Honda Civic offers new experience

New Honda Civic

By Kim Tae-jong

The new Honda Civic made its late Korean debut through the Seoul Motor Show last month, drawing huge attention from local drivers, who have high expectation on the model’s core attributes such as safety, spaciousness and fuel efficiency.

The new model comes with major design upgrades along with various new features, while maintaining the efficiency and value that has made the compact sedan an automotive icon for the past 40 years.

The most impressive change that it has received is its front and rear styling, which gives the sedan a more youthful and sporty feel.

A lower bumper with a horizontal honeycomb mesh grille mated with new fog lights provide a more premium look, and in the back, a rear bumper design, trunk lid and taillights are well balanced to offer a more upscale look.

Inside, drivers can easily notice the extensive refinements in design, which help them feel more spacious and comfortable. It also comes with various convenience features such as upgrade paddle shifters.

Re-tuned steering and suspension sharpen the Civic's handling, accompanied by its 1.8-liter gasoline engine that can generate 139 horsepower. The engine, mated with five-speed automatic transmission, helps drivers to enjoy smooth acceleration, fit for city and highway driving.

A wide range of new countermeasures for noise, vibration and harshness help to reduce road, engine and wind noise in its interior and thus provides a more serene ride and quieter cabin.

The new changes also include some structural modifications, which help improve its safety level. It has additional front end structures designed to help increase occupant protection by dispersing crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes.

In fact, it is the first small car to earn a “Top Safety Pick Plus” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, thanks to a "Good" rating in the new small overlap frontal-impact test that the vehicle's structural changes were intended to address.

Thanks to such upgraded features and new look, the Honda Civic sold over 317,000 in the North American market in 2012 alone, ranking the fifth best-selling car of the year and the best-selling compact in the market.

Despite all the improved features and charms, the model offers value for money.

The Honda Civic has three variations ― the LX, EX and IMA, which are priced at 25.9 million won, 27.90 million won and 36.9 million won.