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| Road Test: Honda Civic (2006-) |
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| Small Family |
by: Gavin Conway |
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Honda Civic Gallery
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| DRIVING RATING: |
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Honda has always trumpeted its commitment to four-wheel independent wishbone suspension, so its abandonment of that set-up at the rear in favour of a torsion beam has raised eyebrows. The company says that it has done so to create a "good balance between the demands of packaging, performance and weight."
The reality on the road, though, is far less dramatic than the cynics would have you believe. Makers like Peugeot have used torsion bar and beam set-ups for decades, and they've produced some of the best handling hatches we've ever driven.
Indeed, the Civic's handling is totally secure, with remarkably high levels of cornering grip and a reasonably flat stance. The only time a keen driver might notice the absence of wishbones at the back is when encountering a particularly rough bit of road mid-corner.
Otherwise, the Civic's suspension set-up gets the job done nicely, albeit without the throttle adjustability and communication of the best of breed. Our only complaint on this front is an overly firm low-speed ride quality.
The electric power steering is particularly quick, too, with just 2.2 turns from lock to lock. Reasonably well weighted, it also has very strong self-centering, which won't be to everyone's taste.
The driver's environment is good, too, with panoramic visibility forward, well-placed controls and a precise, good-to-use gearshift. The high-tech dashboard presents information sensibly, although it's a bit intimidating on first acquaintance.
Rear visibility isn't great, though, with the shallow rear door glass and thick C-pillars obscuring rear-three-quarter vision. The split lower section of the tailgate glass is a particular annoyance - it can make it difficult to keep track of who's behind, especially at night and in the wet, when the curved Perspex area distorts the lights in the places they can shine through.
Honda's insistence that the Civic's aerodynamic design means that a rear wiper isn't necessary doesn't really wash, either - you can't get standing water off the rear screen at city-driving speeds.
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Introduction After seven generations and 16m Civics sold, Honda has unleashed ... |
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