HONDA Civic 2019 review

Source: Honda India

At one time this car was one of the most popular cars out there in the market, because of its looks and interior design. And now, it is back after a long time on Indian roads. To some extent the new design can be made to look a bit similar to the old one, it's coupe body shape but not that similar. Yes, we are talking about Honda’s one of the beauties here, the Honda Civic.

Source: Honda India

History

Civic has been there since long. It was introduced in 1972 as a 2 door model car and then turned into a 3 door hatchback.  It was introduced as a subcompact car and it has gone through several changes since then.

It was later lifted up to the sedan range but still as a compact car, to be precise it falls in between Honda Fit and Accord. In the beginning, it attracted customers as it was known as the most fuel-efficient car. Not just fuel-efficient, it was reliable and environment-friendly. Its sporty looks and performance were also some of the reasons for its success.

Many in Japan shifted to Honda Fit as they preferred compact cars and minivans, the production of non-hybrid Civic was stopped in 2010. They later launched the 10th generation model in 2017.

Civic has grabbed attention worldwide and is going strong for decades. Now, let’s see how the latest Civic performs in the new world of cut-throat competition.

Source: Honda India

Looks & Design

This 2019 model is way sportier and sharp looking than the old one, and for me, this new design is what I prefer. The new headlamp looks sharp and aggressive with the front shape, and the back looks like it has been taken straight from the type R fits perfectly, and the body shape and line going from front to back with wheel muscular wheel arches add to the sport sharp look.

At inside, the old one when coming for the 1st time looked way ahead of its time, seating in that car was special and especially when compared to others. It was like a mini cockpit of a spaceship. I am not saying the new civic Interior is bad. The build quality is really good with the fit and finish. But it's not as mad as it was before.

When we talk about space for front drive and passenger and driver both leg and headroom is really good as you are sitting really low, and at the rear even if 2 tall people are at the front you will get a good leg room at back, but because of coupe shape there can be some issues for tall people at back only for the headroom will be there.

But the seating position is really good and the support given by these seats are really supportive especially in the front.

And at back the width and space is good enough to get 3 adults comfortable.

Source: Honda India

Specifications

 ENGINE

	Petrol	Diesel
Type	4 Cylinder, SOHC i-VTEC	4 Cylinder, DOHC i-DTEC
Displacement(CC)	1799	1597
No. of Valves	16	16
Power (kW [PS] @ rpm)	104 [141] @ 6500	88 [120] @ 4000
Torque (NM @ rpm)	174 @ 4300	300 @ 2000
Fuel Efficiency (km/l)*	16.5	26.8

TRANSMISSION

		Petrol	Diesel
Manual	-		6 Forward & 1 Reverse
Automatic	CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)

SUSPENSION SYSTEM

	Petrol	Diesel
Front	MacPherson Strut, Coil Spring
Rear	Multilink, Coil Spring

Source: Honda India

Performance

When it comes to performance, compared to its rivals it is underpowered. But it's not just the power that matters but also how it handles, and it handles corner like a champ.

Yes for Indian roads the civic ride height has been raised, but Honda has not just raised the ride height, by the way, it handles you can say they have done a good job civic gives confidence while going around corners and the weight of the wheel is gradual and proper, but the feedback is something else which I was expecting to be a bit better.

The power delivery is linear and gradual not as punchy as its rivals. You can say that the only thing it lacks most compared to its rivals is power, which is not by much margin but the looks and the way it corners can handle a bit more power with ease.

Even the ride quality is really good, it socks up to the irregularities of roads properly.

Source: Honda India

Safety Features
We really need to talk about the safety features Honda has installed in this beautiful Civic.
As they say in their website, "When it’s about safety, limits are set, pushed, and broken. And then, they’re set again. There are no compromises. So, you drive with total confidence."

Let's get to the first safety feature.

-LANE-WATCH (1ST IN SEGMENT#)
When signalling signal left, a small camera set on the mirror will bring the video feed to the central screen showing nearly 4 times more than the passenger-side mirror you see. This keeps you aware of your surroundings and kills the blind spots while you are on the road.

-6 AIRBAGS
Dual front i-SRS airbags, side airbags & side curtain airbags promises complete protection for each & every passenger.

-5-STAR ASEAN NCAP RATING
Honda believes in safety for everyone. Civic got ASEAN NCAP 5-star rating through enhanced collision safety performance in internal testing.

-ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE (EPB) with AUTO BRAKE HOLD (ABH) (1ST IN SEGMENT#)
The Electric Parking Brake takes the place of a traditional style brake to keep your car stationary with the push of a button.

-ACETM BODY STRUCTURE
It is Honda’s fully patented safety technology they developed that absorbs impact and diffuses G-forces generated during a collision for minimising the injury to passengers.

-EMERGENCY STOP SIGNAL (ESS)
In the event of sudden stops or brakes are applied suddenly, the hazard lights automatically flash to alert other drivers. Isn't it cool!

-POP-UP HOOD (DIESEL ONLY)
It helps to reduce the possible head injuries of pedestrians, in case they experience a frontal impact with the vehicle.

-VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
It prevents the loss of control around tight corners, the VSA system will stabilise the car by reducing understeer or oversteer.

-AGILE HANDLING ASSIST (AHA) (1ST IN SEGMENT#)
Applies brake pressure to individual wheels, enhancing cornering ability and decreasing the need for corrective steering.

-HILL START ASSIST (HSA)
Prevents the Civic from rolling backwards when you put leg from your brakes on a hill or an inclined plane. We have seen this facility in many SUVs and offroading cars.

-REAR SEAT ISO-FIX
It secures your child’s car seat to inbuilt ISO Fixpoints in the back seat and ensures maximum safety for them.

-ABS with EBD and BRAKE ASSIST
This feature prevents the car from the skidding even when you brake really hard.

-MULTI-ANGLE REARVIEW CAMERA
A choice of 3 views gives you a full picture of objects behind you as you reverse your Civic in cramped parking spaces. Well, this one is a good feature.

The safety features provided by Honda deserves appreciation, and we look forward to updations on the safety features. Honda here clearly balanced the lack of new design and inspiring style with new and amazing features.

Price: 17.70  - 22.30 lakhs

Source: Honda India

Final verdict:

Looks and design: 9/10

Specs & features: 8/10

Dynamics & performance: 7/10

Safety & quality: 8/10

If you're looking for a sporty looking car, which is comfortable and good city and highways go for civic. it is a great car to be in and to look at and gives great confidence, but if power is in your 1st priority then civic is not for you.

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The Pillion Questions

Riding on a pillion is not much of a task. You have to just sit there till you reach your destination. The guy who rides the bike should be the one concentrating and adjusting his body according to the situation. If anything happens, it's all the fault of the person riding the bike, isn't it?

Nope, it can be true sometimes but the pillion passenger holds some responsibility too on how good the ride is.

Confused? Yeah, I too used to think the same as you are now. What does the passenger have to do on a bike ride?

In fact, a passenger is a crucial person who can make the ride smooth as well as chaotic.

Let's get into the subject now. We are going to discuss the rules or say practices one should follow while riding a bike with a pillion rider and what should the guy on pillion do to make the ride smooth/safe for both of them.

 Things for the Main Rider to follow:

1. Choosing Appropriate Bike for the Ride

Choosing the right bike for your short/long journey will be a tricky decision as the pillion rider is going to be

Always remember, the bike you decide to take for your short/long tours should be chosen in consideration with the person who's going to be your companion.

 Let's make this clear. You can't go and pick up your old mom or grandpa in the same sports bike with high pillion seat in which you dropped your girlfriend home. And your girlfriend won't be impressed by the cruiser you bought to go on a ride with your uncle. Sure the cruiser is comfortable and smooth for the old chaps but not impressive to your girlfriend.

2. Getting On and Off the Bike

Always ask the pillion rider to communicate while getting on and off the bike. Also, park the bike only after the passenger in off the bike as it will be difficult to bend the bike with a passenger to put it on the stand. The same rule goes for the time when you lift the stand to ride the bike.

3. Don't make them Passenger Panic

You may be good at doing a wheelie and taking sharp curves while bending the bike almost your knee touching the ground. But dude, do you want to give the passenger a heart attack? Understand the rider then ride the way they prefer, as the next time you ask for a trip, they may not be interested because you scared the hell out of them the last time.

4. Communicate well before doing something

You can drive your bike as you wish when you are riding solo, but when you have a passenger, you must talk to tell them the way you ride and what to expect so that they will be ready for it.

Tell them when you are about to go on high speed in highway and when there is a sea of potholes are coming. Slow down where there is traffic as you may be confident at overtaking in traffic but they are not. Pillion riders are more scared while going fast in traffic than in highways (I personally agree).

5. Safety of passenger

The helmets are a must in some states in India for even the pillion riders. Some states have loosened the rule but an alternative hasn't been imposed or just the police aren't much concerned about this rule. If you are really concerned about the pillion rider, then buy a helmet for him/her. Other motorbike gears can be fitted to the riders both front and pillion as additional safety.

6. Suspension and seat comfort

The back pain due to riding a bike is not a myth. Yes, the pillion riders too get backache after a long rider. Be sure to put the best suspension in your bike as you are taking a passenger.

 

Tips to be a Good Pillion Rider:

1. Avoid unnecessary movement

This is the most serious thing you should focus on. Yes, not moving unnecessarily. I know it is difficult to contain your excitement while going places but, it is not a car, it is a two-wheeler with very limited safety. Try to remain calm and not to move your body which may hinder the balance the rider is maintaining. You can move your head as much as you want and your upper body can be moved slowly. Be careful to not give sudden movements and weight shifts while riding.

2. Awareness of the Riders movement and position

Be an observer of the rider’s movement and try to match with him/her a little. At turns try to imitate a little as sitting straight(perpendicular to the road) while the rider takes a sharp turn by bending the bike will not be a good idea (if you understand physics).

3. Holding the Rider properly

Holding on to the waist is the best option you have which will affect the least on the balance and ride quality. If you are uncomfortable or the other person is, you can hold on to the sidebars of pillion seats for safety.

4. Avoid leaning on the Rider

It may not be a good the idea to lean on the rider if he is not your boyfriend or husband (pun intended). Leaning on can be uncomfortable to many in a physically and in psychologically too.

5. Concentrate on The road as the Rider

Riders have to be concentrating on the road fully but the pillion rider must look at the road now and then. There can be situations when the pillion guy has to move his/her body more than required and sometimes they have to hold on to the rider or sidebars and all this could be done if s/he concentrate on the road with the rider.

6. Do not sleep while riding

Of course, do you need an explanation for this, do you?

7. Do not make the Rider Panic with sudden sound or loud talks

See dude, if you want to live, you have to leave behind your stupid. Awkwardly shouting and moving can distract the rider from the road and guys, even losing concentration from the the road for a second can cost you so much.

8. You should not drink even if you are a Pillion Rider

It is generally accepted when we say the driver/rider shouldn’t drink, but it is not enough if you are on a two-wheeler. Safety is fully assured when you are in full control of your body and mind and you lose both when you drink.

Be active and ride with your partner safely. Maintaining safety in a bike ride or a car is upon everybody hoped in the vehicle. If you gained any useful information and benefitted from this article, please let us know in the comment.

Information courtesy: https://motorbikewriter.com/tips-for-pillion-riding/

https://www.bikedekho.com/advisory/how-to-be-a-good-pillion-rider.htm

BMW R1250GS Adventure

History

A motorcycle manufactured in Berlin is one of the most sought after off-roading bikes in the world. BMW Motorrad which is a part of BMW group manufactures R125GS.

In September 2018, the firm confirmed R1250GS Adventure and R1250RT will have VVT(Variable Valve System).

The R1200GS First launched in 2004, attracted many who were interested in off-roading and then R1250GS in 2012 was BMW’s top-selling bike.

Looks & Design

By just looking at it you can say that it is a serious ATV. One of the widest off-roading touring bike I have ever see. But it looks stunning with that BMW touch. It has also got full HD screen info display which can show u from full bike details including pressure in tires to showing direction. The new BMW R1250GS now has the “Connectivity” feature as standard equipment, including a 6.5-inch full-colour TFT screen. In conjunction with the standard BMW Motorrad Multi-Controller, this means the rider can access vehicle & connectivity functions smoothly and quickly.

The side view is almost like an open shark mouth. Seat and handles adjusted properly for balancing it off-road. The chassis is and the colour combination gives it a fierce look and ready signal for rough off-roading.

BMW also made things easy to access details and move around the menu to change settings and bike behaviour. Even the seat height can be adjusted depending on the rider.

It is available in colours: Metallic matte, light white/Lupin blue metallic/racing red/Icing grey.

Specifications

Engine Displacement.:	1254 cc
No Of Cylinders:	2
Torque:	143 Nm @ 6250 rpm
Power:	136 PS @ 7750 rpm
Top Speed:	Over 200 Kmph
ABS:	Dual Channel
Head Lamp:	LED
Tachometer:	Digital
Tyre Make:	NA

Performance

Let’s talk about performance, starting with off-roading which is the main purpose of this bike. GS adventure has got all the tech and power it needs to do the job. One of the most capable bike I have ever seen, but you need to be good to do that. A person who is thinking of going off-road for the 1st time in this bike might think differently as she needs attention and control to keep the power in check.

The suspension setup is perfect and comfortable. In the hand of the right part, it can take you to roughly all the places where an off-road bike which is available in the market can take you with comfort. And once you disengage rear ABS you can also have some fun on loose surface with ease.

It has two driving modes as standard. The bike comes with Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and Hill-start control as standard. You get a Touring Package too with Dynamic ESA, keyless ride, cruise control, centre stand,  preparation for a navigation unit, case holders on both left and right sides. Lastly, the Dynamic Package comes with pro riding modes including ABS Pro, HSC Pro, DTC, and DBC support. The package also includes Gear Shift Assistant Pro, Daytime riding light and LED turn indicator.

When it comes to the road your bike won’t make you feel out of place, after all, it is a BMW which is specialized in the on-road bike so even an off-road adventure bike will give you confidence on road. You can easily adjust the suspension which is electronically adjustable depending on the road. Cornering even in this big heavy bike feels planted, it is not flickable as that of on-road bikes bike it does the job rather well.

This bike feels like it is 40% off-roader and 60% on road in hand of a normal average driving a person who knows how to off-roading, but things changes once it goes the hand of a professional it will reverse the roll. It has also got the BMW signature boxer engine which reduces the centre of gravity and vibration. And depending on the road you can choose the type of power delivery.

Price: Rs. 18.25 lakh – Rs. 21.95 lakh

Final verdict

In the end, this bike is here for the people who want to travel to long distance in comfort. It can be just across the city or to join just across a mountain or to go around the world.

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Mahindra XUV 300 Review

Source: Mahindra India

Looks and Design

Is it the new Ecosport, is it a compact version of  Duster, or is it the new Brezza?

Nope, it’s new Mahindra XUV300. Bundled with so many features and style and tricks, here comes XUV300 to ruin the market shares of the SUV and XUV companies.

This car may for some people give a vibe of Jeep Compass, and guys it is muscular in looks and tactical in design and in the budget for middle-class buyers. Rear AC vents are missing and charging point too. Boot space is as big as a compact hatchback, enough for 4 people, yeah, just enough. From the front and back, the vehicle looks stunning and aggressive. There are always cases of the frontal design being classic and muscular and the being just a normal finishing. But in this case, you may look from any angle and still it is hard to find a bad design.

Source: Mahindra India

Upholstery is awesome and steering wheel and the 7-inch touch screen are placed appropriately.

The dashboard is kind of old and filled with buttons. But the designs blend well and looks ok. Armrest inside doesn’t slide. Legroom in passenger seats are fine and headroom also compatible for tall people.

Electrically operating sunroof, wow.

And the colour options available are really astonishing. You can choose from the following options:

Pearl White

Aquamarine

Sunburst Orange

Dual-Tone Red Rage

Dual-Tone Aquamarine

Red Rage

D'Sat Silver

Napoli Black

My personal favourite from these is the dual tone red rage!

Specifications

Specifications	Turbo Petrol	Turbo Diesel
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Engine Capacity (cm3)	1197	1497
Max. Power kW (BHP @ r/min)	81 kW (110 BHP @ 5000 r/min)	85.8 kW (115 BHP @3750 r/min)
Max. Torque (Nm) @ r/min	200 Nm @ 2000-3500 r/min	300 Nm @ 1500 - 2500 r/min
Transmission	6-speed Manual
BRAKES
Front Brakes	Disc
Rear Brakes	Disc
SUSPENSION, TYRES and TURNING RADIUS
Front Suspension	MacPherson Strut with Anti-roll Bar
Rear Suspension	Twist Beam Suspension with Coil Spring
Turning Radius (m)	5.3
Tyre Size	215/55 R17(Alloys) - For W8 & W8(Optional Pack) 205/65 R16 (Steel) - For W4 & W6
DIMENSIONS
Length (mm)	3995
Width (mm)	1821
Height (mm)	1627
Wheelbase (mm)	2600
Fuel Tank Capacity (litre)	42

Source: Mahindra India

Source: Mahindra India

Performance

Mahindra has come up with a new sub 4m compact SUV. But this time it's not like Alturus G4 where there is only change in grill and logo from Ssangyong to Mahindra. Yes, XUV 300 is based on Tivoli but you can point out lots of differences; the main difference being the size. Mahindra had to cut Tivoli to get it under 4-m length, to make some space which is cut maximum is from the back., which makes the boots space as small as that of a hatchback

XUV 300 has got the same engine as that of the Marazzo, but it has been detuned, and you can feel it while pushing the car. It doesn't mean that the car is not punchy and feels lazy, it feels good enough to push it hard and still ignites confidence in you, but if you're at low rpm say below 1500 you will have to downshift to get it moving it gets worst if you go up the hill.

Source: Mahindra India

The engine refinement of this engine in Marazzo was good, but this detuned one has a bit of vibration which you can feel around. Also, there is engine noise you can hear if you rev it hard.  There are some good points like the suspension setup is really good, there is body roll but it is not going to make you feel nervous.

Next is the steering, they have provided it with 3 modes which change the feedback and weight on the Steering wheel. What I think is they should have only kept comfort mode which has the right amount of weight and feedback for this type of car. In the end, it is a compact SUV under 4m segment so dynamics will never be its strong suit, still, if you have an empty road on which you can rev with some corners you will enjoy it. With enough ground clearance of 180 mm to pass over anything which a normal road and off-road can offer. Still, bcoz of lack of power and torque in low rpm, it might not do as good as others.

Source: Mahindra India

Price: INR 7,90,000-11,99,000

Final verdict:

If you're looking for a baby XUV300 for cruising, with a bit of comfort, controlled-power and usually carry less luggage, and if you want a car with good steering and a bit confident in cornering, this is it. I insist you, go for it if you like it, you won't be disappointed.

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