What has happened to the Honda Civic?!?

EITHER A STAPLE first car for squeaky voiced teenagers needing a set of wheels to get to their part-time burger bar jobs, or a late purchase for a pensioner requiring roominess and safety features up the wazoo, the Honda Civic has a certain place in peoples' hearts. It may not be prime aortic real estate, but it continues to be loved in its own unique way.
Perhaps the greatest feat the new Civic has pulled off therefore is it has morphed that platonic, almost condescending love into actual yearning desire. No word of exaggeration, the RS version we drove this week is a head-turner. Not just a turn of phrase there, people went out of their way to comment on how good it looks. We couldn't believe it. And when we revealed it was a derivation of a Civic, neither could they.
The ultimate improvement across the Civic range has been styling. With the RS model - bold sharp lines, an aggressive stance and racing type exhausts give off a sportier, younger feel. In essence it looks like a completely different car. Splashed with blue metallic paint, the colour set it off a treat.
Inside things are pretty slick too. A decent functional environment if not overly plush, the strong cutting line motif of the exterior has been continued inside. Dark materials mixed with the blue lights of the instruments make for a cool cockpit. Driving-wise, it's not a world-beater but gives a solid show. The RS' 1.5-litre turbo produces 180 hp and a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The turbo means that power is delivered efficiently and with extremely light steering gives the illusion of speed without actually breaking any laws.
Variant UAE prices for the new Civic
LXI [2.0 L Engine]: Dhs72,900
EXI [2.0 L Engine]: Dhs78,900
RS [1.5 L Turbo Eng]: Dhs95,900
david@khaleektimes.com