Commanding 70 percent of segment sales, the Honda Civic has been a sales success for the brand even with strong rivals like the Mazda3 and Toyota Altis hitting the market. Now comes a brand new Civic that proves the viability of the segment in Malaysia.
We take BMW’s best selling compact sedan, take note, it is no longer the 3 Series and instead it is this 2 Series sedan called the Gran Coupe which allows many middle class car buyers to move up from established Japanese and also Korean sedans to a German brand.
Let us explain. First we look closely at the BMW 2 Series.
The sleek 2 Series Gran Coupé celebrated its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2019, completing both BMW’s 2-Series line-up and the company’s four-door coupe range.
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé features the latest front-wheel-drive and AWD architecture also seen in the BMW 1-Series, along with an array of other technological developments. Equipped with cutting-edge chassis technology and innovative systems, the four-door model offers good driving dynamics and fun driving agility within the segment.
This BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is powered by a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine (1499cc) that produces just 138bhp and 220Nm of torque. It will reach a top speed of 213km/h and needs 8.7 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill.
The standout characteristic of the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupé is its silhouette which includes the frameless side windows for the four doors. The 2-Series Gran Coupé is 4,526mm in length and 1,800mm in width, but stands just 1,420mm tall.
Despite its low-slung appearance, front passengers are well catered for thanks to its 2,670mm wheelbase and there are various ways to expand the 430-litre load compartment. Rear passengers will feel a little crammed unless they are height challenged.
Now let’s take a closer look and the 11th generation Civic. This new Civic builds upon nearly 50 years of heritage as Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate and its largest selling model globally. Lauded as a “breath of fresh air” by a motor journalist in 1972 at the introduction of the first-generation Civic in Japan.
The Civic has always been known for its fun-to-drive dynamics, quality build and class best fuel efficiency which are qualities that have defined every generation since.
With every subsequent generation, Civic has become an influential part of the automotive landscape as well as a common sight on roads around the country. As it has evolved over the years, Civic continued to deliver a “wow” factor and the new benchmark for its class.
This new Honda Civic matures and gains more in all directions with new dimensions starting with 4674mm (before 4656 mm) in length, 1801mm (before 1799 mm) in width and 1415 mm (before 1433 mm in height), with a wheelbase of 2736mm (before 2700 mm).
So, this new Civic has more front legroom, more front shoulder room, more rear headroom, more rear legroom and more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe. However, some buyers (leaning towards the BMW) are not all that bothered by the availability of extra cabin space and instead will be looking at brand image.
This new 2022 model Civic gets the familiar 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 176bhp and 240NM of torque via a CVT. Yes, the previous version delivered 20Nm less torque. Its fuel efficiency remains at 17.2 km/liter which is class competitive. This means it is more powerful than the 3-cylinder front wheel drive BMW.
Buyers in this segment are mostly ONLY interested in ‘badge’ and its snob appeal. This is where BMW is ahead, even with this basement model. It is a LV handbag which is mostly high quality PVC and some leather (2 Series) against the all leather and quality finish COACH handbag (Honda Civic RS).
The BMW 218i Gran Coupe retails for just above RM201k whereas this latest Honda Civic with bigger cabin space and better power delivery from a proven 4-cylinder engine will probably sell for between RM125k to 138k (estimated by us).
This means, by taking home this new leaner and meaner Civic, you will have more available funds for lifestyle activities. Final decision is yours.
