Civic-minded

It has all the modern trappings yet retains its time-honoured tradition of reliability and safety. Philip Shane checks out the 2009 Honda Civic.

The global credit crunch seems to be the hot topic of discussion these days. With large corporations facing an uncertain future, one would think that the future of the automobile industry is uncertain.

The future of automobiles in my opinion would always be bright. However, the sub categories and segments are what get redefined during such periods of recession. An economic situation such as the one the world is facing right now could be a good test of how badly one needs a car from a certain segment.

Muscle cars which originated in the 1960s with really big engines and lesser kilometres to the gallon were in fashion for quite a while and modern versions are still being produced with passion today. The Europeans and Japanese stepped in and showed everyone that fuel was indeed precious and that vehicles could be optimised to make the best of this non-renewable resource instead of burning it off in the least efficient way. Fuel efficiency became a marketing headline and did contribute to the Japanese taking over the motoring world with their precise and state-of-the-art engineering capabilities.

The fact still remains that during a period of global recession, one tends to swing back to the fact that cars should indeed be reliable after all these years of research. Why would I need to buy a car where the electric systems have still not been perfected to suit the weather and somehow the computer in the dash doesn't seem to understand that it should be helping me out instead of pestering me with what it thinks might go wrong in the next few minutes?

I'm sorry, but I would still prefer my cars to run with the bare necessities if that's what it takes to keep it reliable. I really wouldn't want my car to have a computer that accidentally shuts off the fuel line because it felt that my brakes were a little worn out. I can understand the need for a child lock, but I cannot understand why doors auto-lock above certain speeds. How much should we allow such features to override human instinct and decision making?

What happened to the good old days where one could feel confident about the reliability of one's car and take it on cross-country drives? What has all this electronic intervention led to? Probably just a higher dependency on the after-sales service. Cars in modern times have grown quite dependent on the super computer stashed away in the hood. It has its advantages, but makes the driver less connected to what's happening on the inside. A little less confident of a car's reliability perhaps?

My personal whims and motoring fancies aside, electronic gadgets do sell! The advantages do outweigh the disadvantages. Electronic interfaces are probably what make cars so manoeuvrable these days. The Stability programs in modern cars are so detailed and complicated that they need to instantly react to the road and tyre situations and keep the car in control. The electronic intervention-lacking fish-tailing cars of the past are probably just fantasies that old-timers would like to live with. Who wouldn't want a super-stable car with a speed- sensitive steering and concert-like entertainment inside? A never-ending war between older car lovers and their modern counterparts.

The 2009 Honda Civic however, fits in quite well in most scenarios. It caters to modern tastes, yet retains the old reliability that is expected from this brand. It is a car that no owner would want to part with. It is like something that you would keep as a lucky charm when things got rough. It's something that kept running as you spent time focusing on more important matters. It gets out of your way to actually get you from point A to point B which cars were meant to do in the first place. The new Civics are loaded with a lot of modern gadgetry but something tells you that it is still the same reliable car on the inside.

The steering mounted gear shifters (also called Paddle Shifters) are quite good when it comes to pushing the car around a little bit. The steering wheel itself is well designed and perfectly sized. The speedometer position, cruise control and sunroof enhance the luxury features of this small sporty sedan and add to the overall 'youngster appeal' of the Civic. The VTi model is also equipped with High Intensity Discharge Lights, a feature not very common in this segment.

In-car entertainment has been well thought of. The sound system is compatible with most modern portable audio players and can be connected through the USB slot in the front arm rest. The volume control is speed sensitive and self adjusts depending on speed to maintain a comfortable sound level within the cabin. The storage space in the front armrest can hold up to 27 CDs.

The Civic drives well and feels almost the same as those of the recent past. The seating position and height are the same too. The leather covered seats and lumbar support add to the driving pleasure. The Civic is basically a city car and has been designed for the urban man who needs swift manoeuvrability and minimum parking space. Handling on road was pretty good with the 138 hp produced by this engine. Understeer is something that is quite evident in cars such as the Civic, but that is something I can live with in this price segment. The Vehicle Stability Assist which is part of the VTi / EXi package helps keep the Civic on the road when driving conditions get nasty by continually monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and steering wheel position along with acceleration, braking and cornering loads.

ABS will now be a standard feature on all Civic models in this region. Safety has always been top priority for companies like Honda as is evident from their various models.

The flat rear floor enables three adults to be seated comfortably with enough leg room. Luggage space in the boot was quite reasonable for a car of this size. All these features put together could be just the right combinations that a small family car buyer or a college going youngster would be looking for.

With many competitors in this segment, the Civic stands out in many ways, mainly with its digital dials, its modern interiors a refined engine and good fuel economy. It is a modern car that does what it is expected to do without asking for too much in return.

– Philip Shane is a Dubai-based motorhead.