Honda Civic VTi-L Hatchback 2016 Review

Honda Civic VTi-L
Road Test

Honda is making a lot of promises about what the next Civic will be, even though the hatchback version of the current generation still has months to run on-sale. Step into a Honda dealer now and you’ll find there here are three models in the current five-door range, all powered by the same 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. In this case we’re trying the mid-spec VTi-L, which comes standard with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Time is running out for the current Honda Civic, with the sedan due to be replaced in a couple of months and the hatch we are testing here signing off early in 2017.

Our week with the $26,990 (plus ORCs) mid-spec Civic Hatch VTi-L exposed enough issues for us to hand the keys back without regret and look forward to seeing if Honda can do a better job next time round.

It’s not that the British-built hatch is super-expensive (like it used to be), or poorly bolted together (like all British cars used to be).

But there were some other fundamental issues that cannot be forgiven.

In a tight space such as a car park where the door can only be opened wide enough so you can slide in sideways, I twice knocked my left knee on the outrageously intrusive driver’s door armrest.

The armrest – it’s only on the driver’s door – is so hard and unforgiving it not only hurt it took skin off. There might even have been blood (whimper).

Once I was in the car nursing my injury I found my natural seating position meant not being able to see the speedometer, which sits above the tachometer in a multi-level display.

I could see the tacho just fine, but out of the two the speedo is the preference thanks.

How these two fundamental ergonomics shockers got from design to production is just beyond belief.

But from the drivers’ seat there are also some features you’ll like – especially if you’ve clambered in without injury. The seat itself is supportive, the small steering wheel is adjustable for reach and rake and the left footrest a decent size.

But if you are a 180cm adult sitting behind the driver you are going to have a mediocre journey, as the rear seating positon is upright, room is not generous and vision limited.

Further back the boot has a high loading lip and a low floor. There is a restraining strap, hooks and a bit of extra storage space under the floor, surrounding the space saver tyre.

But fold down the ‘Magic’ rear seats – as Honda dubs them – and a massive amount of stowage space is released. The boot in its standard form offers 390 litres, expanding to 1190.

Minor stowage spaces and passenger comforts around the cabin include front and rear door pockets, front and rear cupholders, a decently-sized glovebox, a single seatback pocket, rear vents for the dual-zone climate control, power outlets and two USB ports and a HDMI port.

The 7.0-inch touch screen at the head of the centre console now incorporates Honda’s Display Audio System enabling Bluetooth connectivity, audio streaming, mirroring functionality (compatible with iPhone only) and display of the reversing camera. A trip computer, clock and sat-nav (if optioned) are also accessed via this screen.

Other equipment includes six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a family of driver assist systems including stability control, a five-star ANCAP rating, front seat heaters, smart keyless entry and push-button ignition and, cruise control. Metallic paint is a $575 option.

So let’s get to the driving. The VTi-L is powered by a 1.8-litre 104kW/174Nm four-cylinder engine mated standard with a five-speed auto.

This is not an energetic drivetrain. There’s no turbo assistance or anything like that. You either have to wind up the revs and drive aggressively to keep moving along, or engage the tranny’s Sport mode or steering wheel flappy paddles to change manually for overtaking and those sorts of challenges.

The positive pay-off for letting the car amble around lethargically is excellent fuel economy. It’s claimed at 6.6L/100km and came in during our test at an excellent real word figure of 7.1L, albeit on the recommended 95 RON PULP fuel.

In case you want to tone things down even further there’s an ‘ECON’ button that dulls the throttle more and regulates the air-con. There’s even a light display in the speedo that lets you know how economically you are driving – green means you are being economical.

In direct contrast with the docile drivetrain was the test car’s overly-direct and light electric-assist steering. The lack of effort was good for commuting but the directness made the car too darty – it was too easy to move off line if distracted at all from steering the car.

Like many other small front drivers, the VTi-L combines MacPherson struts up-front with a torsion beam at the rear (the Thai-built Civic sedan comes with multi-links by the way), but Honda has tuned it to produce a brittle ride quality on irregular surfaces – typical Australian roads in other words.

Presumably, like the steering, this is designed to deliver a sporting character, but in the end just contributes to the feeling this is a car somewhat at odds with itself and certainly not as refined and well-sorted as the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Mazda3 and Peugeot 308 – to name three of the best small car alternatives.

In 2015 Honda added Agile Handling Assist System (AHAS) to the Civic. This system works with the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and is claimed to help support stability and performance during cornering by lightly applying the brakes. If AHAS was kicking in at any point it was pretty transparent.

One redeeming Civic positive is it is decently quiet in the cabin. You will note some tyre roar on coarser surfaces from the 17-inch Bridgestone Turanzas, but engine noise is commendably constrained considering how hard the small donk is sometimes being revved.

The Civic’s upgrades also included front and rear bumpers, a new grille, side molding and rear spoiler, guided tube daytime running lights and guided tube lights.

They are not the most noticeable changes because the hatch is such a striking shape anyway. It has an aggressive hawk-like nose and a high, complex rear that is striking.

But it also includes a vision obscuring bar that runs through the rear hatch’s window.

Compared to a bleeding knee that’s maybe not a huge issue, but it does act as another reminder of this car’s imperfections and why it’s not one we’d put anywhere near the top of the small car list. Roll on its replacement and let’s hope Honda does a better job with it.

2016 Honda Civic Hatch VTi-L pricing and specifications:
Price: $26,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 104kW/174Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.6L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 155g/km (ADR combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP)

Also consider:
Mazda Mazda3 (from $20,490 plus ORCs)
Volkswagen Golf (from $22,490 plus ORCs)
Peugeot 308 (from $19,290)