Four-Doors For The Win? Honda Civic Saloon Hits UK And Irish Shores

By Chris Ward, May 11, 2018

At the start of this year, we brought you a review of the Skoda Hatch, a saloon offering by Skoda that, all in, is an impressive vehicle indeed. While many would argue that the market for four-door saloons appears to be fading, Skoda has proven that just isn’t the case. The convenience and affordability of these vehicles are most definitely still hitting the consumer mark. And, that point is proven by the fact that July/August is set to see Honda’s Civic Sedan saloon hitting UK and Irish shores. The release has not been embraced by everyone, and it’s fair to see why. After all, Honda looked to be appealing to an edgier audience with releases like the Hatchback in 2017. But, when you get into the nitty-gritty, the release of a four-door saloon makes complete sense for a manufacturer like this. For one thing, the more traditional design style suits the older audience Honda often appeal to. And, for a manufacturer famous for their loyal followers, a move like this makes complete sense. Those who were less onboard with the more radical releases like the Hatch are sure to get on board with this. Honda knows what they need to do, and they’re doing it. Perhaps that’s what earns them such a loyal fanbase in the first place.

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That, and the fact that this company of car makers are offering transferable car warranties and affordable prices. And, the move seems to be paying off in America already, where the Civic Sedan is pretty close to beating the Toyota Camry as America’s best-selling passenger car. A fact which has led to Honda not making any further changes to the Sedan for 2018. But, what can UK shores expect from this baby? This release shares many styling traits with the Hatch, if a little more conventional. Buyers will have an option of a 1.0-litre VTEC petrol or a 1.6-litre i-DTEC turbodiesel. All models also come complete with Honda’s sensing safety equipment. This includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist. That’s sure to work in this vehicle’s favour, especially given its four-door family convenience. At this stage, pricing is uncertain, but U.S. offerings currently come in at $18,840. So, that’s the car. But, who’s it going up against? Obviously, we’ve got the Skoda Hatch. There’s no denying that the sporty beauty of that will appeal to a younger audience than Honda’s offering. And, that’s far from the only contender, with our other favourites including the Jaguar XE, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Those are some car big names, and Honda could well see itself struggling for the top spot against them. Even critics aren’t holding their breath that this release will be a big seller. But, it’s possible Honda’s loyal fan base might just see them through on this one. That, and the fact that this is set to be a much cheaper release than some of the top models on the market. One thing’s sure; it’s definitely worth watching this space.