Road Test: Honda Civic VTi-L

Review by Jay Williams - 25/May/2010

Now in its eighth generation the Civic has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1972. Featuring a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC the Civic VTi, Civic VTi-L and the bigger 2.0-litre Civic Sport haven't seen a face-lift since its introduction in 2006.

But, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, you see the Civic had an ultra modern interior and exterior back in 2006 and still remains stylish today.

Honda Civic has a four star ANCAP rating, however, ANCAP have not re-tested the Civic since 2007 after which the airbag count has increased and electronic stability assist with traction control became standard throughout the range. Previously this was only on the top-of-line-model. So safety shouldn't be an issue.

There's no question that Civic VTi-L model that sits between the entry-level VTi and the range-topping Sport is a very good car.

With Honda's reputation for reliability and with more interior room and a fuel efficient powerplant, the Civic matches up well against its competitors, even if it costs a little more.

Drive: 3/5

Taking the Civic across town, on the highway and just generally cruising along, I was increasingly impressed by how smooth gear changes were, its free revving engine (7000rpm) and its remarkable agility when you're manoeuvring in tight spaces and making sharp turns. The Civic VTi-L has an all-round feeling of precision and refinement in the way it's built.

As well as being a great commuter vehicle, the Civic is home to a very usable cruise control feature, making longer journeys a lot less of a chore and easier to relax when cruising around. All controls reside on the steering wheel and are very user friendly.

While the Civic VTi-L won't inspire you to find the car's limits through corners - it is tuned for comfort rather than the sports handling - it's not to say that the driving experience is not rewarding. Steering responds swiftly and obediently to the drivers input and remains compliant. 

Overall the MacPherson strut suspension system does a good job in reducing unsprung mass for better handling and a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Engine: 3.5/5

The model we test drove was the middle-of-the-range Civic VTi-L which features the high revving (7000rpm) 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC, four cylinder, petrol - The same engine as seen in the entry VTi model.

Turning the ignition and putting your foot down you feel the instant respond from the tightly tuned and refined engine. With an impressive 103kw of power and 174Nm of torque, the Civic VTi-L has some get-up-and-go when you need it.

Mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox (which is perhaps one the slickest shifters I have experienced), you soon realise how tightly coupled and matched it is to the engine, able to provide good levels of performance all round. All models offer the choice of an automatic or manual transmission, mated to a five-speed gearbox.

Combined fuel economy is claimed to be an impressive 6.9-litres per 100 km, with our VTi-L 5-speed manual sipping around 7.8-litres per 100km over combined urban/highway driving - bear in mind we weren't exactly driving in the most frugal manner.

Exterior: 3/5

The Civic has a unique look that remains mostly unchanged since 2006. It has a distinctive one-sweep design that combines aerodynamics with style. The curve-like front end and angled windscreen lower drag coefficient, resulting in better fuel economy.

Personally, I found the windscreen to be a bit deceiving while parking, because of the sheer angle of the windscreen and the snub nose of the Civic it was impossible to see the front of the car, while this is a minor problem, I found it a bit tricky especially in underground parking lots. Perhaps Honda will take this into account for the next generation Civic. 

The overall design of the Civic is sharper and sleeker than its predecessors, with a redesigned, front bumper and sleek rear lights.

The Civic’s halogen headlights are encased in a smoked chrome surrounding giving the front of the car a touch of class. Fog lights are an optional extra on the VTi and VTi-L models and standard on the Sport.

Lightweight 16-inch alloy wheels look sporty and fill the Civic VTi-L's wheel arches nicely. While 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on the Civic Sport.

Interior: 3/5

Sitting in the Civic it's very clear that this interior has been designed for optimal comfort and practicality. The sweeping dash with the large windscreen gives the illusion of space in this relatively small car.

Honda's ergonomic seats and multi-tiered dash provide a comfortable and safe driving position. The multi-tiered dashboard has a Multiplex instrument panel, the upper part of the instrument panel displays engine temperature to its left and a fuel indicator to the right - and most importantly vehicle speed. By positioning essential information as high on the dashboard as possible minimises driver eye movements between the road and the display for safer motoring. The digital display is also clear and easy to read in most lighting conditions.

Occupying the lower part of the dash is the large rev meter which takes pride of position behind the adjustable multi-functional steering wheel which houses audio and cruise control buttons.

Back-seat space is more than ample by small-car standards, thanks mostly to the flat floor design, back seat passengers have a good amount of leg room. The boot space is also satisfactory providing a total storage volume of 376-litres. Unlike the VTi , the VTi-L has the flexibility of 60:40 split rear seat which comes in handy when you have a baby seat and need to transporting larger items.

Overall the Civic's interior isn't to bad, everything has a purpose and works well, controls are user friendly and the mono tone colour scheme of the cabin create a clam and comfortable environment.

Overall: 3/5

Most people will find it hard to part with the extra cash for the i-VTEC technology, but why wouldn't you? Honda spends big bucks on research and development making sure you get the most refined and engineered engine on the market. The Civic VTi-L is a good car with hard-to-fault on road dynamics and a spacious interior that can rival most small-cars and even some mid-size cars too.

The Honda Civic should definitely be high on your shopping list. The engine is surprisingly fuel efficient (when driven sensibly), and with a high rev limit it'll even get you going when need be. Combine all that with the Civic's solid feel and quality finish, you might want to take a second look.