables to get to the bottom of this value equation.

Tim: Stacked up against its main opponents – Mazda 3 SP25 Astina ($35,490), Hyundai i30 SR Premium ($34,490), Toyota Corolla ZR ($30,020) and Volkswagen Golf 118TSI Highline ($34,990) – the $33,590 Honda Civic VTi-LX looks the goods. It’s cheaper than all the above, except the Toyota Corolla which lacks most safety tech apart from autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-departure warning. Add the Civic VTi-LX’s safety spec – including the not-so-common high and low-speed AEB – and it’s essentially on the mark apart from the lack of blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and pedestrian avoidance which are common, rather than exceptions, at this level. Climate-control, part-leather trim and LED headlights are expectations delivered, although Honda, like all its main competitors, is a bit stingy with a power seat only fitted on the driver’s side.

It’s fair to say the Thai-built 2018 Honda Civic VTi-LX emerged relatively unscathed from this assessment, both Nadine and Tim agreeing that it’s a good drive and solid value for money within a very competitive segment.

It’s styling, however, is polarising and its technology interface a sticking point for these judges. The not-so-little 2018 Honda Civic does compensate for its design shortcomings with a truly enjoyable drive in a car that’s quite easy to live with.

How much does the 2018 Honda Civic VTi-LX cost?
Price: $33,590 (plus ORCs), $34,165 (as tested)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 127kW/220Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined); 8.4L/100km (average as tested)
CO2: 142g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (tested 2017)