Honda serves up a tastier Civic hatch
The five-door Civic is a far more palate-pleasing offering than it was when originally dished up in 2009, now priced from under $30,000Honda has dropped the price of its European-styled Civic hatch to stimulate sales of the slow-selling model, now from priced from $29,990 for the Civic Si with six-speed manual. The five-speed auto has also been dropped in price, now starting at $32,290.
At introduction, the five-door – dubbed Si – was priced (pre on-road costs) close to the $40,000 Type R three-door hotshot model that followed the sedan (which kicked off at a tad over $20,000) in 2007.
Clearly the 1.8-litre Si wasn't going to make a big impression on Honda sales in this country. The five-door Civic was there because Honda rightly thought people wanted it, but wrongly thought about how much they were prepared to pay.
Come 2011 and the Civic Si's price has been pared down to the point that it is now virtually equivalent to the top-level (114kW/188Nm 2.0-litre) Sport sedan - and therefore much more digestible priced from $29,990.
Recent upgrades to the Si tempt the palate a little more, with a few handy features included to aid its attractiveness and flexibility.
For example, it picks up the "Magic" rear seat-folding mechanism, introduced with the Jazz model, that creates a space Honda claims is big enough to fit a bicycle without needing to remove the wheels, while Bluetooth connectivity is standard.
A new Type R inspired mesh grille establishes its identity as a revamped model, as does the choice of cloth or leather interior trim.
Unfortunately for those who would like to think the Si has at least some of the verve of the 148kW/193Nm three-door Type R, the 1.8-litre 103kW/174Nm engine remains as the only powerplant. Six-speed manual and five-speed auto transmissions are offered.
Standard gear in the Civic Si includes stability and traction control, six airbags, dual-zone climate-control air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, a tyre deflation warning system, rain-sensing wipers, trip computer, adjustable auto headlights, air-conditioned glovebox, six-speaker single CD audio and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Leather-specified models come with heated front seats and a leather trimmed steering wheel.
Civic Si warranty - for the month of March – is bumped out by an additional two years, accompanied by five years of premium roadside assist.
Civic Si cloth trim (auto) $32,290
Civic Si leather trim (manual) $32,190
Civic Si leather trim (auto) $34,490 $34,965
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