Honda Civic

Highly-anticipated and -sought-after, a build that cocoons technology and radiates power, the new Honda Civic, launched in Malaysia.

Designated FE, the C-segment contender (fastback/sedan) is the 11th-generation model, upgraded for the year 2025.

Four locally-assembled (CKD) variants. Petrol (E - MYR 133,900, V - MYR 144,900, RS - MYR 149,900) and hybrid (e:HEV RS - MYR 167,900) powertrains.

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, five-year/100,000 KM free (five times) labour service, and an eight-year, unlimited-mileage hybrid battery warranty (e:HEV RS).

Exterior colours. Canyon River Blue Metallic, Meteoroid Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl (E, V, RS), Platinum White Pearl (MYR 800), and Ignite Red Metallic (MYR 800).

The new Civic has a horizontally- and cleanly-aligned dashboard, linked to an angularly-low-rising centre console (fingerprint-resistant).

Hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, door panels), it sees a single-tone (Black) colour scheme with contrast trims (Aluminium, Red - RS, e:HEV RS).

Accentuating the environment is an ambient lighting system (foot, door - RS, e:HEV RS/roof - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS).

Filling the space are driver/central displays (infotainment/instrument cluster), a honeycomb-mesh panel (air-conditioning vents), and sport pedals (RS, e:HEV RS).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomically-arranged. Non-cluttered with easy-reachability (user-friendly, driver-oriented).

Installed is a 7.0-Inch TFT digital-analogue speedometer (E, V, RS) and a 10.2-Inch TFT fully-digital driver display (instrument cluster).

Sporty, the interior sees upholsteries in fabric (Black - E), leather (Black - V), and leather/suede (Black - RS, e:HEV RS) with contrast stitching (Red - RS, e:HEV RS).

The front gets manual-operated (driver, passenger - E/passenger - V, RS, e:HEV RS) and electronic-powered (driver - V, RS, e:HEV RS) bolstered seats.

The rear gets a manual-operated (60:40 split-fold - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS) bolstered bench. Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out).

The five-seater sedan offers generous cabin space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Practical storage compartments. E.g., a glove box, seat back/side door pockets, and centre console partitioned/caverned spaces.

Mounted is a three-spoke-rounded steering wheel, wrapped in leather (Black - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS) with contrast trims (Aluminium, Red stitching - RS, e:HEV RS).

Features are multi-function (media, Bluetooth, vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and paddle shifters (V, RS). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (two - front, rear).

Equipped are one 12 V socket (front), four USB ports (two - front, rear), and one wireless charger (front - RS, e:HEV RS).

Accessing its electronic-powered (operation - remote control/key fob) tailgate, opens up to a load capacity of 497-Litres.

Weighing in at 1,338 KG (E), 1,349 KG (V), 1,362 KG (RS) and 1,445 KG (e:HEV RS), the new Civic measures at 4,681 MM long, 1,802 MM wide, 1,415 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,735 MM.

Sportily-dynamic, its four-door fastback exterior parades a long, low and wide stance, emphasised by cleanly- and sharply-cut contours.

Upgraded, the front-end sees a mildly-moulded bonnet, angular quarter panels, and an aerodynamically-sculpted bumper (Black - honeycomb insert upper-lower grille - corner vents).

Accentuations, the RS treatment (RS - Black trims, e:HEV RS - Black/Chrome trims), side mirrors (body-colour/Black - E, V/RS, e:HEV RS), door handles (E - body-colour, V - body-colour-Chrome, RS - Black, e:HEV RS - body-colour-Black-Chrome), and Honda/e:HEV (Blue H/Chrome - e:HEV RS) emblems.

Prominently-sleek, it continues the dynamically-sporty design, emphasised by smoothly- and horizontally-shaped surfaces.

The rear-end sees a fastback-style roofline, an angular tailgate, a shark fin antenna (body-colour/Black - E, V/RS, e:HEV RS), a boot-lid spoiler (Black - RS, e:HEV RS), and a roundly-angular bumper (Chrome - exhaust - twin/single - RS/e:HEV RS). 

Accentuations, the RS treatment (RS - Black trims, e:HEV RS - Black/Chrome trims), door handles (E - body-colour, V - body-colour-Chrome, RS - Black, e:HEV RS - body-colour-Black-Chrome), and Honda/e:HEV (Blue H/Chrome - e:HEV RS) emblems.

Angularly-sharp, the headlamps are framed largely-inward-tilted and slightly-concave. Installed are full LED units.

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, high-/low-beam (Auto High Beam - AHB), welcome lights, and sequential turn signals.

Angularly-boxy, the trapezoidal tail lamps are framed large and wrapped-around. Installed are LED combination units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome lights, and sequential turn signals. Paired to the layout is a set of fog lamps (bumper-integrated).

The side mirrors (body-colour/Black - E, V/RS, e:HEV RS) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with sequential turn signals, and blind-spot monitor indicators (Honda LaneWatch Camera - LWC - V, RS, e:HEV RS).

Fitted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Aiding the drive is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Mounted is a set of 16-inch (E), 17-Inch (V) and 18-Inch (RS), five-twin-spoke (single-tone - Black) alloy rims, wrapped in 215/55 R16 (E), 215/50 R17 (V), and 235/40Z R18 (RS) tyres (Continental MaxContact MC5 - E, V, Michelin Pilot Sport 4 - RS).

Variant e:HEV RS upgrades to a set of 18-Inch, seven-spoke (single-tone - Black) alloy rims, wrapped in 235/40Z R18 tyres (Michelin Pilot Sport 4).

The new Civic gets the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Incorporated (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS) is the Honda Sensing suite, featuring Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low Speed Follow (LSF), Auto High Beam (AHB), and Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN).

Others include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Agile Handle Assist (AHA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Auto Brake Hold (ABH), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC - V, RS, e:HEV RS), parking cameras (360-degree, reverse - multi-angle), and Honda Connect telematic system (safety, security, convenience - V, RS, e:HEV RS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer-rear-seats), parking cameras (360-degree, reverse - multi-angle), parking sensors (four - front, rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, automatic-dimming rear-view mirror (interior - V, RS, e:HEV RS), driver attention monitor, and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Multiple selectable drive modes available (ECON, NORMAL, SPORT - V, RS, e:HEV RS - INDIVIDUAL - e:HEV RS). 

Upgraded, equipped (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS) is Honda’s 9.0-Inch touchscreen OEM Advanced Display Audio (infotainment).

The system supports Google (built-in - Play Store, Maps, Assistant), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), USB, Bluetooth and Hands-Free Telephone (HFT).

Entertainment is channelled via variant-specific audio setups (four speakers - E, eight speakers/four tweeters - V, RS, e:HEV RS).

The new Civic harbours two different powertrain setups (petrol, hybrid).

Variants E, V, and RS get the petrol engine (1.5-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC VTEC Turbo - 180 HP/134 KW at 6,000 RPM, 240 NM at 1,700 to 4,500 RPM).

Variant e:HEV RS gets the hybrid setup (Honda Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive - i-MMD), featuring a 2.0-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve naturally-aspirated DOHC Atkinson Cycle engine (141 HP/105 KW at 6,000 RPM, 189 NM at 4,500 RPM), mated to an electric motor (181 HP/135 KW at 5,000 to 6,000 RPM, 315 NM at 0 to 2,000 RPM).

Variants E, V and RS feature a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT - seven-speed automatic).

Variant e:HEV RS is equipped with an Electric Continuous Variable Transmission (e-CVT).

Included are paddle shifters (V, RS).

Power is sent to the front wheels, Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 8.3 seconds (E), 8.4 seconds (V), 8.5 seconds (RS) and 7.9 seconds (e:HEV RS), and top speed is 200 KM/H (E, V, RS) and 180 KM/H (e:HEV RS).

Fuel tank is at a 47-Litre capacity, and the fuel consumption reads at 6.0 L/100 KM (E, V), 6.3 L/100 KM/H (RS) and 4.0 L/100 KM/H (e:HEV RS). 

The e-motor is juiced-up by a 1.1 KWH Lithium-Ion battery (72-Cell).

The new Civic features these conveniences.

E.g., Smart Entry (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), key card (e:HEV RS), walk-away automatic-lock, remote engine start (key fob - ignition button), electronic-powered tailgate (operation - remote control/key fob), single-zone/dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-conditioning vents - E, V, RS/e:HEV RS), steering wheel (column adjustments, multi-function, EPS, paddle shifters - V, RS), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), electronic-powered (driver - V, RS, e:HEV RS) bolstered seats, Honda Sensing,  parking cameras (360-degree, reverse - multi-angle), parking sensors (four - front, rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, automatic-dimming rear-view mirror (interior - V, RS, e:HEV RS), blind-spot monitor indicators (Honda LaneWatch Camera - LWC - V, RS, e:HEV RS), armrests (front, rear), automatic-door lock (speed-sensing), interior lighting system (ambient, reading, foot), wireless charger (front - RS, e:HEV RS), automatic wipers (rain-sensing - RS, e:HEV RS), and automatic headlamps (On/Off, high beam).

The driving is agile and responsive, offering a sturdy handling. Interior-wise, it is purpose-built with comfortably cocooning seats and other amenities.

Propping its chassis (stiff, absorbent) are MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspensions, aided by an Agile Handling Assist (AHA) system.

Sound insulation is adequate with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) factored in. The cabin is acoustically-designed and able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises well, making them barely noticeable.

Incorporated is Active Noise Control with Active Sound Control (e:HEV RS).

The new Honda Civic is a powerfully well-equipped, daily sedan. Notably, to its stylings, driving dynamics and safety systems.

Quality of the equipment installed, inside and outside of the car impresses with the mature design and restrained detailing. 

Ultimately, the 2025 upgraded Civic is a pretty decent offering, combining great performance, advanced safety features, and a stylish body design altogether.