Honda Civic VTi 2010 Review

Honda Civic VTi

Road Test

RRP: $22,990 (manufacturer's list price, excluding on-road costs and dealer delivery)
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): automatic transmission $2300
Crash rating: 4 star (ANCAP)
Fuel: 91RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 7.2
CO2 emissions (g/km): 171
Also consider: Holden Cruze; Mazda 3; Kia Cerato

About our ratings

Honda's little big car, the Civic, once commanded a leading share of the VFACTS small car segment. Now, essentially unaltered since its introduction in 2006 it has been missing in action.

This is more a case of familiarity breeding contempt than any real faults with the car (Honda itself claims that the majority of those that road test a Civic end up buying one). Though there are aspects of its execution that are showing its age (see more below), its design -- both interior and exterior -- was ultra modern when it arrived and it still looks smart on the road.

Honda has freshened the Civic for 2010 with some very minor styling tweaks. More important, however, is an upgrade in safety equipment that (crash rating aside) brings the car in line with the benchmark for the segment. Standard on all Civics now are stability control and six airbags including full length side curtain bags.

We tested the base VTi version of the Civic. The only option fitted was an upgrade to Honda's five-speed automatic box -- in lieu of the standard five-speed manual. Priced from $25,290, the auto-equipped Civic is right in the sweet spot for small car sales.

The good bits first. This writer is a fan of the cab-forward exterior styling of the Civic sedan. Though the VTi gets steel wheels only, the Civic's still a good looker made all the better thanks to paint and panel work that is first class. At VTI-L level smart 16-inch alloys are fitted. These lift the look of the car considerably but as the 'L' level adds $3700, we'll put up with the steelies.

Inside, cabin space is almost a class above the 'normal' small car. Rear legroom is better than some so-called medium cars (the Jetta/Octavia comes to mind), indeed the Civic would give the superseded Accord Euro a run for its money in this regard. And the sedan's 370L-plus boot delivers more than enough volume for most users, though there's sign of a touch of penny pinching here -- unlike the VTi-L and Sport variants, the base model Civic does not get a split-fold rear seat. Instead the seat folds down in one piece. This is below the class average in terms of amenity.

Also well up with rest of the class is the VTI's 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder fuel-injected engine. Rated at 103kW and pumping out 174Nm of torque it's not at the forefront on the segment in terms of output but it's a smooth and willing engine that simply gets the job done. Featuring variable inlet cam timing, it possesses reasonable low rev torque and matches well with the five-speed autobox.

It's no rocket but will get close to achieving its claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 7.2L/100km without too much trouble. After a week of urban warfare we were registering mileage in the low-8.0s.

Also noteworthy (and recalled from our original launch review) is the Civic's ability to blend a compliant ride with reasonable cornering manners. Unlike many cars in the class, the Civic gets a true double wishbone indepenedent rear suspension system.

Ironically, given its futuristic tiered styling, it's the interior and in particular the equipment and controls where the Civic shows its age.

At this level steering wheel-mounted cruise control is standard but, incongruously, there are no remote controls for the sound system -- not even volume. Other items standard in many small cars now that conspire to show the Civic's age is a lack of auto headlights or indeed wipers. These are features now available on even entry level models from some carmakers.

There's no trip computer, nor a distance to empty function in the instrument pack. You'll need to rely on a low fuel warning light. We'll forgive the basic aircon system, however, (climate control versions are offered at higher spec levels) as this is fairly typical of cars in this class whatever their age.

Rather than bells and whistles, in effect, you're paying for the Civic and Honda's credo of better than baseline engineering. It's a compromise that in our mind has more than some merit.

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