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According to the news from Wapcar.my, Honda launched the 11th generation Civic at Gauteng in August, following the recently launched HR-V SUV. The Japanese automaker was once hugely known for great cars and even better reliability, but sales have declined in recent years. The launch of their latest models could revive the automaker's reputation and fortune in the local market. The new Honda Civic for sale in the market immediately impresses with its slim, clean sedan styling and purposeful stance, thanks to the placement of the wheels on the outer edge of the wheel arches. A continuous styling line runs from the nose to the sides of the trunk, and the car looks stylish. And that extends to the refined yet sumptuous interior, fully equipped with all the latest connectivity, safety and driving aids. Many of these features are operated from the spokes of the traditional Honda small-diameter steering wheel. It's only available in one model, and that's the Civic RS sedan. It has an impressive 1.5-liter four-cylinder multi-valve turbocharged petrol engine and CVT transmission. For fear that I will hear groans from readers at this point, let me hasten to add that this is without a doubt the most successful demonstration of a continuously variable transmission I have tested for now. It perfectly mimics the best examples of traditional multi-speed automatic transmissions, with programmed steps of how the belt interacts with the CVT's cone system. So you effectively benefit from appropriately kept fixed ratios during tough acceleration, but the transmission shifts continuously when the engine's red line is reached. So: there's no terrible humming that gets in the way of lesser CVT versions. The 131kW motor is a free-spinning gem, slamming through the 6,000rpm power peak with a thrill and a never-intrusive sporty note, even when you hit the pedals loudly. When operating smoothly, thanks to the distribution of maximum torque of 240 Nm at just 1,700 rpm, Honda claims an overall consumption of 6.2 liters / 100 km. This number is completely believable because the CVT gearbox is very efficient in cruise mode, allowing low rpm when opening the throttle lightly. The fuel tank can accommodate only 47 liters, which sounds small. But with great economy achievable, this translates to a range of 700 km or so, which is quite acceptable. The Civic's cabin is a very quiet place. The seat upholstery is a mix of suede and leather, elegantly stitched in red cotton to continue this Civic's sporty RS theme. And lest the question: what about the new Civic Type R? When it comes to Civic Type R, Honda has ensured that the next-gen Type R, will be launched next year, which is for a lot of car enthusiasts. And it is the last sports hatchback available. That sparks up the fact that the new Civic's interpretation is a sedan. Honda had attached homage to 10 predecessors of the Civic, which can be traced back to 1972. South Africans never liked this first interpretation, but in the early 1980s, the Honda brand entered the four-wheeler arena with a second version. In fact, this second version of the Civic, a small sedan, was launched here as the Ballade. And that name was used for several subsequent generations of Honda compact sedans in the 1990s. When the Civic's nameplate arrived in the late 1990s, it was in hatchback form. During the early years of Honda's presence in South Africa (Honda motorcycles have been sold here since the early 1960s), the brand quickly gained a reputation for exceptional quality. That is, customers can rely on them without any worry. The quality and solid air of this new Civic RS are evident from the moment you walk in and close the door. And once it's in motion, you realize that the fine balance between precise steering response and ride quality is once again the key feature you appreciate in a top-of-the-line Honda. The RS comes with standard 18-inch alloys and low-profile tires, but the ride is never harsh, despite the firm suspension. Road noise is also minimized. On the safety front, the new Civic sedan has six airbags, ABS (anti-lock braking system), cornering assist and an electronic driver assist suite. These include Collision Mitigation Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Monitoring Camera, and Automatic High Altitude Control. To create a distinctive interior atmosphere, the RS also comes with a 12-speaker Bose Surround Stage sound system, seemingly tailored for the new Civic. In addition, for those in luxury, the power-adjustable front seats and body shape provide ample rear head and legroom for full-sized adults of a domain configuration. Typical South-African. Honda also pays great attention to the arrangement of control buttons in the front part of the cabin, and the placement of digitizers, switches and buttons so that it is reasonable and easy to see. I love that mesh feature in the dash that spans the entire width of the cockpit, giving the car a bit of retro-modern personality and breaking the rigor of the mostly charcoal interior. Overall, this is a car that competes very strongly, both in looks and in feel, with the compact sedans from Audi and BMW. It sells for R669,000 and includes an impressive five-year or 200,000 km warranty, a five-year service pack, and three-year AA roadside assistance insurance.