Now in its eleventh generation, the Honda Civic confirms its ability to amaze.
The symbolic car of the Japanese company, at the 50-year mark, is a concentration of stylistic references, sinuous lines that look back to 70s design and technological innovations with feet firmly in the present.
The result is the new Honda Civc e:HEV full hybrid: dogmatically coupé, sporty driving, but above all a very entertaining engine and truly out of the ordinary handling.
Simply, what a car of this type should be.
Extremely prompt in acceleration, three pre-set driving styles (eco, normal and sport) plus the customizable one, each with a really well-defined personality, which rarely happens.
All with laughable consumption: 6 liters of petrol per 100 km using heavy footing, 5 with a little caution.
Values incredibly close to those recorded on the Wltp circuit.
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Honda Civic e:Hev
ANSA Motori tested the hybrid Civic in Sport trim for a long time, and each trip was a new experience.
The glance highlights a completely personal, recognizable design, which does not give in to fashionable compromises.
Definite lines, which look at the current one.
It's not made to please everyone.
But if you like it, it's love.
The streamlined and decidedly pronounced front leads to a cab with attention to detail, undeniably linked to Jap rationalism.
The new Civic e:HEV Full Hybrid is 455 cm long (3 cm more than the previous version) by 180 wide (unchanged) and 141 high (2 cm less), with a longer wheelbase (+3.5 cm ) and the wider track (+1.2 cm ) to the full benefit of habitability.
Access is easy, the seat is low but not too much, the cockpit can be personalized.
On the tunnel the 4 gearshift buttons, gear adjustable from the paddles on the steering wheel.
The console is dominated by a 9-inch touch screen, on which a complete, simple and intuitive infotainment system - compatible with AppleCarPlay and Android Auto - runs.
The light clusters of the rear are in total contrast with the current mood, increasingly filiform.
Not these, they are generously sized headlights, perfectly integrated into the 404-litre trunk (1,187 with the sofa folded down).
Fun is guaranteed by a skilful mix of thermal and electric.
The 186 HP and 315 Nm of torque of the 2-litre direct injection engine burn 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The dragging effect that often afflicts hybrids does not exist.
The extreme precision of the steering, which becomes surgical in sport mode, a chassis without hesitation at any speed, a reduced ground clearance and 18" tires which, thanks to the aid of a sophisticated shock absorber system, literally keep the cars to the road make driving really fun.
We have never managed to put the car in crisis, not even to record at least one hesitation.
The extensive use of electronics ensures that the driving modes chosen by the driver are perfectly distinguishable from one another.
In sport, for example, it's not just the sound that changes tone, but also the delivery and stiffness of the steering.
Civic becomes sporty indeed.
To achieve this result, Japanese engineers have devised the i-MMD (intelligence multi-mode drive) system: the basis is that of a series hybrid, but its operation varies according to the passage between three modes, which are chosen automatically according to the criterion of fuel efficiency, in the specific driving situation.
In Electric Drive mode: the lithium-ion battery directly powers the electric propulsion;
in Hybrid Drive mode, the internal combustion engine powers the electric generator, which in turn powers the electric propulsion engine;
in Engine Drive mode, the petrol engine is connected directly to the wheels via a lockup clutch.
In practice: whoever is behind the wheel chooses the driving style, the technology and how to best implement it.
A true sports car, thanks also to the innovative reinforcement and lightening solutions: the front subframe is now in aluminum and the bodywork has increased rigidity to improve cornering stability.
The suspension layout includes a MacPherson-type solution at the front and a Multi-link type at the rear.
The tailgate is made of resin and weighs 20% less than the previous model.
To give additional safety, in the exemplary object of our test, a highly efficient and unobtrusive driving assistance system.
It helps draw the curves, but doesn't 'take away' the steering wheel from the driver.
When adaptive cruise control is active, the car is able to anticipate deceleration when cornering, and always engages at the right moment.
In city traffic, on the other hand, an assistance system intervenes which, in practice, drives itself.
In times of expensive fuel, there is also a nice surprise when refueling.
If 40 liters of tank capacity may seem small, just take note of the kilometers traveled to change your mind.
Prices starting from 34,000 euros, just over the 36,000 needed to purchase the car being tested.
