2016 Honda Civic VTi REVIEW | Quality And Solidity… And A Better-Than-Average Driving Feel
IN A MARKET WHERE $19,990 DRIVEAWAY SPECIALS CAN TOP SMALL CAR SALES, HONDA HAS SHIED AWAY FROM BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICING FOR ITS 2016 CIVIC VTi.
Instead of simply being cheap, the Honda Civic goes for a ‘good value’ position. At $23,390 before on-road costs, it offers plenty of features to offset that price including automatic transmission and reversing camera.
The Civic VTi gets by with a carry-over engine from the last generation car, but is larger and fresher inside and feels quite a bit apart from the previous model.
Vehicle Style: Small sedan
Price: $22,390 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 104kW/174Nm 1.8-litre 4cyl petrol | CVT automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 6.4 l/100km | Tested: 8.2 l/100km
OVERVIEW
In previous reviews of the 2016 Honda Civic, TMR has been charmed by Honda’s return to form. This car, innovative and with a premium feel, harkens to the Japanese brand's glory days.
But the Civic VTi tested here differs significantly from the 1.5 litre turbocharged Civic RS. The naturally aspirated 1.8 litre engine under the VTi's bonnet - which comes from the previous model with only minor modifications - is not as engaging and lacks the turbo 'zing' of the 1.5 litre.