Photo: Honda
If you want to buy the car that everybody else drives, you buy a VW Golf. But if you're into creative design and interesting applications of modern technology, the new Honda Civic is your hatch.
Launched last year across Europe, it picks up from where the successful previews model left off, with even bolder design that would look at home on a concept car.
Honda's Romanian division has just launched the new 1.6 i-DTEC turbocharged diesel engine which we think is the pick of the range. The new engine developed under the Earth Dreams program is the sort of thing you fall in love with over time, using your head instead of your wallet.
Only naturally aspirated petrol engines and a larger 2.2-liter turbo diesel could be found in the Civic range up tip now, improved versions of the ones used by the old model. However, this new unit offers economy figures that could sell the Civic without the dealer having to lift a finger.
The new 1.6-liter turbo diesel was built from the ground up over a period of five years with the European market in mind. It produces 120 PS and 300 Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, emitting only 94 grams per kilometer of CO2, ideal for fleet Romanian buyers who are worried about taxation and unreasonably high gas prices.
Because of the smaller block, this engine is 50 kg lighter than the 2.2-liter unit. This reduced load over the front axle should make the Civic even crisper. Performance figures are also surprisingly good.
For example, a Hyundai i30 1.5 CRDi 128 has more power on paper than the Civic 1.5 i-DTEC, but is actually slower and less economical. The UK-built, Japanese hatchback takes just 10.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. It's no sportscar, but for a 1.6 diesel that's impressive, and so is the top speed of 207 km/h. Yet all that pales in comparison with the economy figures: 4 liters /100 km in the city, 3.6 on the combined cycle, and only 3.3 if you let it stretch its legs on a highway.
Prices in Romania for the new Civic 1.6 i-DTEC 120 MT5 start at €18,588 including 24% VAT for the S model.
Honda's Romanian division has just launched the new 1.6 i-DTEC turbocharged diesel engine which we think is the pick of the range. The new engine developed under the Earth Dreams program is the sort of thing you fall in love with over time, using your head instead of your wallet.
Only naturally aspirated petrol engines and a larger 2.2-liter turbo diesel could be found in the Civic range up tip now, improved versions of the ones used by the old model. However, this new unit offers economy figures that could sell the Civic without the dealer having to lift a finger.
The new 1.6-liter turbo diesel was built from the ground up over a period of five years with the European market in mind. It produces 120 PS and 300 Nm of torque from 2,000rpm, emitting only 94 grams per kilometer of CO2, ideal for fleet Romanian buyers who are worried about taxation and unreasonably high gas prices.
Because of the smaller block, this engine is 50 kg lighter than the 2.2-liter unit. This reduced load over the front axle should make the Civic even crisper. Performance figures are also surprisingly good.
For example, a Hyundai i30 1.5 CRDi 128 has more power on paper than the Civic 1.5 i-DTEC, but is actually slower and less economical. The UK-built, Japanese hatchback takes just 10.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. It's no sportscar, but for a 1.6 diesel that's impressive, and so is the top speed of 207 km/h. Yet all that pales in comparison with the economy figures: 4 liters /100 km in the city, 3.6 on the combined cycle, and only 3.3 if you let it stretch its legs on a highway.
Prices in Romania for the new Civic 1.6 i-DTEC 120 MT5 start at €18,588 including 24% VAT for the S model.
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