Everything you need to know about 2018 Honda Civic

The 2018 Honda Civic is the tenth generation model of the sedan. This clearly means that the Civic has been around for decades, and tells us how much Honda loves it. Usually, when car manufacturers upgrade or bring in a next-generation model, they tend to stick to the original silhouette. However, Honda doesn’t seem to go the usual way. Over the years, when Honda introduced a new or next-generation Civic, the design and silhouette changed radically. The 2018 Civic is no exception. It has got a whole lot of changes and new implementations. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

1- Exterior design and styling

Honda has given the 2018 Civic an upmarket feel when it comes to overall styling and design. It looks sportier and elegant than ever. However, it could be a bit too much for some people. The front profile greets you with a set of large headlamps that are incorporated LED DRLs for that added sportiness. The blacked-out front grille and the nicely sculpted bumper makes the front of the new Civic appear closer to the ground than it actually is. This is yet another point which adds to the overall sporty-nature of the car.

The new 2018 Honda Civic gets a couple of huge distinctive LED C-shaped tail lights that climb up a little on the boot lid, which has a spoiler. Just as the front bumper, the rear one too feels very sporty and modern. Another interesting feature of the new Civic is its floating or flowing C-pillar. It beautifully merges into the boot lid and adds a classy feel to the car.

2- Interior and features

As soon as you step into the cabin of the new 2018 Honda Civic, you’d realise that you sit a bit lower compared to the previous generation model. You can even adjust the driver seat to sit even lower and feel more connected to the road. Honda might have done this to make the car sportier. The sportiness continues with the design and layout of the dashboard. Everything has been laid out properly and is within the reach of the driver.

Honda got rid of the conventional instrument cluster and replaced it with a fully digital and customisable one in the new Civic. This bright cluster sits right behind the steering wheel and show a whole bunch of information. There are various mounted controls on the sporty steering wheel.

The new car provides great comfort to the passengers. The seats are well contoured and the quality of material used is top-notch. However, things get a bit congested at the rear. Yes, the seats are very comfy and plush, and there’s a lot of legroom and foot room. But due to the sloping roofline of the new Civic, Honda has compromised with the headroom of the rear passengers.

A 5-inch or 7-inch display is available depending on the variant you pick. It is kind of disappointing, and Honda should’ve given the 7-inch display as standard. It runs on Honda’s own software which is okay-ish. Other features like cruise control, smart entry, walk away lock, one push start system, and remote engine starter, etc. are available. The 2018 Civic features the segment-first electric parking brake, for surety and peace of mind.

3- Engine variants

Honda launched the 2018 Civic with three engine options for the Middle East market. There’s the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that has been tuned to produce a punchy 158 hp at 6,500 revs and 187 Nm of torque at 4,300 revs. It performs well in the mid and top range. The other one is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit that churns out 180 hp at 6,000 rpm and 220 Nm of torque at 1,700 to 5,500 rpm. This is tuned more to be a performer.

Last, but not the least, there’s a new 1.6-litre engine that Honda has used. It’s naturally aspirated and gives a power output of 123 hp at 6,500 rpm and generates 151 Nm of peak torque at 4,300 rpm. This is tuned to be more fuel efficient.

All the three engine variants are mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which is kind of a bummer. Honda should have provided a manual transmission for the enthusiastic lot.

4- Safety features

Honda has stocked the new Civic with the latest and advanced safety features which vary depending on the variant you pick. Some of the features are Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), airbags, Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), etc.

The 2018 Honda Civic price range starts at AED 69,900 for the base model and goes all the way up to AED 99,000 for the top-end model.