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Mechanically, nothing’s been changed with the mid-level VTi. It’s still powered by the same 1.6-liter VTEC-3 engine mated to the same five-speed manual. Underneath, the Civic is still supported by the same Independent MacPherson Struts upfront and Double Wishbones at the back. Like before, the lack of safety equipment is disconcerting, more so as the car is 100,000 pesos more expensive than the safety-conscious City. As we were to find out, this is where the fun really lies. The Nissan X-Trail loaded with all-wheel drive and complete safety equipment led the way for me and the Honda Civic VTi as we made our way to a resort in Caylabne. Snailing our way through stop-and-go traffic, I found the Civic to have some unconquerable plus points. Its manual shifter and clutch to still be the best in its class. Even if I was wearing rubber shoes that weighed a ton, there was no feeling of discomfort. Like any other Honda, all of the major controls were within easy reach. The pedal positions, the steering wheel and even the ventilation and controls can all be easily managed with just touch-feel operation. However, the downsides are still left unattended. The Civic’s seats still offer way too little support for comfortable driving. The material felt cheap and hard that an hour into our journey, I was already beginning to fidget about. The reconfigured stereo controls required a tutorial to operate. Ditched are the large rotary knobs of the Clarion in exchange for incomprehensible little push buttons. This can seriously cause an accident just because you had to switch stations to avoid Carlos Agassi’s latest single. When we reached open road, Lester and Vernon dwindled to a dot in the distant horizon, no doubt the X-Trail being squeezed of every last ounce of power. Sure it had a slush box, but because of the bigger displacement it can accelerate pretty well. Of course, for my part, I used all three VTEC stages to catch up. Downshifting from fifth to third, the VTi surged forward, the great aural fest making sure that all 130 horses were accounted for. The Civic can reach speeds up to 140 km/h—maybe even more, if not for the severe rain and slippery road conditions. Every now and then, the Civic was able to catch up—especially in twisty bends, where the relatively balanced handling and low center of gravity can easily equalize the horsepower and drive train handicap. |
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