Honda Civic sedan gets more equipment

HONDA has given its ageing Civic sedan a minor upgrade, adding more equipment at no extra cost while it awaits the local launch of the all-new ninth-generation model early next year.

The small-sedan - which dates back to 2006 - now gets Bluetooth connectivity as standard on all specification-levels. As well, the mid-range VTi-L and flagship Sport variants gain reverse parking sensors and floor mats, while the VTi-L also gets new fog lights.

It is the latest member of Honda’s local line-up to get a minor facelift this year after the Civic Si hatch in March, the Jazz and Odyssey in April and the Accord V6 in May.

The Civic line-up – which consists of the Thai-built sedan and British-built Si hatch – is the top-selling model range in Honda’s Australian line-up this year despite a sales slump of 31.6 per cent to the end of May.

The Japanese manufacturer’s Australian range has suffered an almost across-the-board sales slide in 2011 - down 27.6 per cent overall for the year.

All Honda models are down on their respective sales results from the same time in 2010, except for the City small-car and the Insight hybrid that only went on-sale in December last year.

The Australian version of the next-generation Civic sedan, which debuted at the New York motor show in April, again will be sourced from Thailand, and will go into battle against a host of newly-redesigned small-cars including hatch and sedan versions of the Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza and the upgraded Mazda3, plus Holden’s locally built Cruze.

Honda has confirmed both 1.8 and 2.0-litre versions of its new small-sedan will eventually be offered here alongside a hybrid-engine option, but it will continue to do without diesel power.

The slinky CR-Z hybrid coupe is also set to join the Mk9 Civic sedan early next year after being delayed by about six months in the wake of production backlogs from the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan.