Gives us a good idea of what a facelift may bring about.
After three years on the market in the States, Japanese carmaker Honda has rolled up model updates for the 2019 model year that it claims makes small-but-significant changes to the overall appeal of the globally-popular family car, and previews what we might hope to receive in the near future on our shores. As part of its global streamlining the Honda Civic they have and the Civic we have are broadly similar, so it’s not unreasonable to consider that the US-market car could be hinting towards what Oz-market cars could get.
Small changes are abound, including the usual smattering of aesthetic updates. There’s a new ‘solid wing’ up front finished in piano black (rather than chrome), and a new front bumper that now accentuates the width and height (or lack) of the Civic. There’s also new chrome garnishes at the furthest edges of the bumper, and there are new headlights (according to Honda, because we can’t tell).
Move down to the side and you’ll notice new alloy wheel designs, while the rear sees a revised bumper with a chrome garnish, while the US-market cars get a unique rear light arrangement too. A new Sport variant there gains piano black highlights all over the shop, as well as a rather tasty sporty rear bumper with a centrally-mounted exhaust pipe that is pretty bloody cool to look at.
There are no new drivetrains debuting on the US-market car, with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC mill continuing service (though they get the option of a 6-speed manual in addition to the CVT auto). What is interesting is that there, Honda’s Sensing ADAS system is applied across the range, as part of Honda’s global commitment to improving road safety. By 2022, Honda intends to make Sensing (comprising of Collision Mitigation Braking System with Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation incorporating Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control) standard on all of its models, which gives us some hope of receiving Sensing meaningfully in our market.
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