Behind the wheel of a winner from Honda

Journalists and Honda Malaysia staff with the 2016 Honda Civic 1.5 litre VTEC model before the test drive to Ko Kha in Thailand.

HONDA Malaysia was eager to let the Malaysian public catch a pre-launch glimpse of its All-New 10th generation 2016 Honda Civic.

So earlier this month, the leading Japanese car manufacturer brought a group of Malaysian journalists to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where the 2016 Honda Civic has already been launched, for a test drive of the futuristic-looking sedan.

The journalists, including three from Sarawak, were given the chance to put the newest edition of the Honda Civic range through its paces from Chiang Mai city centre to Ko Kha, a district in Lampang Province, 98.5km away.

The drive took about an hour and a half along a smooth road. And on the way, we got to see and soak up the scenic landscape of Northern Thailand.

During the test run, I was behind the wheel, feeling rather envious of the standards of the main roads in North Thailand which connect the provinces. They are certainly much better than the roads in Sarawak — which is why I believe the 2,339km Pan Borneo Highway project, linking the two Borneo states, will enhance Sarawakians’ mobility and boost the local economy.

The highway’s long overdue construction, which has already been approved, should be completed as scheduled in 2022.

No more excuses for any further delays.

The 2016 Honda Civic 1.5 litre VTEC engine.

Mostly dual carriageways

The roads linking the provinces in North Thailand are mostly dual carriageways — something East Malaysians have long been wishing for but which have yet to be realised.

Perhaps, the experience of driving the 2016 Honda Civic on a single carriageway in East Malaysia is worth waiting for after all since the sedan is built for Malaysian roads, including those in Sarawak.

Why did Honda Malaysia arrange for Malaysian journalists to try out the 2016 Honda Civic in Thailand?

According to Calvin Arulldas, the Honda Malaysia official who organised the trip, the All-New Honda Civic already on the road in Thailand is closest to the model bound for Malaysia.

“This particular model launched in Thailand is more or less the same as the one earmarked for the Malaysian market — with only a few small add-ons. Moreover, we promise the 2016 Honda Civic will be a significant upgrade to the current Civic model in the country,” he said.

View from the driver’s seat of the 1.8 litre model.

Exceptionally stable

The 2016 Honda Civic is lower and wider — only 1,416mm high, 1,799mm wide and 4,630mm high. With such dimensions, the vehicle is exceptionally stable during acceleration and negotiating corners.

The redesigned pillar also offers an excellent view for the driver as the width of the rear-seat foot space has been increased by 27mm compared to the current model.

“The 2016 Honda Civic has been further improved in terms of body strength and this, coupled with the front MacPherson and rear Multilink suspensions, provide for more comfortable driving.

“To further reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) on the road, a light weight sound-proofing system has been incorporated into the design, including an underbody covering plus a high noise isolation door system,” Calvin explained.

Two variants of the 2016 Honda Civic will be available in Malaysia — the 1.5 litre VTEC model which comes with a turbo-charger, and the 1.8 litre model which has an updated version of the current 1.8 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine.

Honda is also into downsizing of engines and turbo-charging in line with present global trends.

Two engine choices

Under a sporty hood, the 1.5 litre VTEC All-New Honda Civic will come with a choice of two engines for the Malaysian market.

For the first time in Honda Malaysia’s lineup, a brand new 1.5L VTEC turbo-charged engine from Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology will be introduced.

“The engine delivers 173PS and 220Nm of torque which is equivalent to a 2.4L engine performance. It will also be the first engine from Honda to adopt the direct injection system, mated with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to provide fun-to-drive performance without sacrificing fuel efficiency,” Calvin said at a briefing before the drive to Ko Kha.

“As for the 1.8L i-VTEC engine, it produces 141PS, and 174Nm of torque is fitted with CVT for smooth driving. The 1.5L Turbo rides on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels while the 1.8L is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels,” he added.

To enhance driver comfort, the 2016 Honda Civic is equipped with an eight-way driver power seat for all the variants.

Honda’s commitment to providing top class safety features is further emphasised by equipping all the variants with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), ISOFIX and six airbags (Dual Front airbags, Side Curtain airbags and Side airbags).

Honda Malaysia believes the 2016 Honda Civic with its numerous innovative features and fun-to-drive element will appeal to young families, working adults and professionals.

The dynamic, technologically advanced and stylish sedan is now open for booking at all 88 authorised Honda dealers nationwide.

Local customers were able to view the 2016 Honda Civic for the first time in Malaysia at My Auto Fest 2016 from May 20 – 22 at The Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Selangor.

It is learnt the All-New 2016 Honda Civic will be launched in Malaysia in the second quarter of this year.

While in Northern Thailand, the journalists were also taken by Honda Malaysia to sample Thailand’s top cultural attractions, North Thailand cuisine and temples.

A cultural performance at one of Northern Thailand’s cultural centres in Chiang Mai.

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