GQ Drives: 2019 Honda Civic

Rarely has the D-segment been so fraught with anticipation in the Indian market. The first Honda Civic, launched back in 2006, was a breakout superstar. It had, in my opinion, flawless styling, sensational proportion and a smashing cockpit – it was Honda at its peak before they began pandering to a wider consumer pool. Flash forward a decade later and the things appear to be mildly dystopic for the plucky executive sedan. Customer preferences are changing, and the herd is rapidly thinning out as the ubiquitous crossover completes its encroachment over sedan territory.

If ever there was a time for the Civic to make a comeback, it’s now. But it’s not just the crossover that the Civic has to contend with, it’s the fact that it has to outshine its predecessor, which, thanks to Honda’s revered build quality, is an easy acquisition in the pre-owned market. The new 2019 Honda Civic has some big shoes to fill and tall foes to vanquish.

THE LOOK

I’m not sure how one could improve on the first Civic’s design, so I’m glad Honda has decided to go in a new direction than try and build on a timeless shape. This gives the 2019 Honda Civic its own identity. I ended up parking it next to the one from the noughties and ended up spending considerable time on the pavement trying to compare the two. Sure, this one has longer overhangs and busier bodywork, but there’s something about that NSX-esque bonnet that endears the new Civic to me. This is a striking looking fastback, from any angle. Where the old one was lithe, this one’s muscular, where it was restrained, this is bashful – almost in rebellion. It’s a car that has been designed to be noticed. It’s particularly striking from the back with its flamboyant C-shaped taillamps. Not a shrinking violet, this.

It’s much the same on the inside, although there are no novelties to be found here, unlike in the digital speedo-equipped original. The first one was revolutionary, but car interiors have come a long way since then. That said, there’s no skimping on quality here. The front offers a great, clear view, the gauge cluster is still got a faux-futuristic, neon vibe to it and the cabin happens to be pretty well-equipped. It’s got plenty of soft-touch bits, a sunroof, dual climate control and a nifty little lane-changing camera (mounted on the left rear-view-mirror) which gives you a view of the blind spots on your left, making it easier to turn left.

THE DRIVE

In order to broaden the Civic’s appeal (and, let’s face it, sales) Honda has decided to pad up the range with a diesel option. Therefore, the petrol variant gets a familiar 1.8-litre i-Vtec engine while being accompanied by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. Having driven only the petrol, there isn’t much I can say about the diesel, save that it’s the only version that gets a manual gearbox while a CVT performs transmission duties in the petrol model.

And that perhaps, might be the Civic’s greatest failing. The CVT has presumably been brought in to keep up the premium quotient and secure a bigger chunk of the market share (or simply because this engine doesn’t come with a manual option, even internationally), but in doing so Honda may have alienated the one customer that helped raise the original Civic to its exalted status – the enthusiast. The motor feels peppy enough, with its 141 bhp, and as far as CVTs go, this is one of the smoother models out there, but you constantly find yourself aching for the slick throws of a manual, keeping the V-Tec motor in the meat of the powerband. Paddle shifts ameliorate the situation to an extent, but the CVT does keep the Civic from being a truly engaging drive, and from climbing the after-market pyramid with an engine remap and other performance tweaks.

On every other front, the Civic remains a winner. It’s got an incredibly supple suspension, rides beautifully in the city. The steering gives decent feedback, feels light at the right moments, just like the car does around corners. There’s a wafting sense of gentility to the Civic that its competition does not possess. And you get a sense that it’s powerful enough as a sub-brand to transcend segment barriers. It might just be cool. Or at least it will be if Honda were to bring in that 1.5-litre turbo-petrol from overseas.

VERDICT

The 2019 Honda Civic is a near-ideal car to own in the city. It’s got manageable proportions, sensational looks and supple ride quality. Its Achilles heel happens to be the CVT gearbox, but unless you floor it every time you exit the driveway, it’s as smooth as they come. Is the price (ranging from Rs 17.7 lakh to Rs 20.1 lakh) on the higher side? Certainly. But it’s still a return-to-form for a brand which once famously imbued its India-bound cars with an athletic streak. There are still gaps that Honda could fill and make the Civic a proper performer in the years to come. Until then, it’s happy being a grown-up, city-oriented family car.

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