New-look Honda Civic sedan gets safety boost

BY SPENCER LEECH | 28th Feb 2019

HONDA Australia has facelifted its 10th-generation Civic sedan range, with new styling features inside and out, and increased safety for its mid-spec variants.

Entry into the Civic sedan remains unchanged at $22,390 plus on-road costs for the base VTi, however, the rest of the line-up has seen slight price hikes by as much as $200.

Specifically, the VTi-S now costs $24,590 (+$100), the VTi-L costs $27,990 (+$200), the RS is now priced at $31,990 (+$200) and the range-topping VTi-LX wears a $33,690 (+$100) pricetag.

Justifying the $200 price adjustment for the VTi-L and RS is the now-standard Honda Sensing driver-assistance and safety technologies filtered down from the top-spec VTi-LX.

The Honda Sensing package consists of forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist and steering assist.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said that this move is part of the brand’s plan to increase safety across its entire model range by 2022.

“The inclusion of Honda Sensing as standard equipment on two additional Civic sedan models, represents another step in our plan to introduce the full suite of intelligent driver-assist and active safety technologies right across the Honda vehicle range over the next few years,” he said.

“Since we announced that plan in May last year, we’ve added Honda Sensing onto the CR-V VTi-S AWD model and now all three Civic sedan models with the 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine are equipped with Honda Sensing, reflecting our ongoing commitment to support the safe and comfortable driving of our customers.

“We are confident Honda Sensing will provide them with a system that is both intuitive and effective, and at the most affordable price point yet for a Honda vehicle.”

The mid-life update also sees a lift to styling, with unique wheels for each grade, including 18-inch alloys with wider 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres for the RS.

A new lower grille, gloss black fog light surrounds and a redesigned front bumper is standard, while a piano black upper grille is featured on all but the entry-level VTi.

Equipment upgrades include an automatic high beam system and electrically retractable door mirrors for the VTi-L, RS and VTi-LX, rear privacy glass for the VTi-S, a new Platinum White pearlescent paint option, and an RS-exclusive Phoenix Orange paint scheme.

Interior updates include new dashboard trim inserts, new audio controls, more ergonomic infotainment and air-conditioning controls, newly designed upholstery for VTI-S grades and above and red seat-trim stitching for the RS.

As before, the VTi and VTi-S are powered by a 104kW/174Nm 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, while the higher-spec grades benefit from a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit producing 127kW and 220Nm.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is exclusively equipped to all grades with drive sent to the front axle.

The updated Civic sedan will go on sale from March 1.

2019 Honda Civic sedan pricing*