2007 Honda Civic iVTEC 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good design and engine, ruined by 6 gears instead of 5

Faults:

Plastic handbrake casing cracked. That's literally it!

General Comments:

Good handling in all weathers.

Nothing broke while I had it, electrical or mechanical.

The upwards folding back seats are actually very handy.

Terrible MPG, regardless of how it's driven.

No need for a 6 speed gearbox. Such a small engine only needs 5 - really, I hope you like changing gears!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th March, 2018

26th Mar 2018, 11:44

I have the same model car. I also drove the previous generation car. I think the biggest practical advance is having 6 gears. For this generation car I could cruise in 6th gear with the revs at 3K RPM, getting close to 50 MPG. The previous generation car - I had the 1600 VTEC - I would be in 5th at 3.5K RPM getting approx 43 MPG.

2007 Honda Civic CDTi Diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Disappointing for Honda

Faults:

Air con doesn't work.

Exhaust blowing.

Battery drainage.

General Comments:

Very fast for its class.

Very economical.

Loads of room throughout.

Unfortunately the ride is like a go kart. And very busy and rattly.

Clutch pedal creaks, definitely not as well made as old Honda. Far too much electronic computerised crap on it that can go wrong.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 30th October, 2016

2007 Honda Civic 1.8 litre 4 cylinder from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Great for the grandparents or a first family car, based on economy and comfort

Faults:

Front and rear bumpers are quite weak; have had minor incidents from the previous owner such as constant wear leading to a hole in the front bumper, and reversing into walls has lead to damage on the rear bumper and sensors, which can be costly when going into servicing and reduces the selling price.

Steering is also quite unresponsive, have used a silicon wheel to increase grip wheel steering; NB wheels should be pumped up to 33 PSI max; guaranteed better grip and better use of fuel.

Wheels are damaged due to scraping along gutters, however they are cheap to replace, unlike alloy wheels which need to be detailed and are very expensive.

The car's performance is purely based on Honda's i-VTEC, a super-computer that acts as an injector as well as a turbo. However if you want to put your foot down in an overtake or need to take a quick corner, it takes a few seconds to register and can be dangerous when the engine lag begins in the opposite lane.

In all, though, this car is not based on performance, rather more on fuel economy and comfort.

General Comments:

The fuel economy of the Civic is brilliant, using a maximum 8.5 litres on average per 100 kilometres, but if you want to floor it you're looking more at 10 litres per hundred.

Suspension is perfect, and gives great comfort for anyone with a physical injury or elderly wear and tear, as the front wheels have been lifted slightly higher than the rear to ensure absorbance of every bump and pothole that the shocking Australian roads can throw at you.

Practicality is another strong point, being able to seat 4 and a half people with plenty of leg room. Boot space can fit up to 3 substantially-sized suitcases, and passenger and driver space is much more lenient.

Visibility is great, mirrors can be adjusted while driving with no extra buttons, and the windows are fully electric, and the driver's side is automatic.

The car's slim but lengthy body allows for easy parallel parking, but main street and reverse parking can be more difficult.

To be honest, for a company that used to make bikes and boat motors, the Japanese have done quite a job with this nimble family saloon. This car would be priced between $6,000 all the way up to $15,000 for second hand, and the later models (highly recommended) at $22,000-$28,000.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th October, 2015

30th Oct 2016, 20:17

VTEC is a means of controlling the valve timing with engine speed, which on more recent models is asserted by the engine management system.

It doesn't function as an injector or a turbo, and the engine management cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be described as a "super-computer".