The tenth-generation Civic is on display at Honda’s pavilion at the Auto Expo. The Japanese manufacturer’s global best-seller Civic is set to make a comeback with an Indian unveil later this year and a market launch planned sometime in 2019. However, when launched, India would get the facelifted version of the model that is on display here.
In its current guise, the Civic is sleek, low-slung and has a very sporty air about it. The bonnet line is low, there’s sporty detailing all over and the lines are very fluid all around. But what really makes the Civic look distinctive is the rear end. The fastback-like rear section is superbly executed and neatly conceals a conventional sedan boot lid.
The dash is quite conventional in its design and hosts a large touchscreen in the centre console. We do expect Honda to update the infotainment system and tweak the cabin before bringing the car to India. On the inside, the new Civic isn’t as radical as the last model to be sold in India but the look and feel is, again, quite sporty; the low seating and sculpted seats certainly help this feeling. The rear seat is positioned quite low while legroom at the rear too seems sub-par and not quite in the league of rivals like the Skoda’s Octavia.
For India, the Civic will come with two engine options, a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.6-litre common-rail diesel with both manual and automatic gearbox options. The 1.6-litre diesel will also be used to power Honda’s CR-V SUV in India.