Photo: Guido ten Brink / SB-Medien
For the past two generations, the Civic hatchback has been a typically European unit. However, this all-new model looks like something designed for the American market as it makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show.
But that's because it actually is intended for the American market, copying the look of the sedan and coupe models that are sold there. Not that we are complaining, as the old Civic hatch looked like a squashed frog, while this one looks like a WTCC race car without a wing.
Looking from the back, it's almost as if they made the Type R first and forgot to take any of the go-fast bit off. We know about the twin exhaust system from the US market reveal a couple of days ago. It will be available on the Civic Sport, which features an all-new 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engine... all-new for Europe that is.
If the thought of an 182 PS standard Civic sounds revolting, then at least consider that the fuel economy will be much improved over the outgoing 1.8-liter.
Specifically for the European market, Honda has also developed a 1.0-liter turbo engine as well. And yes, it's got only three cylinders, but the 130 horsepower output puts the old 1.4-liter to horrible shame.
Some people say the Civic looks bad, but in person, at the Paris Motor Show... yeah, it's very polarizing. The car is covered in fake air intakes, spoilers and skirts. Not everybody will love the design, but at least it's not as boring as a Golf.
One big area where the new Honda hatchback falls behind its Volkswagen rival is interior build quality. The Golf is four years old already, yet this UK-built model looks like it came from India. However, we think it's almost on par with the Mazda3 and offers a lot more interior space than almost every other rival.
Looking from the back, it's almost as if they made the Type R first and forgot to take any of the go-fast bit off. We know about the twin exhaust system from the US market reveal a couple of days ago. It will be available on the Civic Sport, which features an all-new 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engine... all-new for Europe that is.
If the thought of an 182 PS standard Civic sounds revolting, then at least consider that the fuel economy will be much improved over the outgoing 1.8-liter.
Specifically for the European market, Honda has also developed a 1.0-liter turbo engine as well. And yes, it's got only three cylinders, but the 130 horsepower output puts the old 1.4-liter to horrible shame.
Some people say the Civic looks bad, but in person, at the Paris Motor Show... yeah, it's very polarizing. The car is covered in fake air intakes, spoilers and skirts. Not everybody will love the design, but at least it's not as boring as a Golf.
One big area where the new Honda hatchback falls behind its Volkswagen rival is interior build quality. The Golf is four years old already, yet this UK-built model looks like it came from India. However, we think it's almost on par with the Mazda3 and offers a lot more interior space than almost every other rival.
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