- 1. It’s practical
- 2. It’s very safe
- 3. It drives like a dream
- 4. It doesn’t look like a family car…at all
- 5. It’s luxurious
Sedans are truly underrated family cars. We have a number of reasons why we think the latest Honda Civic sedan (as well as the previous generation model) is a family vehicle 'par excellence'!
The 11th-generation Honda Civic was released to local buyers in April 2022, in only one variant: The 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC RS model.
The RS nomenclature has nothing to do with the racetrack, however, even though the Civic’s styling is highly athletic; the RS is an acronym for ‘road sailing’! Is it any good for the modern family, though? We certainly think so! Here’s why:
1. It’s practical
Unless you travel off-road often, a sedan is your best bet if you need boot space! The Civic’s boot is huge, and there’s ample space on the back seat. The all-new Civic is 25mm longer than its predecessor. It is also slightly lower, while the wheelbase has stretched by 35mm. This creates ample room for the people in the back, although the sloping roofline impinges on head room a little – but only if you’re adult-sized, ie. taller than about 1.6 metres.
The Civic’s interior doesn’t have too many reflective surfaces either. You may think that this is no big deal, but the glossy piano black surfaces that manufacturers love so much, is a magnet for fingerprints, even if your hands are squeaky clean. The same goes for the dark headliner – even if the kids finished a whole bag of Cheese Curls all on their own, if they touch the ceiling you’ll be able to get rid of the stain!
2. It’s very safe
Honda’s ACE bodyshell, airbags for days and SENSING safety tech make the Civic one of the safest sedans money can buy. The latest system incorporates the newly developed wider-angle, a higher-definition front camera which can detect a more comprehensive range of road surfaces and traffic characteristics, including enhanced night-time functionality. Who wouldn’t want a self-driving Honda that steers, stops if it senses a crash is imminent, and follows in the tracks of the vehicle in front? This is what the SENSING system includes:
Collision mitigation braking system
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision warning
Lane-keeping assist system
Road departure mitigation
Auto high beam
Lane-watch camera
3. It drives like a dream
With every new generation of Civic, Honda brings structural improvements. For 2022, the chassis has been updated for better handling overall, and more comfort for passengers. The cabin is quiet and road/wind noise is hardly audible.
With 131 kW and 240 Nm from the Civic’s 1.5-litre, turbocharged VTEC engine, the Civic is smooth but energetic, and the CVT box (with Honda’s Stepshift programming which simulates gear changes) is not nearly as noisy as the one in the Honda Jazz models. (In our experience, CVTs work better with turbocharged powerplants.)
If you want smooth power and decent fuel efficiency, you can’t go wrong with the Civic! Can’t quite stretch to a new one? The previous-generation Civic from 2016 is just as agreeable and is filled with tech, plus some of these preloved Civics can be bought at an absolute steal – and by that, we mean under R200 000! We’ve searched AutoTrader for used Honda Civic models from 2016 here.
4. It doesn’t look like a family car…at all
Svelte and sleek with plenty of athletic styling cues, the Civic RS looks like it would feel equally at home on the race track. Want to feel cool, driving kids to school? The Civic RS will do nicely. It’s a real crowd-puller and all the kids (and their parents) gawked at us during the school and grocery run.
5. It’s luxurious
From the super-comfy suede/leather seats to the cracker of a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system, high-res display (with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto), a wireless charging pad, and four USB-A ports on board, the new Civic has it all, making it ideal for road trips to far-off destinations.
The Honda Civic sedan 1.5T RS will cost you R669 000 new. But if you need a great used car, by all means, search AutoTrader to find the perfect used Honda Civic sedan.
Ané AlbertseAné was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was working as a freelance motoring journalist for publications such as Rapport and City Press, when AutoTrader nabbed her for good. She lives in the Western Cape with her two kids and two cats.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Is the 2022 Honda Civic sedan good for families?