Introduction
Its been a while since we last had a chat about cars. I don`t have to tell you just exactly what madness there has been since covid to now, but needless to say things are seemingly settling down. not only in my person life, but also in the big wide world.
Thanks to a chance encounter with an oil leak in my trust honda civic ( more on Sherman in another post) I had the opportunity to drive the new Honda Civic RS. What a car! There are a couple of things to highlight first, and then we can dive straight into the moaning session thereafter, with a few things I hope they change before we see the Honda Civic type R 2023.
Exterior Styling
If you had to take a BMW 3 series F 30, and combine some parts and curves from a Jag and Audi, you get close to some of the new design language we have seen coming from Honda of late. What does it take to really and truly evoke emotion in design? What does it take to move brands like Honda to ensure there will still be young adults with spikey hair and hoodies trying to modify their cars to make them faster. Many of the forums and reviews online that are linked to Honda are often dedicated to modification of this brands marques like the Civic. In this case, this car is one of the first that I have actually liked straight off the Bat. I would call the design language a bit more global, than Japanese. The old school design that have been trademarks of most Japanese brands thus far, normally are bad enough to equate instant narcolepsy. I have an old Civic, I know of what I speak.
Interior
As cutting edge as the exterior is, the interior is basic clean modern layout. There is plenty of space. On the day of my test drive around a few bends in Kyalami, I had more than 4 kids in the car, and there were no complaints. More space = less fights. The layout is very simple. Most modern cars are starting to look similar in the interior, including haptic touch sensitive controls for basic stuff like volume and temperature. Thankfully there are still regular buttons and knobs here. Easy to adjust and not too many buttons. (think of every single Maserati from the early 2000`s where buttons came free!).
It has a much better approach to interior design. Thank God. Seems more like a premium euro car, vs the typical functional Japanese design. More like what I have seen in Lexus lately, and less of what I would have seen in a Honda Jazz with interior layouts that look like an old SAA plane grey interior, with gigantic buttons. Much much better Honda, well done.
Engine
Aspirational engine, with dreams of growing up and becoming a Type-R. The response to the pedal was too slow for me, but if you are a normal person driving to work and back, is fine. For someone who spends the entire day driving around, maybe a bit more.
Spec: 131kw/240 nm but remember, this is not a small light car, so keep that in mind.
Price
R 689 100
Im still deciding on whether this price is justified against the quality. Ill update this note later.
Complaints
The hooter sounds like a car made from Pixar or Disney. Sound and feel, makes up 2 of the critical parts of how the car makes you feel. The hooter made me feel like while driving, “This is “not Sparta!”.
Gearbox
The car comes with CVT only. That`s it. If you follow this blog, I probably don`t have to go through CVT, but if you don`t know what it is, I can explain the difference between manual and CVT as two dogs. The manual, means you can change the car as quickly or slowly as you like, this is the jack russell option. The CVT box is basically a pug, and will need to be carried until its ready to go. The changes in the car are smooth, and can be sped up with sport mode, but lets not confuse things here. Theres a reason why older people love Honda, and the CVT transmission is one of them.
Gadgets
There are quite a few electronic toys built into the price of the ultimate RS. I would say that this is also unnecessary. Thinking about the client buying his car, the sunroof is a beautiful option to have, but perhaps lane change assistant is more critical in a country with roads as manic ours. If you live in a small town, with no traffic – great, but in Johannesburg, where I am based, blind spot indicators flashing at you, can save you thousands in potential scrapes at speed. An example. I have a family member who, after surgery, could not move her head behind her shoulder to see the blind spot ( as required by the K53 driving license standard). This is a small thing, but could be a big thing. Depends on you. I think some of the aesthetic options we see in cars now, could be swopped out for safety options as standard, instead of making them optional.
Connectivity
For Apple users – It has wireless Apple CarPlay. Android Auto is included as well.
Handling
Compliant ride. Quite soft, and not going to be unsafe in super bad rain. Driving on the track in Kyalami, super easy turns, just lacking steering feedback you get in more premium brands.
Would I buy it?
Maybe…. I want the type R. But, at the prices that cars are going for lately – I reckon why not? The car is not just well built and stable, it also has a vast array of features that match even more expensive options in this sedan segment. I would not put this car in the class of Toyota Corolla or the i30 Sedan, or Hyundai or Kia. I really do think it stands on its own for drive and price.
The new KIA and Hyundai vehicles coming out, are miles ahead in terms of drive and technology and of course quality. Still, there are some of you out there that will not go near any other brand, other than your Brand, and that is fine.
Go for a test drive yourself.
Make sure to ask for the RS Civic, otherwise you may be enticed by the vast array of newly designed Honda`s, that are starting to also look much much better!
Special thanks:
Honda Sandton (Motus)
About sales oke. Priyen – guy from Durban, with a sparkling personality, and great knowledge and passion for the brand. Go see him and the team at Honda Sandton – Just off William Nicol, next to Toyota and Kia (part of the Motus family.)
Motus Honda Sandton, 3 William Nicol Dr, Bryanston, Sandton, 2191
Directions from a BMW dealer to Honda:
https://goo.gl/maps/nWeBcgLFJVdPEzdAA
Disclaimer:
The views on this blog, are those of the author alone and each one of his multiple personalities. Please don`t sue me or my company, we literally have nothing after Covid. Thanks. Besides, cancel culture is so 2021. Also, no Honda owners were harmed, in the making of this blog. Chav `nice day.
SA BUYERS GUIDE 
Leave a comment