Every dimension is larger, inside and out, but not so much that the Civic sedan has grown up and out of the C-segment or compact category altogether. It's now large enough so that taller, broader owners of previous Civics will enjoy increased headroom, while their shoulders won't be forced against the side windows anymore, and hips, which may have increased in size due to five consecutive years of good living, won't butt
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| It's now large enough so that taller, broader owners of previous Civics will enjoy increased headroom. (Photo: Honda) |
up against the door panels as firmly, plus their now older and resultantly larger children won't be as squished up in the rear seat. Even the trunk is larger, to hold more of the things older kids need carted around, such as hockey gear, skiing paraphernalia, college textbooks, not to mention all that stuff that would otherwise get left in the attic when they go off to college.
While talk of college brings to mind young 20-somethings driving off into the sunset on the way to higher education, and the previous description of a growing family might conjure up images of slightly graying middle-agers up front, followed by a set of iPod and Gameboy engrossed youth in the back seat, the Civic doesn't just target these demographics. In reality, it has become an icon of fuel-friendly transportation for the very reason that its audience is so wide and varied. If you see a BMW 645 Ci drive by, or possibly a Ford F-150, or for that matter Honda's own S2000 sports car or Ridgeline pickup, a certain image of what that person might need such a vehicle for, and then what job they might have, where they might live, what activities they enjoy during their personal time, what types of clothing they probably wear more often than not, what political leanings they may have, and lest
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| The Civic has become an icon of fuel-friendly transportation for the very reason that its audience is so wide and varied. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
I forget whether they're male or female and how old they may be, can be assumed with a fair degree of accuracy. With the Civic, well, its customers come from all over the map, are engaged in any given career path, are not necessarily men or women, and range in age from between 16 and 100, and possibly older. It's no wonder the Civic sells so well.
But while most Civic sedan buyers enjoy their cars and, no doubt, their lives, there aren't too many who purchased due to any enthusiasm for sport-oriented driving. The outgoing generation sedan, at least, was rather soft in the corners and somewhat anemic at takeoff when compared to most of its rivals. It focused more on reliable, comfortable service and fuel efficiency, all worthy goals.
