Business First Summer 2017 Business First Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 72

MOTORING
A lot more than a facelift
he all new Honda civic is certainly a lot
more than a face lift. This tenth version
of the Honda Civic a brand new car, built
on a brand new platform and it does have a
strikingly strong presence.
The purposeful silhouette makes a
confident statement about the Civic’s sporty
character. Wider, longer, and lower than any
of its predecessors, the all­new Civic has short
overhangs and taut lines that reference the
high levels of aerodynamic efficiency. A sharp
and aggressive ‘face’, pronounced wheel­
T
by Ian Beasant, BUSINESSFIRSTMAGAZINE
motoring correspondent
arches and sculpted front and rear intakes
hint at the Civic’s sporting character. The
athletic look starts with low and wide
proportions which reflect an increased
footprint.
The hatchback is 30 mm wider and 130 mm
longer than the previous­generation five­door
Civic. The car is 20 mm lower than its
forebear, creating a sleek roofline.
These generous dimensions underpin the
distinctive design and sporty styling, while
also facilitating rewarding dynamics and
increased interior space. New larger and
wider wheels and tyres further emphasise the
wide stance, while the long wheelbase, short
overhangs and sweeping cabin area further
add to the dynamic feel of the exterior.
The interior is simple, effective and you are
rewarded with a full five seater car thanks to
the increase in length and width. At present
two petrol engines are available A 1.5 litres
VTEC TURBO producing 182 bhp and a three
cylinder 129 bhp 1.0­litre VTEC TURBO. You
have a choice of 6 speed manual gearbox or.
CVT transmission.
The V­Tec engines love being revved and
the short throw six –speed gearbox is perfect
for this. You may have more power with the
1.5 engine and I felt the chassis could handle a
lot more with ease.
The 1.0 litre engine is good, although I still
cannot get my head around the sound of these
new 1.0 litre three cylinder engines­ I also feel
that they are a bit on the lacklustre side and
better suited to a smaller city car. What you
do get is excellent economy the 1.0 litre
should average 64 miles per gallon whereas
the 1.5 litre 55 miles per gallon.
The New Honda Civic is packed with
technology to keep you safe, keep you
entertained and the difference in styling does
make it a stand out car. The New Civic is good
to drive, but is it a class leader: not far off the
best in my mind.
VAUXHALL’S MOKKA X
T
he Vauxhall Mokka X is an updated
version of the company’s compact
crossover – the Mokka. The X in the
name is marking for all of Vauxhall’s off ­
road styled vehicles. The Mokka has had a
re­style both inside and out and now looks
more like an Astra on the outside ­ albeit a
tall one. And the inside has been de­cluttered
with the plethora of switches exchanged for
a touch screen control – it certainly looks
neater.
The test car came fitted with 1.4 140bhp
turbocharged petrol engine driving the 4
wheels through a manual six­speed gearbox.
A proper compact off­roader. The engine is
lively crisp and quiet.
The chassis is fine on nice smooth roads,
that’s why nipping around the city the
Mokka X certainly feels at home. The
steering is light and The Mokka offer good
all­around vision from its elevated driving
position making parking easy.
The steering itself is okay but really offers
little if any feedback and that does take the
enjoyment of driving away a bit, likewise the
gear change is vague.
Then again it’s a cross over and it’s
designed as that not a sports car. Wind noise
70 www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
is noticeable at about 50 mph and above, I
felt this was due to the large door mirrors
which again are great for manoeuvring
around the city but downside is on the open
road the wind and road noise is pretty loud.
The interior is well laid out and the font
seats are spacious and comfortable with
plenty of legroom. Rear seat passengers are
looked after with enough room in the rear to
seat three passengers with ease.
The Mokka X does not really do anything
special with the layout of its seats and the
rear seats fold right down leaving you with a
flat rear floor for carrying large object. The
Mokka X is well equipped and the test car
even had a Wi­Fi great for the passengers
they loved it.
The Infotainment is all house in a
touchscreen on the dash and is easy to use if
a bit fiddly and I found bet not to try it once
on the move as it takes a little while to get
used too.
The Mokka X will take you to the magical
figure of 60 miles per hour in 9.3 seconds