I could see, as this story was being told, that those close to the project were both flattered that their design was chosen over
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| The CSX is exclusive, at least for the time being, to Canada, and remains one of few cars ever to lay claim to such an anomaly. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Honda's global Civic for use as the Japanese brand's domestic market Civic, and somewhat miffed that Japan was getting credit for a car that was penned by the Canadian division, a car that was also no longer globally exclusive, at least in shape.
The CSX is exclusive, at least for the time being, to Canada, and remains one of few cars ever to lay claim to such an anomaly. After all, with a national population that registers as less than some U.S. states, building a business case for an exclusive product would hardly be a simple exercise. Still, the CSX falls into compact car territory, a market segment that makes up 25 percent of Canada's new vehicle sales, and given that gasoline prices are once again nudging the dollar per litre mark, and will probably soon rise higher, even luxury buyers are now choosing more fuel conscious vehicles. The CSX offers similar
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| The CSX falls into compact car territory, a market segment that makes up 25 percent of Canada's new vehicle sales. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
levels of fuel efficiency as the Civic, but with a premium badge and upscale features, plus unique styling to set it apart.
Yet unlike the previous
EL, which was pretty well identical to the Civic under the skin, the new
CSX is not only less visibly linked to the Honda than its predecessor at surface level, but also quite a bit different behind the scenes. Under the hood is a 155-horsepower 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder featuring Honda's revered i-VTEC "intelligent" valve-control system, which combines VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) with VTC (Variable Timing Control), rather than the Civic's less powerful 1.8-litre engine. As it does in the new Civic, the i-VTEC system improves performance across a broader power band while reducing fuel
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| The CSX delivers a bit more gusto than the Civic off the line, which is always good, and if fitted with the automatic transmission's paddle shifters, is fun to flick through the gears. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
consumption and lowering emissions. Acura pulls the larger engine, plus its five-speed manual gearbox and five-speed automatic, in this case with paddle-shift actuation, from the entry-level RSX coupe, giving the CSX a unique driving experience when compared side-by-side with a regular Civic. It's got a bit more gusto off the line, which is always good, and if fitted with the automatic transmission's paddle shifters, is fun to flick through the gears. The five-speed manual is also as slick as gearboxes come in this class, and will probably still be the more popular choice among driving enthusiasts.
Enthusiasts opting for a tarted up Civic? First of all, the new Civic is a fairly impressive performance car, for its class, and the CSX not only ups the ante with its more powerful drivetrain and paddle-shift actuated automatic,
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| The five-speed manual is as slick as gearboxes come in this class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
but also through more athletically tuned suspension upgrades. While not as tight as the new
Civic Si, it's a heck of a lot more engaging than a
Civic DX. I can't say that the roads in and around Toronto are that conducive to performance-oriented driving, unless a fast exit off of the DVP is enough to get your heart rate up, but nevertheless I found a few opportunities to prove the car's capabilities, some of which were its adept dealings with the many potholes and surface irregularities that forever interrupt any hope of a smooth flow of traffic within the big city's streets.
The occasional need to slam on the brakes were appeased via an impressive four-disc, four-channel ABS setup that showed little fade after repeated panic stops - the latter a situation chosen for testing purposes rather than forced upon me by negligent drivers. The CSX's standard 16-inch alloy rims on mud and snow rated P205/55HR16 tires didn't hurt either, especially considering the monsoon-like conditions I was experiencing during the test day. The CSX can also be had with dealer-installed 17-inch aluminum wheels, which no doubt improve handling while giving the little sedan an even sportier appearance.
