New member of Honda Civic family

The Honda Civic Tourer, which was previewed at last year's Johannesburg International Motor Show, makes its official South African debut this month.

The newcomer's arrival means that the Honda Civic family now has three body styles: sedan, hatchback and wagon variants.

The 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine is credited with a generous 104kW of power, combined with 174Nm of torque.

It is a front-wheel drive car with a choice of a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearboxes. A bonus is that the automatic version can also work as a manual. It has paddle shifters mounted on the steering column for rapid and intuitive manual gear changes, in addition to the convenience of fully automatic operation.

Performance is brisk, with the manual gearbox version going from 0-100km/h in 9.5sec, with a top speed of 210km/h.

The Honda's efficient drivetrain allows a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of just 6.6l/100 km.

Soft-touch surfaces, leather upholstery and an ergonomically efficient cockpit layout, together with an extensive list of standard features, ensure that the time spent inside the Civic Tourer is comfortable and enjoyable.

Honda's reputation for producing exceptionally safe cars is further emphasised by the Civic Tourer, which has already attained a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, thanks to its extensive array of active and passive safety systems.

From Honda's renowned Advanced Compatible Engineering body structure, that ensures uniform deformation and energy absorption in the case of a collision to multiple air bags, latest-generation stability control and all-disc ABS brakes, the Civic Tourer more than lives up to Honda's impressive safety pedigree.

PRICING

Honda Civic Tourer 1.8, i-VTEC Manual: R360000

Honda Civic Tourer 1.8 i-VTEC Automatic: R374000

This includes a three-year/100000km warranty, a five-year/90000km service plan, and a one-year roadside assistance package. Service intervals are every 15000km.