The Honda Civic is a car whose history goes back more than forty years. Having first released the first generation small car of this model back in 1973, the Japanese did not stop in their development for a second and constantly introduced new achievements. Over the years, the Honda Civic enjoyed great success, but real popularity came with the release of the seventh generation in 2001.

The 2001 generation Honda Civic differed from the rest in its rich variety of trim levels. Models with sedan, three- and five-door hatchback, as well as a coupe. All of them were equipped with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines with automatic and mechanical boxes transmission Any buyer had the opportunity to choose exactly what he liked best. In addition, one of the versions of the seventh generation car had hybrid installation, which consisted of a 1.3-liter gasoline engine and a 13-liter electric motor. With. Two years later, Honda decided to further develop this technology and today is one of the world leaders in the production of hybrids.

With the release of the seventh generation, the Honda Civic acquired the features of an elegant city car. Its creators focused on comfortable seating in the cabin - and they did a great job. There is more than enough space for all passengers, the front seats have become noticeably wider and more comfortable. In general, the car has changed its playful sporty character to a more solid one, as befits a native city dweller. Is it good or bad? It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. Honda Civic has simply matured and become different. Even today, in the used car market, Honda Civic price remains at a fairly high level. This suggests that after so many years, the obsolescence of the car occurs very slowly, and its reliability is still at a high level.

This generation was on the assembly line for only 4 years, from 2001 to 2005. But even in such a short period of time, the Japanese managed to carry out a minor restyling in 2004. All updated versions of the Honda Civic have changed front and rear optics, radiator grille and bumper. In the technical characteristics, some changes have been made to the car suspension and steering. In the cabin there are new seat upholstery options and better sound insulation.

The restyling of this car was much more noticeable than was customary for other brands. It became a transitional link in the evolution of the new eighth-generation Honda, which was presented to the public in 2006.

If in the previous series the differences between the different body options of this car were clearly visible, then in the eighth generation of the Honda Civic the sedan and hatchback are simply two completely different cars. A sedan is a representative, comfortable car with classic features, in which you are not embarrassed to drive up to a business meeting and you can feel confident in the traffic flow among other representatives of the automotive industry. The Honda Civic in the body of a five-door hatchback is a sports-futuristic car, behind the wheel of which you will feel constant attention from your neighbors downstream. Large slope windshield and the shape of the body parts ensured excellent aerodynamic properties of the car. Both its appearance and interior design resemble the design of an intergalactic warship. The two-tier instrument panel creates the effect of a starship's command console, and a large number of buttons and controls only enhance this. The salon is designed in modest dark metallic tones, but there is no arguing about its exclusivity. Here, even with a strong desire, it will not be possible to accuse the company of plagiarism. Externally, the small dimensions very successfully hide the truly enormous space inside and a fairly large trunk for this class - 415 liters. Three years after the start of production, this model was awaiting restyling. The changes affected mainly the front part of the cars. The optics and shape have changed front bumper, radiator grille and fog lamp niches. But, just like in the previous generation, these seemingly minor changes gave Honda an even more expressive and memorable appearance. For this eighth-generation Civic model, the price started at 800 thousand rubles.

This Honda Civic existed until 2011, when it was replaced by a new 9th generation car.

In addition to the changed appearance, the new Honda Civic is distinguished by high-quality sound insulation and a modified suspension, which has significantly improved its driving performance. The manufacturers were concerned that already in the database this Japanese car had a full set of all available security systems. This is the system directional stability, and a hill start assist system.

The cost of the Honda Civic in the basic version of the ninth generation starts from 750 thousand rubles. The car is equipped with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine with a power of 142 hp. With. At the request of the client, options with manual or automatic transmissions can be provided to choose from. Thanks to the implementation latest technologies It was possible to significantly reduce fuel consumption, now its average consumption is just over 6 liters. The configurations of the ninth generation Civic are quite varied - there are three to choose from: Elegance, Lifestyle or Premium. Any of these trim levels has the ECO-Assist system. Thanks to its prompts, the driver is able to choose the optimal travel mode, in which the amount of fuel consumed would be the least.

Some car critics added a fly in the ointment to the description of the appearance of this model. They compared her design with, and many others modern cars. But they all did not take into account one small nuance: such diversity design solutions, which can be traced throughout the entire forty-year history of this model, is not found in any other brand. The modern Honda Civic has a name price that is much higher than most of them.

The new generation Civic retains the same space design theme in the interior design as its predecessor. And indeed: why reinvent the wheel when the road to the client’s heart has already seemingly been found. But the market is an unpredictable thing, despite all these tricks, the sales level of the ninth generation Honda Civic clearly did not break records. Moreover, the number of cars sold worldwide did not inspire optimism for the further development of the model. The authors had to take urgent measures. So, in 2013, this generation was not spared restyling, which has already become the rule for promoting cars of the Japanese company.

Changes in the appearance of the restyled model were most evident on its rear part. The lights, bumper and trunk lid have changed their shape. All these changes made the model very similar to.

The front has also changed in the same style: the radiator grille has become more aggressive, the shape of the bumper has changed. Such, at first glance, minor changes introduced mischievous notes into the appearance of the Civic. But the most important thing was that as much as the new generation Honda Civic costs, it cost the same in the pre-restyling version.

As for the differences in the car's interior, they are minimal. The only difference is that the design of the center console is slightly different. But the quality of the finishing materials has clearly improved; the plastic even feels much nicer to the touch. In addition, elegant aluminum and dark wood inserts were added. These innovations significantly increased the “class” of the car.

Today, in order to truly understand how much a Civic costs, you need to spend some time behind the wheel. Only then does one realize that the price is not so significant compared to the pleasure that can be obtained from driving this car.

During all this time Honda release The Civic has actually changed many times. And each time these changes rekindled interest on the part of car enthusiasts that had not yet faded away. The key to the company's success was a quick reaction to the slightest changes in the market, which were immediately reflected in the next restyling or release of a new generation.

The modern Civic is exotic, because few people like the idea of ​​buying a C-class car for the price of a business sedan. But the previous generation model was in enviable demand, although it had a number of unpleasant weak points. Let's figure out where to look for the catch.

A little history

The eighth-generation Civic is two in one. Well, tell me, where else can I find a model in which the sedan and hatchback are so different from each other? This dissimilarity is explained by the fact that the design of the sedan and hatchback was created by different designers - Motoaki Minova and Manabu Konaka, respectively. Both of them finished their work in 2003, but body modifications entered the assembly line only in 2005.

Of course, the “five-door” has a more futuristic appearance and, compared to its strict European classmates, seems like just a spaceship. The sedan also smells of Japanese high-tech much stronger than its rivals, but next to the hatchback it looks much softer and less aggressive.

Versions of the model were assembled all over the world; in total, a dozen and a half factories were involved. A hatchback with the factory designation 5D was brought to us from a factory in England, and sedans came from Japan until 2008, after which the “four-door” settled on Turkish shores.

The cars had quite a few engines, but only two of them were officially supplied to Russia - a 1.8-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 140 “horses”, equipped with a manual or robotic gearbox. The alternative 2-liter unit was installed only on the “charged” version of the hatchback with three doors and the Type-R index. It came complete with a non-alternative “mechanics”.

It is also necessary to mention hybrids equipped with a 1.3-liter engine and an electrical system paired with a CVT, which were imported to our country mainly from the USA. Plus, a very small number of hatchbacks with a 2.2 liter diesel engine came to us from Europe.

Offers on the market

There are a lot of cars on the secondary market. Prices for the eighth generation start at just over three hundred thousand rubles and end at eight hundred thousand rubles. Now the new generation costs from a million rubles.

Just over 70% of the cars on the market are sedans, the rest, as you might guess, are hatchbacks. Of these, about 75% are equipped with an automatic transmission. And by the way, hybrids (surprisingly) are rare on the market - every tenth car! There are only a few “charged” Type-R units throughout the country, and even fewer diesel engines from Europe.

Average prices for Honda Civic

Engine

The main unit with a volume of 1.8 liters (R18A2) can withstand up to 250,000 km “in the light”. There are no turbines or complex injection systems here, the Japanese did not remove excessive power from it, and its settings are frankly not driver-specific.

The timing chain and attachment belt do not have replacement regulations, but, according to the mechanics, you need to worry about this closer to 200,000 km and 150,000 km, respectively.

But official dealers require spark plugs to be changed every 15,000 km. There is a way out to avoid replacing more often than 120,000 km: install more expensive iridium ones.

But check whether your car has undergone a series of service promotions. On some examples, the water pump pulley bolts were replaced free of charge, and on sedans produced in Turkey in 2008–2009, the main cooling radiators were replaced at the manufacturer’s expense.

Call any dealer and they will use your VIN number to tell you if your car needs any service. Dealers do not have reliable statistics on other engines due to their low prevalence. Type-R and diesel are not often found on our roads, and hybrids are rarely serviced by dealers, since they were not officially sold here and the craftsmen have no experience working with them.

Silence is rarely demanded from a sports car, but the 2.0-liter 201-horsepower unit is “noisy” even up to 3,000 rpm, when there is neither the opportunity nor the desire to drive. The Type-R quickly makes it clear that the first- not true, but the secondnot for long- the passenger will instantly begin to feel seasick.

website, 2007

Transmission

The clutch in the manual transmission is quite durable, 150,000 km for the discs and basket with careful driving is not the limit. In manual transmissions, oil changes are required every 60,000 km. In rare cases, cars before 2009 experienced shaking when engaging first gear. A design flaw, as the company explains. But these are trifles; the automatic transmission has much more problems.

Honda preferred robotic “mechanics” to classic “hydromechanics”, with the same gearbox and friction clutch, but with electronic unit controls and actuators. To keep the clutch discs intact for 100,000 km, at a traffic light you must remember to switch the selector to the neutral position. Those who neglected it simple rule, in some cases they could “kill” the box even 10,000 km away - there were precedents. Yes, by the way, the oil in the “robot” needs to be changed at least once every 45,000 km.

Due to the rigid suspension on the Type-R, which does not allow either longitudinal or lateral swings, even the driver begins to feel motion sick. The ragged rhythm of movement especially emphasizes the lack of smoothness. When adjusting the suspension, Honda engineers didn’t even think about it...

website, 2007

Suspension

The rear suspension of the sedan and the hatchback differ as radically as their appearance. At the front, both of them have wheels suspended on McPherson, but at the back the sedan has a multi-link, and the hatch has an elastic beam. There are problems with this beam: the metal is surprisingly soft and bends easily, so a small hit from a stone from the road - and the expensive part will need to be replaced. However, it can be corrected at non-branded service stations.

There is also a problem with another expensive component - the electric power steering rack. Very often it starts knocking, but even during the warranty period the owners were refused replacement or repair - a design feature, dealers assured. The specification specifies permissible backlashes that do not affect safety or control. But it is imperative to diagnose the rack, because a new one costs truly astronomical money.

If when you turn the steering wheel you hear not a knock, but a creaking sound, it’s time to change it. support bearings. Most often, this should be done at approximately 80,000 km. The lower arm in the front suspension can withstand the same amount.

But not everything is so sad under the bottom: the shock absorbers, for example, are extremely reliable. They can withstand 150,000 – 200,000 km on normal roads with flying colors. Brake pads are changed approximately every 30,000 km, and brake discs- every 60,000 km.

Body and interior

Civic interior- like the scenery from a science fiction film about alien invaders. But the one who is at the helm of the Civic does not need to have a dozen tentacles or perfect telekinesis: Honda designers made sure that everything the pilot needs is within half-bent arm's distance of him.

website, 2007

Electrical equipment

Electrically, the Civic's main drawback is its weak standard battery. Its lifespan averages about two years. It fails especially often in winter. There have been cases when, in cold weather, after starting the engine, the owners turned on the interior heaters, all external and external lighting devices to maximum, and the car instantly “drank up” the entire battery and simply stalled out of the blue. Therefore, advice: if the previous owner did not replace the battery with a new one, severe frost, after starting, do not turn on all lighting and heating devices at once, but gradually, as the engine warms up.

Troubles include the wipers, which can freeze in absolutely any position during operation. The oxidized contacts on the wiper motor are to blame. The problem can be solved either by replacing the motor (which is most often suggested by dealers) or by cleaning the contacts (which can be done at any service center).

Maintenance costs from official dealers

We calculate the costs of undergoing technical inspection at dealers for a 1.8 liter engine.

Maintenance regulations- every 15,000 km or 1 year.

Mileage	List of works	Cost of work and spare parts, rub.
TO-1 15,000km		7 800
TO-2 30,000km	Oil change and oil filter, replacing the air filter and spark plugs	12 700
TO-3 45,000km	Changing the oil and oil filter, replacing spark plugs, brake fluid and oil in the “robot”	14 100
TO-4 60,000km	Changing the oil and oil filter, replacing the air filter and spark plugs, changing the oil in the manual transmission	16 000
TO-5 75,000km	Changing the oil and oil filter, replacing spark plugs	7 800
TO-6 90,000km	Changing the oil and oil filter, replacing the air and fuel filters, replacing spark plugs, brake fluid and oil in the “robot”	26 900

And don’t forget that dealers offer discounts on work for out-of-warranty machines in the amount of 25-40% and 10-15% on spare parts.

Prices for some spare parts

Debut of new generation Civic The 5D took place at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the fall of 2011. Russian sales started in the spring of 2012. “The new product has retained the sporty character of its predecessor, but at the same time has acquired even greater dynamics and elegance,” notes the automaker. According to him, the company took 4 years to develop a new Civic model.

Nearly every component used to create the Civic was either entirely new or redesigned, with a focus on styling, suspension, interior materials, new exterior styling and aerodynamics, and the engine.

The Civic hatchback offered in Russia is available in three trim levels: Lifestyle, Executive and Premium. Already in the basic configuration, the car has light alloy wheels, 205/55R16 tires, heated mirrors and front seats, and climate control. The upholstery is fabric. Multifunctional steering wheel Adjustable for both inclination and reach. According to the manufacturer, the car's interior has been modified "to make the driver the center of it." Key traffic information is displayed right in front of the driver's eyes for quick and safe reading. The Multi Information Display (i-MID) provides additional information. Rain and light sensors, cruise control, a folding side mirror mechanism, and dual-zone climate control are available as options for the Civic 5D. In the top Premium version, the car is given a special chic by a leather interior (the steering wheel and gear lever are also covered in leather), tinted windows, and a panoramic roof. This also includes an intelligent entry and start system, which allows the driver to close and open the doors, as well as start the engine without removing the key from his pocket or bag, bi-xenon headlights with auto-leveling, Bluetooth Hands Free. The trunk is quite decent in size (477 liters); by folding the rear row, it can be increased to 1210 liters - and the “Magic Seats” can be folded in different configurations.

The car is equipped with a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine with an Econ system with a power of 142 hp, which (depending on the type of gearbox - automatic or manual) consumes a minimum of 4.9-5 liters of fuel per 100 km in the extra-urban cycle and 5.8-6.3 liters in mixed mode. In the city, fuel consumption increases to 7.3-8.7 liters. The layout of the hatchback remains the same, in which fuel tank moved to the center of the body, while its 50 liters, taking into account the efficiency of the car, is enough for a decent power reserve. Additional fuel savings, by the way, are ensured by excellent aerodynamics - the coefficient is 0.27. This is one of the most aerodynamic cars in its class.

The hatchback's suspension remains structurally unchanged - here, like the previous generation, there is a MacPherson strut at the front and semi-independent suspension ( torsion beam) behind. However, the design has been improved, in particular the rigidity of the rear beam has been increased. Another one unique feature rear suspension - the use of fluid-filled stabilizer bushings, instead of the usual rubber bushings. This is done to ensure comfortable movement without loss of controllability. In general, the manufacturer states that to achieve its driving performance, the Civic underwent complex testing, passing British roads about 35,000 km. It is clear that domestic buyers should be prepared for increased “stiffness” of the nature of the suspension.

The new Civic comes equipped with a full suite of safety systems as standard. This is an extended list of active equipment: ABS (anti-lock braking system), VSA (dynamic stabilization), Adaptive EPS (adaptive electric power steering), HSA (hill start assist), DWS (tire pressure monitoring). In addition, the Civic is equipped wide range airbags, including side and curtain airbags, as well as active head restraints. Thanks to its safe body design, the Civic 5D received excellent results in crash tests.

A five-door hatchback, despite its price, may seem more interesting and advantageous to some than a sedan, at least due to its more practical interior. And the semi-independent suspension that appeared on the hatchback in the last generation, as it turned out, is by no means a death sentence. At the same time, the utilitarianism inherent in many 5-door brothers is not here. The new Civic boasts a modern design that has become... further development revolutionary transformation of the previous generation, high level of comfort and sound insulation.

The first Civic left the production line in 1972. Two years earlier, the Clean Air Act was first passed in the United States, and a year later the oil crisis broke out. Under these conditions, a small front-wheel drive car with economical engine was doomed to success.

It was produced in 3-door, 5-door versions, as well as a station wagon for the US market (Wagon). The 3-door was first equipped with a 1.2 liter carburetor engine producing 54 hp. and, later, 60 hp. The 5-door Civic received a 1.5 l/69 hp engine.
In 1973, the Honda Civic took third place in the prestigious European Car of the Year competition, and a year later became the best imported car in USA.
Since 1974, the Civic began to be equipped with CVCC series engines, the main feature of which was pre-chamber ignition, which allowed the engine to run on a lean mixture, and, consequently, reduced the content in the exhaust harmful substances and improved efficiency.
As a result, the Civic was the first car positioned by Honda as a "mass vehicle" and became Honda's first serious claim to affiliation with the key car manufacturers of the world. Subsequently, the Civic, although not possessing outstanding qualities, quickly acquired the status of a reliable and unpretentious car.
In 1979, the second generation of the Honda Civic model appeared, and a year later, CVCC II engines began to be installed on these cars, which simultaneously increased efficiency and power. We didn't have to wait long for the next update.
In 1983, a new Civic family was born. Along with traditional sedans and hatchbacks, buyers were offered the CRX sports modification for the first time.










The fourth generation of the popular small car was shown to the public in 1987. This year was significant for Honda with the victory of the Williams-Honda team in the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship. The mass consumer got from formula technologies independent suspension all wheels and a new 16-valve engine.










In 1991, the next, already fifth, Civic family with modern smooth body contours debuted. The fifth generation Honda Civic is either a three-door hatchback with a spectacularly trimmed short trunk, or a sedan (and with a longer wheelbase compared to the hatchback), or two-door coupe For American market. The interior is simple and laconic. Quite comfortable chairs, very low seating. The rear is quite spacious; the seat folds down for cars with all types of bodies. Wheelbase Civic sedans V was 50 mm longer than hatchbacks.










The engines are exclusively sixteen-valve and, regardless of power and displacement (1300, 1500 or 1600 cc), have a “trademark” pleasant revival after 4500 rpm. Even the “basic” 1.3 liter carburetor with one camshaft is characterized by good elasticity and quite decent traction.

In 1995, a major modernization also took place, as a result of which the aggressive-looking four-door sedan and three-door hatchback of the sixth generation were introduced to the automotive world. These cars differed from the previous generation with large almond-shaped head optics.
The sixth generation Honda Civic Coupe differs in appearance from the fifth generation coupe in the shape of headlights, bumpers and a false radiator grille.










But at the same time, another Civic was also produced during the “reporting period” - the so-called English one. When fifth-generation cars were discontinued in 1995, the British did not want to part with them and, after modernization, began producing the “fifth and a half” Civic in parallel with the “sixth”! Moreover, the English Civic differed from the two “system” generations both in body type and interior.
The Honda Civic of the 90s was equipped with complex suspensions: double wishbones at the front and multi-link at the rear. Unlike cars with 1.3-1.5 liter engines, more powerful 1600 cc versions had a rear stabilizer lateral stability(a front stabilizer is found on all cars) and stiffer springs and shock absorbers.

In 2000, a new, seventh generation of Civic cars was introduced, awarded the title “Japanese Car of the Year 2001”. The model has an elegant appearance, as well as a spacious and comfortable interior. A luxury modification of the Civic - Honda Domani with a five-door hatchback body - is sold only in the Japanese market.










The external design is distinguished by integrity and refinement of forms: a wedge-shaped body, a characteristic radiator grille, large convex headlights, and a striking rear part of the body. The seventh generation Honda Civic is distinguished by the high quality of finishing and fit of the panels; the gaps have become half as large and in some cases reduced to almost zero. To increase the interior space while maintaining compact dimensions, the body is equipped with a shortened front overhang, a smaller engine compartment and a raised steering gear. By moving the exhaust system resonator to back body designers managed to make the floor in the cabin absolutely flat, which did not affect noise and vibration insulation.

The model is equipped with: airbags, impact beams in the doors. With the aim of maximum protection The body is galvanized on both sides, the bottom is treated with an indelible mastic coating.

To please customers, the shape of the front seats has been changed: they have become noticeably wider, more spacious, and the side support bolsters are not so expressive, but very comfortable. And in general, almost everything in this car can be safely described in one word: convenient.

There are two engines available for sedans. One is 1.4 liter with a capacity of 90 hp, the other is 110 hp with a capacity of 1.6 liter. Both units are 16-valve, but if the first one uses one camshaft, then more powerful engine- with a twin-shaft head, and with a variable valve timing system VTEC II.

Honda Civic Type R entered the Japanese market in 2001. The car was equipped with a four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC VTEC K20A with a power of 215 hp. With. His full mass 1190 kg. The Civic Type R is equipped with 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, two airbags, ABS, power steering, spoiler, additional brake light and electric mirrors.

Since the beginning of 2002 it began to be produced new option A Honda Civic Type R car for the European market, based on the 7th generation three-door Civic 3 Door. The power of the two-liter i-VTEC engine installed on it is 200 hp. With, maximum speed 235 km/h, acceleration to hundreds in 6.8 seconds, vehicle weight 1270 kg. Spoilers integrated into the bumpers and trunk door and specially profiled false thresholds help to press the Honda Civic Type-R to the road surface.

Low profile tires Bridgestone RE040 (205/45) are mounted on 17-inch light-alloy wheels with seven double spokes, the gaps between which reveal impressive brake discs (300 and 260 mm in diameter respectively) on both axles. Gearbox - manual 6-speed.

When choosing a Civic Type R, a European car enthusiast should be prepared for the lack of electric seat adjustments, a sunroof, cruise control and side airbags. Power take-off air conditioning is only found in the options list. The audio system and rear headrests are also included there for the sake of weight savings.
Compensation for all the deprivations of automotive civilization are: bucket seats, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, a gear lever with a titanium-cast knob and instruments with a silver-white dial. On request, you can complete the picture with sports five-point seat belts.

All this racing paraphernalia does not prevent the Honda Civic Type-R from remaining a full-fledged 4-seater car. The cabin with a flat floor is so spacious that increasing the size of the front seats does not at all constrain the rear passengers. They just need to learn one simple rule: always enter/exit through the right door.
Civic production volume in 2002 amounted to about 600 thousand cars.

In January 2004, the Type R produced at the factory Honda Motor Co. in England for Japanese market received new headlights, new taillights, a new front bumper shape and changes to the interior.








We also note that there is also a racing version of the Honda Civic Type R. It has some differences from the production model. For example, Dunlop tires SP Sport ("slick" or "rain" tread pattern) 200/580 R15 have a smaller outer diameter, which makes it possible to better realize the traction force that is so important in road racing without modifying the gearbox. Under the bottom of the car there is a protected gas tank enclosed in an aluminum shell and a “direct flow” exhaust system made of stainless steel with a “single-barrel” pipe, which helps increase the power of the engine running on 98-octane gasoline. Together with reshaped camshafts, an air filter with increased capacity and a new control processor, this provides an increase of 20 “horses”, which translates into an additional 15 km/h of top speed.

The two-liter “four” also received an aluminum sump with a system that prevents the outflow of oil from the crankshaft during strong lateral accelerations in turns. A worm-type self-locking differential will also help the racing Honda Civic Type-R not to lose speed when cornering. In case of slipping of the unloaded drive wheel, it will prevent loss of torque on the other one. At the same time, such a differential (unlike a “professional” disc differential) does not require frequent adjustments and forgives the driver for control errors.

The stability and maneuverability of a car can also be improved by replacing engine mounts, silent suspension blocks and anti-roll bars with stiffer ones. The camber of the wheels is made negative (“house”) to increase the contact area of ​​the loaded tire when turning, and the ground clearance is reduced to 70 mm by installing a set of springs and adjustable shock absorbers from the German company KW. Alterations brake system limited to replacing pads and brake fluid with special racing ones.

Refinement of the Honda Civic Type-R interior turns it into a spartan single-seat cockpit. A powerful safety cage made of chrome-silver pipes, a three-spoke MOMO steering wheel, a Konig carbon bucket seat with a five-point seat belt and a complete lack of soundproofing materials.

Initially, only the Suzuka plant in Japan was producing the Civic; now this car is produced in 11 countries around the world. The largest number of Civics are produced at the Swindon plant in the UK.

4-door sedans are assembled in Japan, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines. 5-door hatchbacks are produced by the Suzuka and Swindon factories, and the Wiltshire plant is the only one that assembles the popular three-door version.

In 2005, Honda began production of the new generation Civic at its UK plant in Swindon, Wiltshire. And at the end of September of the same year, the last legendary Civic Type R, which was not made anywhere else in the world, rolled off the assembly line of this plant. Since 2001, 35,000 of these cars have been produced.




















The production version of the latest generation Civic was preceded by the appearance Honda coupe Civic Si Concept at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2005. Then, in March, at the Geneva Auto Show, the 5-door Honda Civic Concept, designed for the European market, was presented to the public.

The latest generation of front-wheel drive Honda Civic cars are distinguished by their original internal layout, which ensures they are a leader in their class in terms of interior spaciousness. Cars are produced in three body types: 3 and 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan and two-door coupe.

The cars are equipped with 1.4 and 1.6 liter petrol engines and a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The new and improved 1.6-liter petrol engine is equipped with a VTEC variable valve timing system, which increases its power to 110 hp.

At the same time, the engine has lighter weight and compact dimensions, greater environmental friendliness and efficiency. Improved low- and mid-range torque results in greater flexibility and superior engine performance. For the first time, mass-produced vehicles intended for the European market are equipped with electric steering, which provides an advantage in terms of smoother operation.

The car is distinguished by high quality finishing and fit of panels. To increase the interior while maintaining compact body dimensions, engineers Honda company developed a new body concept “with a short hood and a flat floor.”

The first Civic left the production line in 1972. Two years earlier, the Clean Air Act was first passed in the United States, and a year later the oil crisis broke out. Under these conditions, a small front-wheel drive AW car with an economical engine was doomed to success.

It was produced in 3-door, 5-door versions, as well as a station wagon for the US market (Wagon). The 3-door was first equipped with a 1.2 liter carburetor engine producing 54 hp. and, later, 60 hp. The 5-door Civic received a 1.5 l/69 hp engine.

In 1973, the Honda Civic took third place in the prestigious European Car of the Year competition, and a year later became the best imported AW car in the United States.

Since 1974, the Civic began to be equipped with CVCC series engines, the main feature of which was pre-chamber ignition, which allowed the engine to run on a lean mixture, and, therefore, reduced the content of harmful substances in the exhaust and improved efficiency.

As a result, the Civic was the first AW car positioned by Honda as a "mass vehicle" and became Honda's first serious claim to affiliation with the key AW car manufacturers of the world. Subsequently, the Civic, without having outstanding qualities, quickly acquired the status of a reliable and unpretentious AW car.

In 1979, the second generation of the Honda Civic model appeared, and a year later, CVCC II engines began to be installed on these AW vehicles, which simultaneously increased efficiency and power. We didn't have to wait long for the next update.

In 1983, a new Civic family was born. Along with traditional sedans and hatchbacks, buyers were offered the CRX sports modification for the first time.

The fourth generation of the popular small car was shown to the public in 1987. This year was significant for Honda with the victory of the Williams-Honda team in the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship. The mass consumer received independent suspension on all wheels and a new 16-valve engine from formula technology.

In 1991, the next, already fifth, Civic family with modern smooth body contours debuted. The fifth generation Honda Civic is either a three-door hatchback with a spectacularly cropped short trunk, or a sedan (with a longer wheelbase than the hatchback), or a two-door coupe for the American market.

The interior is simple and laconic. Quite comfortable chairs, very low seating. The rear is quite spacious; the seat folds down for AW vehicles with all types of bodies. The wheelbase of Civic V sedans was 50 mm longer than that of hatchbacks.

The engines are exclusively sixteen-valve and, regardless of power and displacement (1300, 1500 or 1600 cc), have a “trademark” pleasant revival after 4500 rpm. Even the “basic” 1.3 liter carburetor with one camshaft is characterized by good elasticity and quite decent traction.

In 1995, a major modernization also took place, as a result of which the AW automobile world was presented with an aggressive-looking four-door sedan and a three-door hatchback of the sixth generation. These AW vehicles differed from the previous generation with large almond-shaped head optics.

The sixth generation Honda Civic Coupe differs in appearance from the fifth generation coupe in the shape of headlights, bumpers and a false radiator grille. But at the same time, another Civic was also produced during the “reporting period” - the so-called English one.

When fifth-generation cars were discontinued in 1995, the British did not want to part with them and, after modernization, began producing the “fifth and a half” Civic in parallel with the “sixth”! Moreover, the English Civic differed from the two “system” generations both in body type and interior.

The Honda Civic of the 90s was equipped with complex suspensions: double wishbones at the front and multi-link at the rear. Unlike cars with 1.3-1.5 liter engines, more powerful 1600 cc versions had a rear anti-roll bar (all AW cars have a front stabilizer) and stiffer springs and shock absorbers.

In 2000, the new, seventh generation of AW Civic cars was introduced, awarded the title “Japanese AW Car of the Year 2001”. The model has an elegant appearance, as well as a spacious and comfortable interior. A luxury modification of the Civic - Honda Domani with a five-door hatchback body - is sold only in the Japanese market.

The external design is distinguished by integrity and refinement of forms: a wedge-shaped body, a characteristic radiator grille, large convex headlights, and a striking rear part of the body. The seventh generation Honda Civic is distinguished by the high quality of finishing and fit of the panels; the gaps have become half as large and in some cases reduced to almost zero.

To increase the interior space while maintaining compact dimensions, the body is equipped with a shortened front overhang, a smaller engine compartment and a raised steering gear. By moving the exhaust system resonator to the rear of the body, the designers managed to make the floor in the cabin absolutely flat, which did not affect noise and vibration insulation.

The model is equipped with: airbags, impact beams in the doors. For maximum protection, the body is galvanized on both sides, and the bottom is treated with an indelible mastic coating.

To please customers, the shape of the front seats has been changed: they have become noticeably wider, more spacious, and the side support bolsters are not so expressive, but very comfortable. And in general, almost everything in this AW car can be safely described in one word: convenient.

There are two engines available for sedans. One is 1.4 liter with a capacity of 90 hp, the other is 110 hp with a capacity of 1.6 liter. Both units are 16-valve, but if the first uses a single camshaft, the more powerful engine has a twin-shaft head, and with a variable valve timing system VTEC II.

Honda Civic Type R appeared on the Japanese market in 2001. The car was equipped with a four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC VTEC K20A with a power of 215 hp. With. Its total weight is 1190 kg. The Civic Type R is equipped with 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, two airbags, ABS, power steering, a spoiler, an additional brake light and electric mirrors.

Since the beginning of 2002, a new AW version of the Honda Civic Type R car began to be produced for the European market, based on the 7th generation three-door Civic 3 Door. The power of the two-liter i-VTEC engine installed on it is 200 hp. s, maximum speed 235 km/h, acceleration to hundreds in 6.8 seconds, AW vehicle weight 1270 kg. Spoilers integrated into the bumpers and trunk door and specially profiled false thresholds help to press the Honda Civic Type-R to the road surface.

Low-profile Bridgestone RE040 tires (205/45) are mounted on 17-inch light-alloy wheels with seven double spokes, the gaps between which reveal impressive brake discs (300 and 260 mm in diameter, respectively) on both axles. Gearbox - manual 6-speed.

When choosing a Civic Type R, a European AW enthusiast should be prepared for the lack of electric seat adjustments, a sunroof, cruise control and side airbags. Power take-off air conditioning is only found in the options list. For the sake of weight savings, the audio system and rear headrests are also included there.

Compensation for all the deprivations of the AW automobile civilization are: bucket seats, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, a gear lever with a titanium-cast knob and instruments with a silver-white dial. On request, you can complete the picture with sports five-point seat belts.

All this racing paraphernalia does not prevent the Honda Civic Type-R from remaining a full-fledged 4-seater AW car. The cabin with a flat floor is so spacious that increasing the size of the front seats does not at all constrain the rear passengers. They just need to learn one simple rule: always enter/exit through the right door.
Civic production volume in 2002 amounted to about 600 thousand AW vehicles.

In January 2004, the Type R was produced at the Honda Motor Co. plant. in England for the Japanese market received new headlights, new taillights, a new front bumper shape and changes to the interior.

We also note that there is also a racing version of the Honda Civic Type R. It has some differences from the production model. For example, Dunlop SP Sport tires ("slick" or with a "rain" tread pattern) 200/580 R15 have a smaller outer diameter, which makes it possible to better realize the traction force that is so important in road racing without modifying the gearbox.

Under the bottom of the AW car there is a protected gas tank enclosed in an aluminum shell and a “direct-flow” exhaust system made of stainless steel with a “single-barrel” pipe, which helps to increase the power of the engine running on 98-octane gasoline.

Together with reshaped camshafts, an air filter with increased capacity and a new control processor, this provides an increase of 20 “horses”, which translates into an additional 15 km/h of top speed.

The two-liter “four” also received an aluminum sump with a system that prevents the outflow of oil from the crankshaft during strong lateral accelerations in turns. A worm-type self-locking differential will also help the racing Honda Civic Type-R not to lose speed when cornering.

In case of slipping of the unloaded drive wheel, it will prevent loss of torque on the other one. At the same time, such a differential (unlike a “professional” disc differential) does not require frequent adjustments and forgives the driver for control errors.

Increasing the stability and maneuverability of an AW vehicle is also facilitated by replacing engine mounts, silent suspension blocks and anti-roll bars with stiffer ones. The camber of the wheels is made negative (“house”) to increase the contact area of ​​the loaded tire when turning, and the ground clearance is reduced to 70 mm by installing a set of springs and adjustable shock absorbers from the German company KW. Alterations to the brake system are limited to replacing the pads and brake fluid with special racing ones.

Refinement of the Honda Civic Type-R interior turns it into a spartan single-seat cockpit. A powerful safety frame made of chrome-silver pipes, a three-spoke MOMO steering wheel, a Konig carbon bucket seat with a five-point seat belt and a complete absence of soundproofing materials.

Initially, only the Suzuka plant in Japan was involved in the production of the Civic; now this AW car is produced in 11 countries around the world. The largest number of Civics are produced at the Swindon plant in the UK.

4-door sedans are assembled in Japan, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines. 5-door hatchbacks are produced by the Suzuka and Swindon factories, and the Wiltshire plant is the only one that assembles the popular three-door version.

In 2005, Honda began production of the new generation Civic at its UK plant in Swindon, Wiltshire. And at the end of September of the same year, the last legendary Civic Type R, which was not made anywhere else in the world, rolled off the assembly line of this plant. Since 2001, 35,000 of these AW vehicles have been produced.

The production version of the latest generation Civic was preceded by the appearance of the Honda Civic Si Concept coupe at the Chicago AW Auto Show in February 2005. Then, in March, at the Geneva AW Motor Show, the 5-door AW Honda Civic Concept, designed for the European market, was presented to the public.

The latest generation Honda Civic family of front-wheel drive AW vehicles is distinguished by its original internal layout, which ensures that they are a leader in their class in terms of interior spaciousness. Cars are produced in three body types: 3 and 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan and two-door coupe.

AW vehicles are equipped with 1.4 and 1.6 liter petrol engines, a 5-speed manual or AW automatic 4-speed gearbox. The new and improved 1.6-liter petrol engine is equipped with a VTEC variable valve timing system, which increases its power to 110 hp.

At the same time, the engine has lighter weight and compact dimensions, greater environmental friendliness and efficiency. Improved low- and mid-range torque results in greater flexibility and superior engine performance. For the first time, mass-produced AW vehicles intended for the European market are equipped with electric steering, which provides an advantage in terms of smoother operation.

The car is distinguished by high quality finishing and fit of panels. To increase interior space while maintaining compact body dimensions, Honda engineers developed a new body concept “with a short hood and a flat floor.”

The ninth generation of the Honda Civic hatchback was first presented at the AW Motor Show in Frankfurt in the fall of 2011. The silhouette of the AW car has become more dynamic and streamlined, the length of the hatchback has increased by 5 cm, the width by 1 cm, and the height decreased by 2 cm.

Honda Civic is available with three types of engines: gasoline engines volumes of 1.4 l and 1.8 l and a diesel engine of 2.2 l. All engines are equipped with 6-speed manual transmission, ECO Assist function. They are also equipped with Hill Start Assist, which makes driving up an incline easier. The 1.8 liter engine can be coupled with a 5-speed AW automatic transmission. All engines comply with Euro 5 environmental requirements, the diesel model produces only 110 g/km CO2 with a power of 150 hp. and 350 Nm of torque.

Honda Civic. FILIGREE TECHNOLOGY
Yuri NECHETOV
Behind the wheel No. 1 1997

There are several AW car companies in the world, even their “family” models are traditionally distinguished by a sporty image. In Italy it is Alfa Romeo, in Germany it is BMW, in Japan it is Honda. We decided to find out how justified this opinion is.

"Civic" is the most popular model of the Honda Motor concern: since 1972, more than 10 million cars have been sold around the world. In 1991, the family experienced a model change, and already at the end of 1995 it was thoroughly modernized. The Civic is produced in four body styles: three- and five-door hatchback, coupe and four-door sedan. Highly accelerated engines with a displacement of 1.4; 1.5; 1.6 l in combination with a manual or AW automatic transmission, as well as a continuously variable variator. Drive - front-wheel drive or permanent all-wheel drive.

So, on the editorial test - a four-door sedan "Honda Civic-1.5iLS" in a fairly rich configuration - with ABS, two airbags, air conditioning, a sunroof, electric mirrors, a radio and a "branded" alarm system. The cost of a customs cleared car in Moscow is $24,800.

Body - 4.3 points. The most striking element in the appearance of the 1996 Civic is the huge big-eyed headlights. Therefore, the easiest way to identify the new Civic is from the front: a low sloping hood, a relatively wide track with a low body height.
The quality of assembly and painting of the body did not cause any comments: the gaps between the panels are uniform and minimal, the metallic blue shines in the sun.

Door seals keep the sills and pillars clear, and the rubber door trim prevents painful contact with the top corner. The door openings are large enough, but the steep slope of the roof pillars will force tall occupants to crouch lower.

Five people of average build can be accommodated quite comfortably, provided that the height of the front passengers does not exceed 180 cm. The seat belts in front are height-adjustable, and in the back they are hidden in special slots in the seat cushion.

The trunk can be unlocked from inside or with a key from outside. Quite spacious, but the high floor does not allow us to call it large. Maybe there's a full-size spare tire and an extensive tool kit underneath? No, a thin “dokatka”, a jack and a screwdriver with a pair of keys, although there would be enough space for a tool box. The engine compartment is densely filled with such “objects” that garage craftsmen are powerless against - a good, modern service is needed. Two almost identical radiators look unusual, one of which cools the air conditioner, a very narrow battery and small spark plugs hidden in the engine head. The clutch hydraulic cylinders are miniature, the size of a finger, and the starter is no larger than the electric motor of a windshield wiper on some UAZ. In an unusual place - right behind the radiators - located catalytic converter(its efficiency directly depends on the temperature of the exhaust gases). Finally, one little thing finished us off: the hood stop is specially weakened by stamping, along which it will bend if you try to slam it in a hurry - the mistake will not result in more serious damage.

Let's look under the car. The engine and lower front suspension arms are mounted on a subframe suspended on rubber mounts. In the front wheel arches- plastic fender liners. Gasoline pipelines and brake pipes covered with a casing on the bottom, exhaust system made of stainless steel, partially shielded. And here is the explanation for the high floor in the trunk - a huge “barrel” muffler, which looks more appropriate on some kind of road cruiser.

Driver's workplace - 4.1. First of all, we adjust the seat - the height of the cushion changes, but the cushion itself could be longer. You can raise or lower the pleasant-to-touch, rough steering wheel. The pedals are located conveniently, in the same plane, and the distances between them are such that you won’t get caught in the welts of your winter boots. There is also a platform for resting the left leg. The gearshift knob fits into your hand and the shifting is very clear. The algorithm is familiar - like on the Zhiguli classics from five step box.

Visibility forward and to the sides is excellent, but the interior mirror is not enough: the field of view is smaller than the rear window allows. In addition, the “picture” from below is noticeably “pressed” by the headrests of the rear row of seats and the housing of the additional brake light.
Movement - 4.6. The warning lights blinked, a “thoroughbred” sound appeared and disappeared under the hood, with a whistle. What is it - the engine has stalled? No - the tachometer needle is near the "700" mark. The balance of the engine and the sound insulation of the Honda are such that, having forgotten yourself, sometimes you try to start an already running engine.

The start and acceleration dynamics were puzzling at the first moment - the engine seemed to lack thirty “horses” from the declared one hundred and fourteen. However, remembering its characteristics, I immediately catch myself making a mistake - I accelerated “Zhiguli style”, spinning the engine up to three or four thousand, but it loves higher revs. Let's try again...

First gear - gas to the floor. With a slight slip, the Honda takes off. Speed ​​thirty, forty, fifty, sixty... The wonderful sound of the engine seems to spur you on - come on, push! At 6800 rpm, the tachometer needle touches the red sector and the rev limiter is activated, although it seems that you can dial them up more and more, wringing out this ringing power from the engine. Already in second gear, the speedometer easily goes beyond “hundreds”. Acceleration is powerful and smooth, without pronounced pick-ups.

The Civic's handling is light, almost airy. The pedals are soft, the steering wheel can be turned with literally two fingers - power steering is on the list of standard equipment. On the road, the car holds tenaciously - sensitively reacting to the slightest turn of the steering wheel, as if it anticipates your desires. It takes turns with minimal roll, obediently following the given trajectory. And even in risky turns, at the limit of wheel grip, it is very reliable and predictable. The potential of the car allows you to install a more serious engine - with a volume of only 1.6 liters, but with a power of 160 horsepower! But let's not get distracted.

The sportily stiff, short-travel suspension does not ignore joints and potholes, although this does not cause much inconvenience. It literally licks smoother bumps, ensuring reliable contact of the wheels with the road.
The brakes are effective, and there is also ABS - even when braking in a slippery corner, you will not “lose” the car.

It’s hard to find fault with the outdoor lighting equipment - powerful headlights, bright lanterns. Except that the location chosen for the headlight range control knob is not the best - on the floor tunnel, between the front seats. Yellow dashboard illumination - without brightness control.
External vibrations and noise almost do not penetrate into the cabin. Only the rustle of tires on the rough surface and the “boo-boo” at the joints of the slabs.

Operation, prices - 3.9. Honda engines are very economical. Ours is equipped with the same Honda VTEC system, changing the lift height and opening phase of the intake valves, which allows the use of a lean mixture at low speeds. On thirty liters we drove more than four hundred kilometers, including Moscow traffic jams.

A highly accelerated engine needs oil of guaranteed high quality - do not try to “improve” it with various additives. In the instructions for the AW car there is a disclaimer in this regard: “Your Civic does not need any special additives to the oil." Replacement is prescribed after 10 thousand kilometers or six months, but with the note that in extreme conditions these intervals are halved. Under extreme conditions The Japanese understand frequent trips over short distances, dust, frost, “salty”, broken and dirty roads. Why, a tire puncture is classified as an emergency and five (!) pages are devoted to describing its replacement. So, by civilized standards, our whole life is completely “extreme”.

Cars sold in Russia are guaranteed for a year without mileage limitation. The reliability of the Civic is evidenced by the fact that the batch of ball joints delivered to the service station four years ago has not yet been sold. Warranty and routine maintenance of the Honda is currently carried out by the only “branded” service station in Moscow, where one standard hour of work is estimated at $50.

Excellent stability and controllability
+ Excellent engine
+ Clear work gearboxes
+ Easy controls
- Only unleaded gasoline is acceptable
- Low ground clearance

HONDA CIVIC OPERATING EXPERIENCE
Anatoly FOMIN
Behind the wheel No. 9 1998

Model - "Honda Civic 1.5i LS VTEC"; manufacturer - Honda Motor Company; year of manufacture - 1997; in operation - since March 1998; mileage at the time of report - 6 thousand km.

In March of this year, our publishing house's AW fleet was replenished with another AW vehicle. Honda Civic was purchased from official dealer for 23 thousand dollars. The price for a car with a 1.5-liter engine at first glance seems very high: for this money it is quite possible to buy a pair of Nexias or Nissan Almera with a VAZ six to boot.

But let's count differently. After all, we paid for a modern five-seater sedan with a 114-horsepower engine with four valves per cylinder and a VTEC system, variable valve timing and valve lift depending on speed, with air conditioning, electric windows, ABS brakes, power steering, two airbags, two sets of tires (summer and winter) and cast aluminum wheels. There are other explanations for the fact that the Civic is the most expensive car in your class.

Firstly, the engine. How many other 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engines develop such impressive power? That’s why the dynamic qualities of an AW car are such that Samara or Nexia owners cannot even dream of it. The Honda accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds, and the maximum speed “according to the passport” (the car was not tested at the AW test site) is 192 km/h. Secondly, this car is by no means small, both in terms of interior dimensions and overall dimensions. It's hard to believe, but the Honda Civic sedan is more than the most popular BMW 3 series (E36)! Finally, the appearance. When the next generation of Civics appeared in 1995, the design of the car seemed unusual, but three years later the appearance of the car is quite consistent with the times and fashion and, importantly, the AW car is well recognizable.

The workmanship is at the highest level, there is absolutely nothing to complain about: precise fit of body panels, excellent quality of paint, no extraneous sounds in the cabin - the soft-touch upholstery panels seem to have grown along with the body. The doors close perfectly, like on more expensive cars.

There is not a single drip in the engine compartment, but there is just enough dust - after all, I have been in Moscow for six months already. There is no full-fledged protective pan, and the dirt raised by the front wheels has managed to form bizarre stains on the inside hood

The motor is great! At first it seems that an engine with such a boost should be “inflexible”, but you have to change gears no more often than in a “six”. And most importantly, after 5000 rpm it starts to pull. It turns out to be like two engines in one: sporty and high-torque.

A skeptic will definitely notice that the engine still noticeably lacks torque below 2000 rpm, although this has almost no effect on starting off. But in second gear with the accelerator released, it may stall. But at high speeds the engine is really good. The rather stiff short-travel suspension “transmits information” about the road in detail, but given the sporting inclinations of the AW car, this is very good.

But the steering wheel seems wobbly. The hydraulic booster is very powerful with a weak reactive effect. This does not fit in with the sportiness of the Honda. ABS works softly, almost silently.

The driver's workplace is comfortable, driving the car is easy. However, one can find fault with the front seat. It is only comfortable for short people; for others, the pillow and backrest are too short, and adjusting the height of the pillow is inconvenient, as it tilts it forward rather than back. The rear seat can be folded in whole or in parts. You can transport your bike without disassembling it.

The Honda is not the quietest AW car. The engine is well muffled at low speeds and only makes noise at medium and high speeds. Up to 3000 rpm it is almost inaudible, from 3000 to 5000 it makes a sharp, rather unpleasant noise, but beyond the tachometer mark “5” the song of a real racing engine begins. Tire hum is quite normal for cars of this class. In addition, on Idling Strong vibration is transmitted to the gear lever.

The car is extremely economical. According to estimated data, fuel consumption in the center of Moscow is less than 8 l/100 km (with constant traffic jams and the air conditioner on), and outside the city, even if you do not always adhere to the speed limits determined by traffic regulations, it is no more than 6 l/100 km. Particularly helpful in maintaining an economical driving mode is the green light on the instrument panel, which lights up only when “smoothly pedaling” in III, IV and V gears. Although the instructions for the AW car allow the use of unleaded “91st” gasoline, at a gas station the hand itself reaches for the hose with “95th” - it’s simply hard to believe that an engine with such a boost level can consume low-grade fuel.

Although the car has been driven for six months, there have been no breakdowns or suspected problems. Even the brake light bulbs are not going to burn out yet. However, there will still be maintenance ahead, and the Moscow winter with its salt, dirt and snow...

But if you are especially picky, you can find operational shortcomings even in the Honda. It is surprising why rubber “splash aprons,” colloquially referred to as mud flaps, are offered as additional equipment. According to Russian regulations, they must be standard. But the selling company shoes cars according to the season: our Civic was on winter tires. Because of this, I had to “change my shoes” immediately after the purchase - spring came. Branded rubber mats have no edges and do not exactly match the shape of the floor. The environmentally friendly paint and varnish used to paint the Civic are easily scratched, and the consequences of even careful hand washing are already noticeable on the flawless finish. The only drawback related to ease of use is the design of the sun visor: it is too close to the driver’s face. Another thing is more seriously troubling: under the floor of the luggage compartment, instead of a full-fledged spare tire, there is a thin “stowaway”. Normal spare wheel Unfortunately, it does not fit into the niche. An ersatz wheel is acceptable for traveling around Moscow, but what if you need to travel a hundred or two kilometers?

The catalytic converter is also a cause for concern - leaded gasoline is finished in the White Stone, and outside of it, big troubles await environmentally friendly cars. However, our Honda is unlikely to leave the Moscow region.

Frisky and economical, spacious and comfortable, environmentally friendly and safe, and also working like a Swiss watch, the Civic in the editorial parking lot looks like a silent reproach to the domestic AW top-of-the-line car. Yes, if only he...

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW automobile magazine "Behind the wheel"

Honda Civic. CVT CAN DO ANYTHING
Yuri Nechetov
Behind the wheel No. 2 1999

In front of me, it seems, is a completely ordinary Honda Civic. At the stern there are signs “1.6iEC” and “VTEC”. Everything is clear - a 1.6-liter engine with a mechanism for changing the valve lift height. I get into the car. Two pedals and a selector are also familiar to anyone familiar with the “AW Tomato”. I start the engine, taxi onto the avenue and step on the accelerator. And here miracles begin...

The tachometer needle, jumping up to 4000 rpm, seems to be glued to this mark - having hit a note, the engine holds it without faltering. The car, you know, accelerates and accelerates, powerfully and, what is most amazing, absolutely evenly, without a hint of jerking that accompanies gear shifting even in a good “AW Tomato”. There is something very familiar about such smooth acceleration... Of course! It's typical "trolleybus"!

Meanwhile, the red eye of a traffic light appeared ahead - there was nothing to do, I lined up behind some “nine”. Well, it's time to show your cards. The fact is that my Honda does not have a hydromechanical AW automatic transmission, but a continuously variable CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Yes, yes, a regular V-belt variator. Although about the “usual” - I got excited. He is unusual in many ways. However, let's not rush - we still have to drive and drive to the place of the main tests. First, a little theory.

For any internal combustion engine, the maximum values ​​of power, torque and minimum specific fuel consumption are achieved only at strictly defined speeds. When accelerating in each gear, the engine works with maximum efficiency only in some moments, “overshooting” the maximum of its characteristics. In addition, each shift, not to mention the loss of time, is accompanied by a longitudinal jerk - there is no traction on the drive wheels when the clutch is depressed.

The situation is somewhat better with AW automatic transmissions. The torque converter allows you to not interrupt the flow of power supplied to the wheels and smoothly change gear ratio, although in a rather narrow range - on average from 1 to 2. At the same time, the small transformation coefficient did not allow the AW Tomato to completely abandon stepwise changes in gear ratios.

There is a third solution. This is what we will talk about. This is the aforementioned continuously variable variator, which smoothly changes the gear ratio. The most famous is the V-belt. The principle of its operation is clear from the figure. If you move apart or move the two plate-shaped halves of the pulley, the V-belt will either “fall” to a small contact radius or be “pushed out” to a large one. Usually, two such pulleys are connected with a belt, operating in “antiphase” (that is, one moves and the other moves apart). As a result, the range of gear ratios expands and there is no need for an additional tension roller.

V-belt variators are widely used on motor scooters and snowmobiles, but they did not immediately take root on AW vehicles. And for a completely understandable reason. The adhesion of the pulley and the belt occurs only due to the friction force, and in order to increase it for transmission high power, you need to tighten the belt more. This greatly reduces its resource. On a fifty-cc scooter, the rubber belt “runs” 10-15 thousand kilometers, and on a “liter” snowmobile - several times less. But the latter is still rather a toy, and the mileage per season is usually small. An AW car is a different matter - the annual mileage is sometimes tens of thousands of kilometers, and the engine power is higher. Who wants to change an expensive belt several times a year, and even have to disassemble the gearbox?

Engineers at the Hamamatsu plant used a steel push belt design, which was used on the Ford Fiesta, FIAT Uno and Panda, and on a number of other models. The Honda Civic belt is made of steel trapezoidal segments 1.5 mm thick, in the side grooves of which 12 rings of flexible steel tape are placed on both sides. When asked about the resource, Honda representatives modestly replied that they “had some problems with it until they selected the right materials.”

Not being satisfied with an oral certificate, which, as we know, cannot be attached to the case, I was not too lazy to look into the service book of the test Civic. Surprisingly, but true: every 20 thousand km, only a general check of the variator is provided, as well as brakes, steering gear, headlights, tires and much more. There is no provision for belt replacement for 200 thousand km, for which all service operations are scheduled. So the life of the belt is equal to the life of the engine, body and conventional gearbox. Well, now, having become “savvy” theoretically, you can move on to practice. Moreover, while talking, we had already reached our destination - a deserted country highway.

Controlling a transmission with a variator is no different from an “AW automatic” one: foot on the brake, selector from position “P” to “D”. You release the brake and the car begins to crawl forward (the multi-plate clutch operating in an oil bath allows slipping, so it engages very softly), add gas and it goes faster. Depending on how you press the accelerator, the tachometer needle freezes at lower or high speed and the Civic, respectively, accelerates slower or faster. Upon reaching a certain speed, the revolutions decrease slightly, the acceleration disappears and the green “ECON” icon lights up - the engine switches to an economical operating mode. In this case, for example, at a speed of 80 km/h the engine develops 2000 rpm. By sharply pressing the accelerator, you can raise the speed to 5500 rpm, at which it accelerates to approximately 140 km/h, after which the speed begins to gradually decrease, and the speed continues to increase. The coefficient of change in the gear ratio of the variator is quite large - 5.5 (from 2.466 to 0.449).

In addition to the selector position "D", there are two more: "S" - sport and "L" - low. In the first of them, at a speed of 80 km/h, 3000 rpm is maintained, in the second - 4500 rpm. That is, the engine develops the power required for movement at higher speeds and lower torque, using a higher transmission ratio. Accordingly, it needs less time to spin up for maximum “return”. Acceleration at full throttle in both cases occurs at approximately 6500 rpm, when the engine produces all its 115 hp. With. At the same time, there are no speed restrictions - in the “L” AW, the car will reach the same maximum 170 km/h, only it will do it faster. In addition, depending on the position of the selector, the variator control algorithm changes.

Unlike the usual "AW Tomato", there are no speed restrictions when changing modes to move forward. For example, to increase the efficiency of engine braking (without fear of overclocking it), you can move from “D” to “S” or even “L” at any speed. There is also no “thoughtfulness” inherent in hydromechanical gearboxes - the car “follows the pedal”, almost like with a “mechanics”.

Honda's research has shown that, compared to a conventional four-speed AW Tomato, the CVT provides 15 percent fuel economy in urban driving and a gain of 1.7 seconds when accelerating from 400 meters from a standstill. Moreover, at the same distance, CVT wins 0.1 s over manual ones.

Well, did you like the variator? The answer can be predicted. Meanwhile, the capabilities of the variator are not limited to the above. Imagine this situation. Don’t feed you bread, but let me “fiddle” with the gearbox lever, growling with the engine. Your wife, by and large, needs two pedals and a steering wheel - she can’t stand your comments about the wrong gear. For the mother-in-law (if she also has a “license”), one is usually enough for trips to the store - the first one. But CVT can do all this. Do you want to give it, say, a stepped operating mode, like a conventional “mechanics”, and with any number of gears and ratios? Please. If you've played enough, go back to normal mode and enjoy yourself, resting. By the way, according to the latest “intelligence” data, just such a programmable variator is being developed at the Tsanradfabrik company for the BMW and Volkswagen concerns. So, it seems that the Honda Civic is only the beginning of the “newest” history of the CVT...

Source: WWW.ZR.RU - AW automobile magazine "Behind the wheel"

Test drive Honda Civic VII

Since the appearance of the first Honda generations The Civic in July 1972 was over 28 years old. During all this time, more than 13 million Honda Civics have been sold worldwide various models and complete sets. At the end of 2000, a new, seventh generation Civic appeared.

Full the lineup includes sedan, two-door coupe, and three- and five-door hatchback models.

We got a Civic for testing with a sedan body, a 1.6-liter engine (110 hp) and an AW automatic 4-speed gearbox, dark green metallic color in a fairly rich package: air conditioning, electric windows, sunroof, electric mirrors, alloy wheels, audio preparation.

The driver's seat on the Civic allows you to sit comfortably behind the wheel without obstructing the steering wheel. dashboard with dials for the speedometer, tachometer, as well as engine temperature and fuel level indicators.

There were doubts that winter boots would catch the pedals - but this did not happen; the Civic has enough legroom. The rear seats are also comfortable - there is room to put your feet, your head does not rest on the roof, and even three people can sit with sufficient comfort. When Honda engineers created the new Civic, they took into account the wishes of customers who wanted more spacious salon while maintaining external dimensions. And they succeeded quite well. The Civic's interior doesn't feel cramped.

So - let's go. The Civic starts moving smoothly and confidently, although there was a snow-covered shoulder under the right wheels and ice-covered asphalt under the left wheels. On our AW car there is no traction control system- so a confident start from a standstill in such conditions is entirely the merit of the AW tomato box. In general, the Tomato gearbox-AW deserves special words - it works in tandem with electronic system, adapting the box to the driver's driving style. Within two minutes you get used to the fact that the Civic drives exactly as it should, and there is no noticeable delay in gear changes. The kick-down works clearly, even faster than you expect: when you go to overtake and press down on the gas, for the first time you are a little scared out of habit – the Civic accelerates powerfully.

Before going to this test, I talked with some owners of Civics of previous series - they all argued that the engine needs to be “twisted”, it loves high speeds, otherwise the Civic simply “won’t go”. So, it turned out that this is not at all necessary; the 7th generation Civic has an engine with a VTEC variable phase system, and the car picks up AW from almost any speed. When we were driving along the Leningradskoye Highway, at one of the traffic lights a young guy in an Audi A4 1.8 followed us - we could have expected that he would “make us”, because his engine capacity is 200 cc larger, however, this did not happen .

In general, driving a Honda Civic around the city is a pleasure - the car accelerates easily, reacts clearly and quickly to steering movements. The Civic also brakes well – despite the fact that the tires are non-studded – Dunlop (and you know what’s under the wheels). It seems that Honda designers specifically built the Civic specifically for city driving - in city traffic you feel like a fish in water.

So we got from Volgogradsky Prospekt to Khodynsky Field quickly, and without any incidents, and we got through a couple of traffic jams along the way, maneuvering from row to row.

We came to Khodynka in order to fully appreciate the AW car without disturbing others.

But it turned out that the first thing we were able to test on Khodynskoye Field was the Civic’s cross-country ability. Having entered Khodynka from the Khoroshevskoe highway, and trying to quickly get to the former runway (there used to be an airfield on Khodynka), we turned somewhere wrong from one of the rutted roads, and after 10 meters we realized that the Civic was plowing through the snow. We didn’t stop, deciding to drive straight until we either reached a cleared place or got stuck.

Don't get stuck! Calmly, without pressing hard on the gas, moving the gearbox selector to position “2” and using an even distribution of engine torque, we drove to a clear area. Not far away, a VAZ “ten” was unsuccessfully trying to get out of the same virgin soil.

After all these “off-road” adventures, we finally got down to what we came for.

In a straight line, the Civic accelerates confidently, slipping only when you press the gas sharply, to the point of “kick-down”. When slipping, the Civic begins to move a little from side to side, but these yaws are easily caught by the steering wheel, so frisky winter acceleration on an ice-covered and snow-covered road does not conceal any surprises; the speed is gained smoothly and confidently.

In general, it would be a stretch to call Khodynka expensive - in some places there were such bumps and potholes that it became scary for the suspension. Despite such a road, the Civic carefully protects its passengers, causing a minimum of discomfort, and all shocks from potholes are damped in the depths of the suspension.

During sharp braking “to the floor”, before the ABS is activated, the Civic maintains its trajectory, and even on bare ice does not tend to jerk to the side or turn around.

In general, the Civic behaves very confidently on the road and does not hide any surprises. Even a novice driver will be able to quickly and easily find a common language with him. In any situations that you might find yourself in in the city - in heavy traffic on a busy street or courtyards littered with snow, you can ride it without fear of trouble.

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Honda Civic. IN THE SEVENTH KNEE
Sergey Voskresensky
Behind the wheel No. 2 2001

The new Civic is slightly shorter (-20 mm), but wider (+20 mm) and taller (+50 mm) than its predecessor. First of all, this had a beneficial effect on the size of the interior - now, according to a number of parameters, it is the most spacious AW car in its class. It took a lot of work to achieve such spectacular results. For example, the steering mechanism has moved upward, thereby reducing the length of the engine compartment. A more compact rear suspension made it possible to increase trunk volume by 40 liters. The rigidity of the body has increased noticeably - now the entire power frame is made of high-strength steel.

The 1.4 and 1.6 liter engines did not go unnoticed. While maintaining the same power, both became more torquey. So, a 1.6-liter engine with a capacity of 110 hp. With. now develops 152 N.m at 4300 rpm: compare with 143 N.m and 4800 rpm in the previous generation. Both engines are coupled with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission. The latter is equipped with torque converter locking, electronic control and a logical control system that adapts to road conditions and the driver’s temperament. It is precisely this box that we are about to get to know better, as well as another new product - electric power steering. After all, the Civic is the first mass-produced Honda AW car in Europe to use this innovation.

"FAMILIAR" NEW PRODUCT
Frankly, if you remove the marketing makeup from the body, which does not allow you to forget that this is the latest Honda, the Civic is unlikely to capture the imagination. The “correct” modern sedan is like a sponge, having absorbed the currently fashionable design findings and, as a result, losing its own, truly “Honda” style. There is no characteristic beak in the front, the headlights have become dull and seem to have become Europeanized, and the descending swiftness of the roof has disappeared. Devoid of family features, the new Civic has become something average on the outside, as cute as it is faceless.

But practical and even simple interior I kept the old Honda starter. There is no fake tinsel, there is not even the now popular display - everything is tasteful, but very rational. The strict dark contours of the front panel, matching upholstery, and only light aluminum-like inserts on the door handles and at the base of the gearbox lever dilute the asceticism of the interior. An unexpected vertical combination of three rotating climate control knobs significantly enlivens the entire front panel.

Otherwise, everything is convenient and... for some reason familiar. It seems that the console and instrument cluster have changed, but there is still something in common, continuity of solutions, or something. The seat looks completely familiar: the same set of three adjustments, the same dense but obviously short cushion, the same limited longitudinal range of movement - it will be a bit cramped for a tall driver. However, the additional centimeters are “felt” immediately, especially above the head, and on the sides of the driver. Conveniently, even with some reserve, the roof “raised”, and the passenger on the right somehow moved to the side. The increase in space in the rear is even more noticeable. True, not above the head (here it’s just very close), but in the area of ​​​​the knees and feet. A flat floor and ten centimeters of free space - you sit down almost like in a limousine. At first I can’t even believe it, but once you get used to it, you start to find fault with little things - they say, the back rear seat It could have been placed more vertically, and the ceiling could have been raised.

UNION OF MOTOR AND "AUTOMATIC"
I admit, for me a Honda is, first of all, an engine, and it doesn’t matter what displacement it is. IN in this case, at first the combination of the “small” 1.6 liter engine and AW automatic transmission was alarming. However, from the first minutes of communication, the “Civic” made me look at the “ladies’” equipment in a completely different way: it turned out to be sharp, dynamic, and at times even excessive. A light touch on the accelerator causes the Honda to immediately “shoot” in the given direction. Well, if the gas is to the floor - there it is, powerful acceleration, accompanied by spectacular slipping of the drive wheels on salty winter asphalt, here it is, the true character of the Honda! And wow, the “AW tomato” dissolves in this energy, reminding itself only with small “plugs” during a very jerky ride. It seems that the logic control system and the torque converter have found a common language. New engine stands out for its smoother torque characteristics and... limited “spin up”. No matter how hard you try, at 6500 rpm the electronic limiter intervenes. I remember the “old” engine allowed more. And yet there are harsh notes in the character of the new Honda. For example, when maneuvering or in a tight parking lot, her impulsiveness even gets in the way: she has to use the accelerator very measuredly.

On the AW road the car behaves reliably, although not perfectly. The new pendants, having decreased in size, essentially remained European. On a relatively flat road, the Civic, like an elastic ball, energetically overcomes seams, joints and other small things. But as soon as traditional gentle waves and other characteristic potholes appear, the suspension quickly gives up, and the body begins to sway intensely, allowing more and more series of blows to fall on itself. There is only one way to combat this - reduce speed.

But I liked the handling of the Honda Civic. Of course, on winter tires It’s difficult to feel all the nuances of an AW car’s behavior: nevertheless, it somehow immediately attracts you with its fast, accurate responses, elastic, intelligible steering and ease of passing the most treacherous turns, unusual for the “old” Civic. I remember that the previous one “rested” more at the entrance to the turn, trying to straighten the given trajectory. And this one goes and goes, even with an AW automatic transmission, reacting very sensitively to the accelerator pedal.

The Civic is quite unique in terms of vibroacoustics. It feels like they worked diligently on the AW car, reducing engine vibrations and aerodynamic noise - but the roar of the temperamental engine still breaks into the cabin after 4000 rpm as an unnecessary reminder of its irrepressible energy.

NOT USEFULNESS ALONE
The seventh Civic is clearly more focused on the mass consumer than before. A comfortable, spacious interior and a spacious trunk, of course, are useful in everyday life. At the same time, AW vehicles with character are becoming less and less common these days. “Delicious” becomes the lot of exclusive versions. Here the new Civic is rather a pleasant exception. And having felt this, you are no longer so skeptical about the boring appearance and the not at all low price - $21,000. Well, Hondas have never been cheap.