The Brio may have been the main event, but Honda Cars Philippines also presented the refreshed 2019 Civic for a closer look. It serves as our appetizer for a full-on test drive in the next few weeks.
On hand were the 1.8 E and 1.5 RS Turbo (the first shipment of the new entry-level 1.8 S will be available in June). Powertrain-wise, the 2019 Civics see little change. All models are available solely with the Earth Dreams CVT transmission with the normally-aspirated 1.8-liter SOHC i-VTEC making 141 horsepower and 174 Nm of torque while the 1.5-liter i-VTEC Turbo making 173 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque.
For 2019, the changes are mostly cosmetic with the top-range RS Turbo finally getting new “Belrina Black” 18-inch alloy wheels that match the visually widened lower air intake and high-gloss solid wing grille. Meanwhile, the 1.8 E gets new “Shark Gray Metallic” 16-inch alloy wheels that add a dose of sportiness.
The biggest news though is the availability of a new entry-level 1.8 S variant. At P 1,115,000, it’s one of the best bang-for-the-buck compact sedans locally. Naturally, this necessitated the removal of some accessories—LED headlights and leather steering wheel to name two, but at least important features such as dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and vehicle stability control have been retained.
On the flipside, the RS Turbo gains added features such as alloy sport pedals to go with the refreshed leather interior trim. Both the 1.8 E and RS Turbo also get an upgraded 7-inch Touch Screen Advanced Display Audio System with Apple Car Play and Android Auto (with added GPS navigation for the RS Turbo) as well as integrated hard buttons and volume knobs for easier control.
As mentioned previously, all Civic models benefit from a solid suite of safety equipment, but the RS Turbo gets more with four additional airbags for a total of six. This makes the 2019 Civic, specifically the RS Turbo variant, a recipient of a 5-Star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.
On hand during the presentation is the RS Turbo specific Rallye Red color as well as the new Platinum White Pearl (available on all variants) on the 1.8 E which costs an additional P 20,000 more.
With its solid list of standard features as well as the availability of a new value-for-money variant, Honda Cars Philippines is confident that the refreshed Civic will retain its position as the compact segment’s best-selling model.
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