Frugal Honda Civic is proving it’s a winner

This finely tuned four-cylinder engine features ultra-low emissions, exceptional claimed fuel consumption and ample torque, which is already proving to be a winner on a day-to-day basis.

This particular engine is part of Honda’s Earth Dreams philosophy. This is the philosophy that is being embraced and implemented by Honda going forward and the 1.6 litre i-DTEC is the first product to stem from this. In essence this technology is a quest to balance environmental efficiency with the dynamic performance customers expect of a Honda.

The technical details are: The 1.6 litre i-DTEC engine has a displacement of 1597cc, a compression ratio of 16:1 which produces a decent maximum power output of 88kW at 4 000rpm and healthy maximum torque of 300Nm at 2 000rpm. This is said to realise an average fuel consumption of just 4.1 litres per 100km and a C02 figure of 109g/km.

You also get an all-new lightweight transmission system developed for use with the 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine. This compact manual transmission system is a six-speed unit and is 7kg lighter than the box on the 2.2-litre i-DTEC. This efficiency approach extends to aerodynamic and suspension revisions along with subtle changes to the exterior styling that further reduce aerodynamic drag and improve high-speed stability.

The 1.6 litre i-DTEC is only available in Executive grade so you get as standard leather and heated seats, Bluetooth, dual front, side and curtain air bags, VSA (vehicle stability control) and hill start assist, LED daytime running lights and a reversing camera to go with the normal luxuries like electric windows all round and air-conditioning. All this can be yours for R340 900.

The next instalment in this evaluation is on October 29 and will cover a full road test.