Back on top?
Every time a new Civic hits the streets, which comes around every five years, I always say the same thing. "Well, I'm gonna need some time to get used to its look". But a year later, I get used to the car's shape.
Is Honda avant-garde? Maybe. But we could say that the manufacturer takes calculated risks, and rarely makes mistakes. Ok, some will say that the Ridgeline isn't a success story, but it's more of a perception problem that an actual bad product; I don't know anyone who drove that pickup and didn't like it.
As for the Civic, its redesign was more than anticipated. The competition is fiercer than ever, with the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Dodge Caliber. With its 115 horsepower, the Civic was criticized for suddenly being underpowered. Although that amount of horses is more than sufficient for everyday driving, Honda addressed the situation.
Original shape
The least we can say is that the Civic's new shape isn't a carbon copy of the other compact sedans. With its curvaceous bodywork, the Civic looks like a plastic toy car that melted on the top of the furnace duct, and that's what made me doubt about its styling this time. A little more than a year later, not only has the shape become familiar, but I find it rather attractive.
The originality effect continues inside with a futuristic dashboard. The two-step instrument pod is a good idea; the speedometer located at the base of the windshield is easy to read while you're driving, and gives an airy feel to the cockpit.
I quickly appreciate the little oval-shaped steering wheel, and it's obvious how much Honda paid attention to the little details. As for the center console, it's almost ergonomically perfect, with big, clearly-identified buttons. The texture of the plastics and fabric are top-quality stuff.
Every time a new Civic hits the streets, which comes around every five years, I always say the same thing. "Well, I'm gonna need some time to get used to its look". But a year later, I get used to the car's shape.
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| Once again a design that will have to grow on me. |
Is Honda avant-garde? Maybe. But we could say that the manufacturer takes calculated risks, and rarely makes mistakes. Ok, some will say that the Ridgeline isn't a success story, but it's more of a perception problem that an actual bad product; I don't know anyone who drove that pickup and didn't like it.
As for the Civic, its redesign was more than anticipated. The competition is fiercer than ever, with the Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Dodge Caliber. With its 115 horsepower, the Civic was criticized for suddenly being underpowered. Although that amount of horses is more than sufficient for everyday driving, Honda addressed the situation.
Original shape
The least we can say is that the Civic's new shape isn't a carbon copy of the other compact sedans. With its curvaceous bodywork, the Civic looks like a plastic toy car that melted on the top of the furnace duct, and that's what made me doubt about its styling this time. A little more than a year later, not only has the shape become familiar, but I find it rather attractive.
The originality effect continues inside with a futuristic dashboard. The two-step instrument pod is a good idea; the speedometer located at the base of the windshield is easy to read while you're driving, and gives an airy feel to the cockpit.
I quickly appreciate the little oval-shaped steering wheel, and it's obvious how much Honda paid attention to the little details. As for the center console, it's almost ergonomically perfect, with big, clearly-identified buttons. The texture of the plastics and fabric are top-quality stuff.
 |
| A little detail can go a long way. |