Honda On Regent Blog

The more I drive them, the more I like them.

Having been behind the wheel of several of the models in the Honda Civic line I’ve just begun to really appreciate this car.

Yes, I know. What took me so long?

It’s not like I’ve hated the Civic — far from it. It’s just that I’ve come to appreciate everything the Civic has to offer for a price that still remains competitive. Even as an entry level car there is so much to like about it.

The size is right; the entry level price is right; and, the performance is balanced nicely with fuel economy.

Equipped with a 1.8-litre four cylinder engine and five-speed automatic, the Civic is not at a loss for power. In fact, it was quite surprising to find out how much pep this little mill had. But don’t let the numbers fool you — 140 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque — there’s plenty to smile about when you get behind the wheel and give ’er the gas.

Sure it’s got enough giddy-up when you need it, but it also sips away at the tank. With a posted 7.4 litres per 100 km in the city and 5.4 on the hwy, it’s sure to grab the attention of anyone with a bank account. Driving mostly on city roads I managed to squeeze out 7.8 litres per 100k, which again, is nothing to sneeze at.

Shifting is quick through the five speed stick, but the clutch is light and takes a little getting use to. Granted you won’t feel like you’ve just spent your whole day giving your left leg a workout, but there isn’t much in the way of feedback. Really, it’s a minor thing.

The ride and handling is pretty good as well and thanks to its small size, the Civic feels almost sporty.

And since we’re on that topic, this Civic came in with the added mid-level Sport trim package and adds plenty of items over the base model. It includes 60/40 split rear seat, leather wrapped steering wheel, rear-seat centre armrest and power windows with auto-up/down driver side window, just to name a few.

While some may not like the wedge-like style of the Civic, I find it to be a sharp looking vehicle. Thanks again to the sports package for 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and colour-keyed door handles. Even with so many of these on the road, the design remains fresh.

Seating surfaces are comfy and nice to the touch and while actual seating space may look a bit tight, there is plenty of leg room in both the front and rear seats.

In the driver’s seat, you immediately notice the two-tiered gauge cluster — which I really like, but my wife doesn’t particularly. She says the speed indicator is way too big for her liking (or maybe she doesn’t feel the need to be reminded how fast she’s going?).

Trunk space is quite generous, and even shocking. There is little concern that you won’t have enough room for short trips or shopping outings. And if you do manage to run out of room, you can quickly pull the levers in the trunk to flip the rear seatbacks down. Just make sure your kids are not along with you.

I never felt out of place driving in the Civic. It’s not the biggest people mover out there, but it’s also far from the smallest. The performance is just right for me, the kids have lots of room and even my wife didn’t mind it.

Sounds like a winner to me.

Strong Points:

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TORONTO (July 6, 2009) – Honda Canada Inc. has been named one of Canada’s “Fifty Most Socially Responsible Corporations” in the Jantzi-Maclean’s 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report appeared in a recent issue of Maclean’s magazine.

Jantzi Research Associates – an independent investment research firm –evaluates and monitors the social, environmental and governance performance of approximately 300 Canadian companies and income trusts. Jantzi uses a best-of-sector methodology to assess all constituents of the S&P/TSX Composite Index rather than excluding industries, and measures each firm against the standard of best practices in its industry.

According to Jantzi, the Fifty Most Socially Responsible Corporations are “selected on the basis of a broad range of social, environmental and governance indicators… [and] these companies are making Canada a better place.”

The Maclean’s brief highlights Honda’s 2010 Insight hybrid passenger car as being “the most affordable hybrid currently available in North America,” and gives prominence to Honda’s FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle which was awarded the “2009 World Green Car” award.

Other initiatives featured in the brief include Honda‘s new “Eco-Assist” system in the Honda Insight, which is designed to help drivers optimize fuel efficiency; and Japan-based Honda Soltec Co. Ltd, a Honda subsidiary which is developing its own line of ultra-thin, non-silicone solar cells for home and vehicle use.

Honda is recognized for being an environmental leader among automotive manufacturers worldwide. In 1972, the Honda Civic CVCC engine was the world’s first engine to comply with strict 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act emissions standard. Today, Honda is one of North America’s most fuel-efficient car companies and a global leader in advanced fuel-cell technology.

Now in its 40th years of operations in Canada, Honda Canada Inc. has sold more than 3,200,000 Honda and Acura passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Nearly half of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in Canada in 2008 were made in Canada – a higher percentage than any other vehicle manufacturer in Canada.

Honda Canada makes the Honda Civic and the Acura MDX and CSX at its two manufacturing plants in Alliston, Ontario, and produces fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines at its engine plant, adjacent to its two plants.

 www.honda.ca

TORRANCE, California — American Honda confirmed Tuesday that its long-rumored (and much photographed) new midsize crossover vehicle will be called the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour. Essentially an Accord five-door hatchback, the Crosstour will arrive at U.S. dealers this fall as a 2010 model.

Judging from myriad spy photos snapped and posted in recent months, the Accord Crosstour bears a passing resemblance to the Acura ZDX that debuted earlier this year at the 2009 New York Auto Show, but the Temple of VTEC blog claims the two vehicles do not share a common platform.

Instead, as its name implies, the Accord Crosstour almost certainly shares all major underbody components with the Accord sedan. The 2010 Crosstour hatch is aimed at such rivals as the Toyota Venza.

Few powertrain details have emerged, but the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour will likely offer Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 and four-wheel drive. Pricing will be announced later in the year. Paul Lienert, Edmunds Inside Line

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=152086

• Styling: The 2010 Honda Pilot earns crossover cred by blending an SUV’s blocky profile and high ground clearance with a car-type unibody structure. Peel off its sheet metal and you’ll find not a truck frame but basically the same chassis used by Honda’s Odyssey minivan (and by the MDX crossover from Honda’s premium Acura division). The 2009 redesign wisely inflated Pilot’s exterior dimensions only slightly, so this wagon remains the most maneuverable eight-seat SUV on the market. It’s a garage-friendly 10- to 23-inches shorter than other eight-passenger SUVs. Unfortunately, Honda listened to first-generation Pilot owners who said they wanted tougher styling. So the 2010 Honda Pilot gamely wears a caboole of trucky cues: exaggerated fender flares, sapling-thick roof pillars, a pugnacious front end. The grille appears inspired by a tie clip filched from the set of “Mad Men.”
• Mechanical: The 2010 Honda Pilot boasts impressive engine and driveline engineering. Extracting the most efficiency from its lively, smooth 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 is Honda’s advanced Variable Cylinder Management system. This automatically transitions the engine back and forth between six, four, or three cylinders as sensors determine the best balance of fuel economy and power. All Pilots are available with Honda’s Variable Torque Management all-wheel drive. Pilot’s not designed for serious off-roading, so its AWD system does not have low-ranging gearing. It’s instead designed to improve grip in all conditions, even on dry roads. And pushing a dashboard button does lock in a front-rear torque split for maximum low-speed traction. The sole transmission for the 2010 Honda Pilot remains a five-speed automatic.
• Features: The 2010 Honda Pilot comes in four levels of trim: base LX, midrange EX, leather-upholstered EX-L, and top-of-the-line Touring. Honda doesn’t offer factory options, but does make the 2010 Pilot available just about every comfort and convenience feature. These include power heated front seats, sunroof, Bluetooth phone link, USB connection for iPod and other MP3 devices, navigation with voice recognition, rearview camera, and rear DVD entertainment. The 2010 Honda Pilot is among the few SUVs with anchor positions for four child safety seats. And folding the rear seats allows it to carry a 4-foot-wide plywood sheet laid flat. All models come with antilock four-wheel disc brakes, traction control, and an antiskid system. Standard are head-protecting curtain side airbags designed to deploy in side collisions as well as in impending rollovers. Front bucket seats and second- and third-row bench seats are standard; second-row captain’s chairs aren’t available. The second and third rows each hold three occupants, and both split and fold.

http://iguida.com/2010-honda-pilot