It’s little wonder why the Honda Civic continues to be Canada’s bestselling car and has been for 24 straight years! Its value, style and impeccable safety standards put it heads and shoulders above the rest. Honda‘s laser-focus philosophy of offering modern, sleek and human-centered vehicles have kept them at the top of their game.
We had the joy of driving a real fan favourite in the 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring, in a stunning Sonic Grey Pearl. Seeing it for the first time literally elicited a squeal from me as I got ready to embark on some Canada Day adventures. I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever to be paired with a car this colour. I’m obsessed. And others are too! While ordering Chicken Biryani, a gentleman walked by professing his love of the grey! It takes a special car to elicit a reaction like that from a stranger.
I did encounter a serious family matter over the weekend and am so grateful for this amazing ride being there for me and my family. More below. We couldn’t have done it without the Civic 4D Touring!
Let’s talk technical stuff first. The 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring is powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, at 180 @ 6000 horsepower. We get in times where fuel prices are just astronomical, Honda has its focus set on consciousness – ecological and economical. This Civic runs on Regular fuel, with Eco-Assist and Honda‘s game-changing ECON MODE, with Idle Stop included. Its Fuel Economy tallies-in at 7.6/6.1/6.9 litres/100 km. While Honda can’t do much about gas prices, they do ensure you get the best bang for your buck.
Now let’s talk elegance and sophistication. This Civic is elevated with a luxurious variety of colour options:
Rallye Red
Aegean Blue Metallic
Crystal Black Pearl
Lunar Silver Metallic
Meteorite Gray Metallic
Morning Mist Metallic
Platinum White Pearl
Sonic Gray Pearl
While most other editions of the Civic come with a 6-way Driver’s Seat Power Adjustment, the 4D Touring comes with 8-way power adjustment. Front and back passengers also get heated seating, because we love and care about the people we drive around.
We’re super-picky about the Audio experience when driving and we get the best here. The 4D Touring comes with a BOSE® Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including Subwoofer. We were able to enjoy sound at its best in AM/FM/Sirius XM and our Spotify playlists on our phone. Connecting the Bluetooth was a breeze, as was keeping our phone charged with Wireless Charging!
One enhancement we’ve seen in recent models from Honda, this one included, is a 9″ colour touchscreen (versus 7″ on other models) and also a 10.2″ colour TFT full digital driver meter display (versus 7″ on others). We love the clean new Honda font and size of display. This is even better when reversing and parking where we depend on the colour display and now we can see traffic oncoming even clearer.
Other intuitive things we can’t get enough of are the Civic 4D Touring‘s Dual Climate Zone. This is actually a huge dealm which my friend was so fascinated by as she’d never seen that in a car before. In the Summer I prefer being chilly, whereas sometimes my passengers have a different tolerance to A/C. Honda once again proves that it understands not only its customer base, but their customer’s “customers”. Also a huge fan of the visually-pleasing Honeycomb Air Vents in the car.
From a Safety lens, the Civic 4D Touring boasts a stocked cupboard. Traffic Sign Recognition is so super-handy when you’re driving a long stretch (especially on rural roads) and have forgotten the Speed Limit. And when driving at night not all areas are well-lit, which is why we appreciate Auto High-Beam. We love having Proximity Entry when our hands are full, but even better is that it has Walk-away Door Lock for those who get anxiety about whether or not they’ve locked their doors. Its Blind Spot Information (BSI) System, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor System, Traffic Jam Assist, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) System, Collision Mitigation Braking System™(CMBS®) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System serve the sole purpose of saving lives and they continue to do so.
The Civic 4D Touring also has Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. This is a design that uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision. Let’s not forget all the Airbags as well. It comes wth a Front Airbag System, Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor System, Side Airbags, Rear Side Airbags andeven Knee Airbags. Basically all the Airbags.Honda‘s got you.
Not much to critique here other than super-minor things. The Driver’s Seat has small perforations which you have to be super careful about, especially if you’re a coffee drinker like me, as this can be tricky to clean if the liquid seaps through the holes. Another thing, while super-sleek, the Car does sit quite low, so be super-careful when exiting to avoid slips.
The 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring starts at $31,000 CAN.
Some Canada Day memories we created in the 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring. It was there for us in our celebrations, star sightings and even a worrying family emergency.
Scares aside, there was time for celebrations and sightings otherwise this Canada Day weekend, thanks to the 2022 Honda Civic 4D Touring. We met a Top Gun star, a Grammy winner and a member of Bob Marley dynasty! And even had a lot of quality time with beanie.
A major highlight of our Summer is the Queen’s Plate, North America’s most historic Horse Race and party! The season is gearing-up for the big day August 21, 2022 and we got a clearer reading of Tea Leaves this past weekend as well.
It’s a party! Lady Speightspeare and shipper Crystal Cliffs dead-heat in the Nassau Stakes. The win marks Hall of Famer Roger Attfield’s 2000th career win! pic.twitter.com/WWLU6NePAb
April and May have been absolutely bonkers. Not sure if yours was the same? The Pandemic brought us a bit of downtime, but since this province’s reopening, it’s been literally everything all at once these past couple months in catch-ups. With multiple Red Carpet events back-to-back like the Juno Awards and the David Foster Foundation A Night on Broadway Gala, plus Premieres for Box Office smashes likeTop Gun: Maverick and Downton Abbey: A New Era this past bit, plus family gatherings and a wedding even, we’re delighted to be in the thick of all the action again. But more so look forward to a slower pace in June!
We couldn’t have made it through Victoria Day weekend and all our commitments without the help of the gorgeous 2022 HONDA CR-V BLACK EDITION. While we’ve driven many CR-Vs in the past, none match the sophistication and style of the Black Edition with its perforated black leather seats, black woodgrain interior trim, and black-painted 19″ wheels which set it apart from the others.
Let’s get superficial for a moment, because looks matter and the SUV does not disappoint. Once glance it its Ambient Lighting front door handles and rear-tinted windows, you’ll see this is all in the details and the Black Edition possesses a sleek sense of mystery, and we’re all about it. We love also that its Panoramic Moonroof, can be adjusted to allow more or less light in, which can be crucial in these hot Summer months ahead.
This CR-V is powered with a 1.5 litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 179 -lb.ft. of torque. While acceleration can be a click behind to start, once you’re rolling, its sheer power is undeniable.
Gas prices are on all our minds of late with Ontario seeing $2 litres of gas for the first time in history. You’ll be relieved to know that the CR-V is economy-minded at a Fuel Economy of 8.7/7.4/8.1 L/100 KM (City/Hwy/Combined). Above this, the SUV benefits from having an ECON Mode and Idle Stop features.
Honda is known for its Driver and Passenger Intuitiveness and nails the mark yet again here. The Driver’s Seat goes 12-ways with power adjustment with added Lumbar Support here, and the Driver’s Position can be saved and set via Seat Position Memory. Front and Passener Seats come with warmers, as does the Leather Steering Wheel. We love that Climate Control once again here is customizable and sync-able for Driver and Passenger, really showing that Honda gets individual needs of Driver and Passenger. This, and also the many, many charging ports on the front and back sides, plus Wireless Charging plate. We love Proximity Entry and Remote Starter options, the latter which makes this a car for all the seasons we experience here in Ontario. How many cold mornings have you wished you could have had that car warmed and ready for you?
We cannot stress how important the Audio and Entertainment experience is on our drives. The CR-VBlack Edition comes with a 331-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 9 speakers including subwoofer. This is an unparalleled sound experience and no matter whether we’re listening to SiriusXM™, or connecting to Spotify on our phone via Bluetooth, we’re hearing our Music exactly the way the Artist intended – full, crisp and full of detail.
Safety is always first and foremost with Honda and they round-up the troops again here to ensure you are as safe as can be with the 2022 Honda CR-V Black Edition. We appreciate always having an extra pair of eyes and that Multi-angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines makes reversing and parking so simple. Smart features like Auto High-Beam, Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers (and Rear-Windshield Wipers too!) are things we appreciate. We know how bad our weather can get – case in point – a destructive thunder shower Southwestern Ontario witnessed. Every added bit of visibility matters.
The CR-V benefits on the daily from features like its Blindpsot Information, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control, ensuring you’re alert and driving well even when you are just doing your best to make it through these exhausting times.
If you’ve ever had a flat tire (and we have a few times!), you’d know how important it is to have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System* (TPMS). The CR-V comes with this.
In addition to Collision Warnings, the SUV comes with a plethora of airbag protection: i-SRS airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system and SmartVent™ side airbags. These are the features that continue to save lives on the daily.
…and did we mention the incredible storage space here?
The 2022 HONDA CR-V BLACK EDITION starts at $45,370 CAN. More here.
Some highlights from our week. Some incredible taste-filled adventures, celebrations and sightings!
It’s been a minute since we’ve driven a Hybrid, but what better way to do Easter Weekend than with the 2022 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID? It’s in times like this when gas prices have skyrocketed that we really appreciate having a car that one, is so conscious of the environment, and two is mindful of your wallet. Possessing that gorgeous elegance and style that the Accord has come to be known for, there is everything to love about the Accord Hybrid!
The 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid is powered by a Lithium Ion Battery and 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Atkinson cycle DOHC, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine and the car drives as beautifully as it looks. Turning on the ignition with its push-button, you hear an ethereal hum which one of my friends describes as sounding “like a spaceship”. Yes, this car is out of this world! And the engine is so silent that you wonder at times if this thing is even on! Don’t ask me how Honda did it, but they did!
Operating at 212 @ 6200 combined (gasoline + electric) horsepower, the car is pure strength. Running on just Regular fuel with a Fuel Economy of 5.0/5.0/5.0 City/Hwy/Combined, we were relieved that our drives from the burbs to the city and the country and back, were pleasingly affordable. While we can’t control fuel prices, the Accord ensures we get the most out of our dollar. This is a car we would stick with for the long haul. The Accord can do no wrong.
The Audio Entertainment piece is always important in our daily drives. Its 452-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer provide an elevated audio experience, and of course it is Sirius XM-ready. The only one small thing we could nitpick about is that with various phones synced to this car prior via Bluetooth, the system didn’t have the intuition to know to sync first to my phone, the most recently-added. The Car does benefit from several USB ports front and back and of course, a wireless charging plate in the front – though we wish it were tilted a bit more towards the Driver for easier glancing at our phone’s Google Maps, which is our preferred way of navigation.
The comfort level here is mastered to an art. We’d be pressed to think of any other car that seats as comfortable as the Accord. The Driver’s Seat comes with 12-way power adjustment (Front Passenger gets 4-way), including 4-way power lumbar support. Seats come with warming and cooling buttons, and air-filtrated Climate Control is customizable for Driver and Front Passenger. Back Passengers also get Rear-Ventilation Ducts. We also love how smart it is to tell you that you’ve left something in the back seat just as you’re about to leave the car!
Safety features are unparalleled with the Accord Hybrid. Active Safety features include: Collision Mitigation Braking System™, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Forward Collision Warning system, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning system and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system.
There also is a feature called Driver Attention Monitor, which uses an angle sensor to measure the degree of steering-wheel corrections by the driver to maintain a proper lane position. If it senses too much correction activity, it will notify the driver to take a break. This could save lives, or in the least encourage you to get that much-needed coffee, and we can never use enough reminders for that!
Passive Safety features include Traffic Sign Recognition which ensures you know the speed limit where you are driving (helpful in more rural roads). This an a list of different airbags: i-SRS airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system, Front knee airbags and SmartVent™ side airbags. For those of us with kids, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) have been added, in addition to Child Safety Locks.
Above this, that almost-mandatory Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines makes us a pro at parking, especially downtown in those Green P lots!
The 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid is everything and itstarts at $37,370 CAN. Learn more here.
A look back at our star-studded, award-winning Easter Weekend, thanks to the 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid. So happy to be out again!
Also, did you catch new Showtime Series THE FIRST LADY starring Viola Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer? We spotted star O-T Fagbenle in town as well. He stars in the new Series as President Obama! Series streams now on Crave!
Spring is springing, and were we ever glad to get a chance to test drive the 2022 HONDA CIVIC TOURING, celebrating this warmer weather!Okay, let’s not get too carried away. When we say warmer weather, we’re just glad to be above 0°c! We’re just glad to be able to start attending in-person events and see friends once again, which the Civic Touring took us to and from safely.
We previewed this bestseller in a gorgeous classic Platinum White Pearl and our drives in a Civic have never been smoother and calmer.
With a super-quiet 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder, 180 horsepower engine, the 2022 Honda Civic Touring is everything we need for our everyday driving. Its ECON mode and conscious Eco-Assist System continue to make Honda the deal-breaker when stacked against the competition. And with a great combined Fuel Economy of 7.1 L/100 km, who doesn’t appreciate some more value, seeing how fuel prices have skyrocketed in recent months?
Its BOSE Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including subwoofer provides for superb acoustics in our drives, and navigating with its 9″ colour touchscreen (including clean, crisp new Honda font!) is a breeze. Syncing to our Spotify playlists was so simple via Bluetooth Audio. Though we noticed a few skips here and there, overall this was no issue. The Civic Touring‘s wireless charging continues to spoil us and our passengers really appreciated the abundance of charging ports throughout the car.
The 2022 Honda Civic Touring is packed with little luxuries. Driver, front and back passengers get heated seating and the leather-trimmed seating looks great. For added convenience, a panel folds-out as an armrest and drink-holders. Dual-zone Climate Control is perfect because while we like a cool drive, our passengers (including Mom) like it warmer. It’s the attention the details in the passenger experience – not only the Driver experience – that makes Honda standout from the pack!
We also appreciate the car’s Proximity Entry and Assisted Opening Trunk was a bit of a lifesaver when hauling bags of groceries on our errand runs. Aesthetically, the car has several little flourishes including a honeycomb mesh dashboard and updated air vent knobs which also look amazing. We live for the moonroof, especially now that our days are a bit longer and there is more daylight!
The Civic Touring continues to pack-in the safety features including Rain-Sensing Wipers, Rear-View Camera with guided parking, Low-Speed Braking Control, plus Body-colour Front and Rear Parking Sensors. Above this, the standard safety features we’ve come to adore from Honda are back once again, like Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation System, Vehicle Stability Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition (to keep you within speed limits), plus Front and Side and Side Curtain Airbags. Drive reassured.
Re-live some of the amazing memories we made in the 2022 Honda Civic Touring in our Test Drive:
What an honour it was getting to Test Drive the 2022 Honda Passport Touring over the Holidays. This gorgeous SUV combines an aggressive cutting-edge style with utility. The Holidays were about taking these challenging circumstances we’re all facing right now across Ontario and making the most of them, attending a few events and seeing friends and family. And of course, stocking on essentials as the province enters Stage Two restrictions. We appreciate the Passport being there for us ensuring we got everywhere safely.
The super-powerful Passport is powered by a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC®V6 engine, operating at 280 @ 6000 horsepower. Our vehicle came in a gorgeous Obsidian Blue Pearl with black leather-trimmed seats. We were impressed by the Driver’s Seat’s 10-way adjustable seat with lumbar support. Driver and front passengers also get an adjustable armrest and get this, all seats front and back have seat warmers and a climate control vents! The Passport is a real people pleaser, seating five very comfortably, understanding the intrinsic needs of both Driver and Passenger. And did we mention the spacious trunkspace? This came in handy as we loaded gifts, essentials and groceries as we stocked-up seeing how we plan to stay in a lot over the next bit in a effort to curb these rising case counts.
The SUV comes with a 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer. We are big on having Sirius XM™ Hits 1 blaring in our drives or just our Holiday Spotify Playlists from our phone so we appreciated the fantastic sound. The system is navigated via a Display Audio System and syncing to our phone was a breeze with Bluetooth Streaming Audio. It also is Apple CarPlay®/ Android Auto™-ready. You also can tether Wi-Fi, read and respond to text messages via the display.
We recognize that staying charged and connected is important and the Passport comes with a total five charging options including a Wireless Charging Plate. We did have some issues with our phone sliding during our drives though, going on and off the charge. Instead, we opted to plug our phone into one of the USB outlets which charged a lot more efficiently.
The Passport also is loaded with subtle features which improve the driver experience. Things like Ambient Lighting, Maintenance Minder, Tire Pressure Monitor (with Tire Fill Assist too!), Proximity Entry, Active Noise Cancellation, Acoustic Windshields, Rain-Sensing Wipers and just having Rear-Windshield Wipers are things we definitely notice when a car doesn’t come with them. The Passport has all of these.
While this is a rugged SUV, don’t be misled. It nails all the marks in style too. We love its 20″ aluminum-alloy wheels, front and rear splash guards and let’s take a moment to appreciate that beautiful one-touch Moonroof. The Passport is just as obsessed with performance, utility and power as it is looks, and we’re here for it.
Safety during the Holidays always is a concern as we continue to experience of the most erratic winters yet. One week it feels like Spring, one week it’s unmistakably the dead of winter. The SUV‘s rear-view camera is a dream backing-out of parking spots downtown or at the mall, and while it often gets splashed with slush in these conditions, it is important to give it a good wipe so that you reverse with a clear line of site.
We did have to visit the country over the Holidays and might not have made it through as smoothly if it weren’t for the Passport‘s Hill Start Assist which was a lifesaver and sometimes when there’s so much snow, its 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Forward Collision Warnings and Lane/Road Departure Warnings are an undisputable asset. The Passport is armed with SmartVent™ side airbags and Side Curtain Airbags with rollover sensor system in the event they are ever needed. These are the things that both save our lives and the lives of loved ones.
We’re just going to talk about some of our smaller personal challenges with the Passport, though there weren’t many. The Passport runs on Regular gas, has a Fuel Economy of 12.5/9.8/11.3 litres/100 km, hence if you are used to the outstanding value that Honda‘s Sedans give you, this takes a bit of getting used to. We recall on average having to put in about $30-$40 of gas a day in our Holiday travels, whereas for a Honda Civic, that same amount of money could last you a few days of driving. This can add-up quickly but if you favour power and performance, and aren’t concerned as much with more frequent visits to the gas station, the Passport is right up your alley.
Another thing is that I live in a Condo with underground parking. The Passport is rather wide at 2279/2115.8 mm width, including mirrors unfolded/folded and we had a few close calls with the pillars in the parking lot, though the Passport‘s intuitive sensors and alerts ensured we stayed out of damage’s way. Having an automatic folding side mirrors would definitely eliminate some of the worry.
The 2022 Honda Passport Touring starts at $52,170 and you can learn more about it here.
Let’s revisit our Holidays, courtesy of the 2022 Honda Passport Touring!
We are so delighted to get to be among the first to try the wonderful 2022 HONDA CIVIC TOURING. While there aren’t too many dramatic changes to this already winning formula, it’s all about the finishing touches that lift this massively-popular choice for Canadians!
Armed with a 1.5L/180-hp/177-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine, we get lots of power with this four-door Sedan. We love fuel economy, especially with gas prices having soared and finally dropping a small bit for a bit of a breather for our wallets. Happy we were able to do a few long distance road trips over the weekend getting ready for the Holidays ahead, on just a tank of gas. The Civic Touring like prior models comes with ECON mode and EcoAssist too. And though it’s taken a bit of getting used to, we do appreciate the environmental and economic benefits of having Idle Stop.
We’re not going to lie, the Civic Touring gave us Honda Accord vibes, taking several aesthetic cues from that, our favourite Honda offering. We got to preview this in Platinum White Pearl, which exuded elegance and class. Small sleek updates in detail really give the Civic Touring that hint of sophistication adding even more value to the experience. For example, we now get these stunning honeycomb air vents (see below) which look superb. There’s also the gorgeous and easy-to-use 9″ Colour Touchscreen (we also notice a new clean font!) is our guide to the car enabling us to navigate the vehicle’s many settings and audio entertainment. We love its BOSE Soundsystem with 12-speakers, including Subwoofer. There are no shortage of charging options for Driver and Passengers, and we are a huge fan of the wireless charging plate and its convenient placement, allowing the driver to glance over safely at their phone when navigating, all while staying charged and connected – especially on long-distance drives! You’d be surprised that some other models we’ve driven in the past had the plate on a slope which made it really difficult to see the phone screen! One feature I just noticed was the HD Radio, which enables the vehicle to receive digital broadcasts from stations on the AM and FM bands, with significantly enhanced audio quality. While we love our Spotify playlists and the Sirius XM capability, we do have to tune-in to good old AM/FM sometimes and we could hear the difference.
Seats come with leather-trimmed surfaces and the Driver gets an 8-way adjustable seat. The car is super-spacious and we love foldable armrest at the back with drink holders for our guests. We cannot live without that amazing moonroof, lighting our drives with ambience. Honda absolutely understands that it’s the little things that make that difference.
We love that the Car has an Assisted Opening Trunk and Proximity Entry for the Driver. We were out doing our early Holiday shopping and appreciated all that space in the trunk! Childproof Locks at the back take a bit of getting used to when passengers are exiting, but we understand these are there for a reason!
One of the most unique things we noticed that was handy amidst this unstable weather is its Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers. But get this, the wiper fluid sprays out of the actual wipers. That was a neat addition to this Civic Touring!
Safety is a priority with Honda. One simple thing we appreciate is the Auto Headlights, giving us one less thing to worry about when driving and exiting the car. Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collison Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, 4-wheel Anti-locking Brake System, Vehicle Stability Assist and a variety of Front and Side Airbags give us that reassurance that we’re in the best hands this winter. We also enjoy the Traffic Sign Recognition that comes standard with the Civic Touring to keep you informed on speed limits. We love that there is an audio and visual signal when changing lines advising of approaching cars. There absolutely is no harm in getting all the alerts if it means saving lives.
The Rear-View Camera makes parking and reversing very easy and we’ll never struggle with Parallel Parking ever again! Do remember to keep it clean as all that slush on the roads can hinder your much needed vision, and keep in mind that some functionalities (like Low Speed Braking below) do get impacted in the inclement weather.
This was an absolute pleasure and we love that the Civic Touring is stepping-up its game even further! And thanks to the Civic Touring, we’re now Holiday-ready!
It was a weekend of Birthday celebrations unlike any other and the 2021 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring was there for us through it all! While navigating a return to semblance of our normal is taking a bit of getting used to after 19 months, we are just relieved our friends and family have remained healthy and sound through this all. That was our only birthday wish this year!
So happy to have a chance to preview this gorgeous and flashy ride in Rallye Red, as our travels these past few days took us to the city and back multiple times, and also out to the country. The Civic 5D Touring‘s versatility is proven time and again leaving little doubt why it remains one of Canada’s top-selling cars!
Powered by a 1.5 litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder 180 horsepower engine, this car drives like a dream. Above this, it comes with the conscious Eco-Assist and ECON mode options designed to help you maintain fuel efficiency. While it goes without saying that gas prices are astronomical right now, you get the most value for your dollar with a Fuel Economy of 7.7/6.3/7.1 litres/100 km (city/highway/combined).
The Civic 5D Sport Touring runs deep in bells and whistles, possessing style and edge. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated seats (front and rear), driver’s seat with 8-way power adjustment and a one-touch moonroof are among some of its most distinguished features. Its 18″ aluminum-alloy wheels with black inserts give it that perfect sporty finish. And we cannot rave enough about how spacious its hatchback trunk is! We love the thought that went behind having a second tier there as it came in handy more than once! And we are a huge fan of Proximity Entry after having our hands full shopping.
The car’s 542-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability controlled by an easy-to-use 9″ colour touch display, and BOSE® sound system with 12 speakers including subwoofer, are a perfect companion to our driving. You can connect via several options including Bluetooth to your smartphone and playlists, Sirius XM and we adore the wireless charging plate in plain sight so we can navigate our Google Maps while driving and staying charged. Our only small irritant is our phone having to be reconnected at the start of our drives with a list of other phones being memorized on the car’s list of connected devices. This can be resolved easily by deleting other devices off the list of phones.
True to Honda standard, the Civic 5D Sport Touring is packed with safety features including 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System; 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System; Auto high beam; Brake Assist; Electronic Brake-force Distribution; Collision Mitigation Braking System™; Forward Collision Warning (FCW); Hill Start Assist; Lane Departure Warning; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM); Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control and so much more.
We really appreciate the rear-view camera giving us line of sight day or night (especially with it getting dark rather early in the Fall), and its parking assist really takes the stress out of things like parallel parking.
The car comes armed and ready with a variety of life-saving mechanisms such as an i-SRS airbag system (front); SmartVent™ side airbags; Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure; Childproof rear door locks (which sometimes can be a nuisance but serve their purpose!); Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system; and the HondaLink™ Assist Automatic Emergency Response System.
2021 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT TOURING starts at $35,000 CAN.
Happiness is reuniting with an old friend and it’s been great seeing some of our favourite businesses re-open, meaning we can see some of our pals again. The 2021 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 in Sonic Gray Pearl gave us exactly that feeling when we got to Test Drive it this past weekend. We have very openly professed our love for the Accord, it is just everything we’d want in a car. My friends had to do a double-take thinking it was a Mercedes… and we see the resemblance.
We had plenty to celebrate as being double vaccinated now, we feel safe to go out and do things, still being cautious in our mask wearing, social distancing and frequent sanitizing. While there’s only a couple weeks left of Summer 2021, it has felt great enjoying what’s left of it and we’re so glad the Accord Touring 2.0 was there for us.
Powered by a 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, i-VTEC® turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and operating at 252 @ 6500 rpm horsepower, the vehicle is nothing short on pure power. Featuring unparalleled Fuel Economy at 10.4/7.4/9.1 liters per 100 km (city/highway/combined), on Regular fuel, even with gas prices being higher than normal, you still get exceptional value here.
Seating is extremely cozy. The Driver’s seat comes with 12-way power adjustment including 4-way power lumbar support, seating complete with perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces. Above this, the Driver gets seat position memory for that perfect positioning every time!
The 2021 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 comes with a 452-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer. Sound is glorious, allowing us to fully enjoy our long drives this past weekend on the highway, under the car’s atmospheric moonroof. Bluetooth connections to our phone were simple allowing us to field text messages and calls while on the road, and also navigate our playlists. Driver and passenger have no shortage of charging ports and we are a huge fan of the wireless charging plate!
Another feature we love in the Accord is its powerful dual-zone Climate Control, which is customizable for Driver and Passenger. I love the A/C cranked but sometimes my passengers don’t and we love that Honda has the intuition to be a people pleaser. Did we mention there are Seat Coolers? Totally used these unapologetically. It was so hot this past weekend!
What makes the driving experience in the Accord Touring 2.0 so special is the little details. Illuminated vanity mirrors, steering wheel audio controls, ambient lighting on the door handles. It’s small things like this that elevate your experience.
And if that weren’t enough, the car picks-up where we might forget sometimes with features like Maintenance Minder™ system, Walk-away door lock and Proximity Entry.
Safety goes without saying when it comes to Honda. All the potentially life-saving bells and whistles make a return here once again: 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Auto high beam (very handy in rural areas at night); Collision Mitigation Braking System™; Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system; Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system; Vehicle stability assist; and the Accord Touring 2.0 comes with an amazing hologram Traffic sign recognition that lets you know how fast you’re going against the speed limit where you’re driving. Super-handy!
Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering is a unique feature to Honda cars – including the Accord Touring 2.0 – in that it claims to distribute collision energy evenly and redirect it away from the passenger compartment, while at the same time, minimizing damage to other impacted vehicles.
It also comes armed with i-SRS airbag system, SmartVent™ side airbags; side curtain airbags and front knee airbags, so you can drive reassured.
Oh, and one thing. In case you’re trying to figure out how to open the trunk from within the car, hold this down for a count of three! Took me a bit to figure out but life is better since figuring it out! LOL
The 2021 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 starts at $41,770 CAN. More here.
Come re-live our action-packed End of Summer celebrations including some sightings and the Queen’s Plate this past weekend:
We also were thrilled to support Honda Canada in their Backpack Drive where they were able to collect 100+ backpacks for kids going back to school. The initiative is a collaboration with Parents Engaged in Education.
We last got paired with the Honda CRV series back in November 2020, an experience one-upped only by our Test Drive in the 2021 Honda CRV Black Edition in a a classic Platinum White Pearl. As our province has just entered Phase III of our re-opening, it has been reassuring seeing businesses and restaurants welcome us back. Having had the reassurance of being double-vaccinated, I felt comfortable enough finally to be able to go out and visit our old stomping grounds downtown again, reuniting with missed friends including Team Mr. Will, and attending some in-person events again at long last. We couldn’t have been paired with a more powerful and elegant partner in the 2021 Honda CRV Black Edition!
What is a Black Edition you ask? It is a tier available in Honda’s offerings where the vehicle has black aluminum-alloy wheels, a black grille, among other aesthetic options.
The 2021 Honda CRV Black Edition is powered by a 1.5 litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 179 -lb.ft. of torque. As it physically is more imposing than some of our favourite Honda Sedans and Hatchbacks, it is a bit slower on the accelerate, but once it’s in motion, the CRV is sheer power.
Fuel Economy comes first and foremost for us and the 8.7/7.4/8.1 litres per 100 km of regular fuel (City/Hwy/Combined). This is aided further by is game-changing ECON mode and Idle Stop. The latter which we got plenty of use from dealing with Toronto traffic! Over five days, we drove from the east-end of the City to Hamilton, Etobicoke, Mississauga and Downtown multiple times on approximately $60 of fuel which is tremendous, considering that gas prices are on the higher side of late.
The Black Edition of the 2021 Honda CRV is a statement of style and luxury. Its perforated leather-trimmed seating surfaces and woodgrain panel finish exude pure class. Did we mention the Driver’s Seat is adjustable 12 ways?Appearing here is Honda’s beloved 7-inch Display Audio System with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, plus its Panoramic Moonroof is a real treat, bringing ambience to both front and back passengers, not to mention interior ambient lighting.
A litany of passenger-catering considerations show Honda‘s commitment not only to the driver’s experience, but also their passengers’. Powerful Climate Control and vents, charging ports (our favourite wireless charging plate is back!) and gracious, spacious roominess sets the vehicle aside from others. Not to mention the generous storage space in the hatchback which activates and closes with a push or a lift.
The audio experience during our drives were phenomenal, as it boasts a 331-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media Audio playback capability and 9 speakers including subwoofer. The SUV is SiriusXM-ready and syncs easily to Bluetooth, Apple or Android enabling Playlist-curated drives.
All the bells and whistles mean nothing without safety and Honda continually has asserted itself as being best in class in this regard. How do you go for any other make when you know the 2021 Honda CRV is jampacked with a laundry list of safety and cautionary features?
A Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system; Collision Mitigation Braking System; Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system; Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF); Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system; Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ) with Traction Control; Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). These all are working for you, in-motion while you are focused on our drive. Think of this as rolling with an entourage and a security team everywhere you go.
In the event of collision, the 2021 Honda CRV Black Edition comes armed with an i-SRS airbag system (front); Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system; SmartVent side airbags; HondaLink Assist; and Automatic Emergency Response System, among others.
Let’s not forget that super-resourceful multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines. You can reverse, parallel park and more with confidence knowing that you can’t get it wrong with this! And who doesn’t love a car with rear windshield wipers? It’s as if the CRV read our minds!
Some trips down memory land this past weekend in the 2021 Honda CRV Black Edition.
Summer’s here and we couldn’t think of a better way to relish the sun than with the sporty and flashy red 2021 HONDA CIVIC 5D SPORT TOURING! We had the thrill of test driving this eye-catching Rallye Red ride for the weekend and true to form, it packs in value and excitement into a sleek package!
With our province in Phase One of our reopening, it is important to support our local economy as safely as possible and even if it’s just picking-up some necessities or seeing some friendly faces again, we’re just so thrilled the 2021 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring was there for us.
I’m so proud of Ontarians for pitching-in to get our vaccination rates up and our case rates down as we edge ever so close to a semblance of normality. We hope your Father’s Day weekend was wonderful, and hope you got to spend time with your families.
This car is powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder, running on 180 @ 5500 (MT) horsepower. It is great for highway and city driving, but would be strong enough to handle rural roads. Our travels take us allover the City and into the country and its versatility makes it an ideal match for us.
Fuel prices since our last test drive have skyrocketed so Fuel Economy definitely is on our minds of late. The 2021 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring operates best on Premium fuel. While we found ourselves re-filling our thank more frequently, its 8.0 / 6.6 / 7.4 L/100 km (City/Highway/Combined) Fuel Economy still is heads and shoulders above other cars in its class. We love ECON mode as it maximizes efficiency, reducing the amount of fuel injected inside the engine, helping us get the most of our drive.
While we get that many of you love heat and humidity, we’re on the exact opposite end of the spectrum, loving cool, icy drinks in our abundance of cupholders and A/C in the Summer. The car has a powerful Climate Control system, allowing Driver and Passenger to customize temperature on each side. In no time, we were enjoying that cool breeze in that unforgiving weekend heat. While there aren’t Seat Coolers for these gorgeous leather seats (Driver’s Seat adjustable eight ways), we appreciate Seat Warmers in cooler months and those would come in handy in the blink of an eye as the seasons change so suddenly in Ontario.
The Audio System here is actually quite gratuitous as this is an important piece of our daily drives. Its 542-watt AM/FM Premium Audio System comes with MP3/Windows Media® Audio playback capability and 12 speakers including Subwoofer. Bluetooth was reliable and easy to our phone and for some of those long drives, SiriusXM is such a joy to have. Two USB Connectors are more than generous, considering we also get an awesome Wireless Charging plate as well meaning we can listen to our Spotify Playlists and get help navigating while not being worried our phone will run out of battery.
Honda honestly has market won with its Display Audio System, so easy to navigate and just looks gorgeous. You get its Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with bilingual Voice Recognition. The display shows its Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines and also assists when you’re changing lines to ensure you’re in the clear before moving over. We no longer struggle with backing-out or Parallel Parking with this feature saving our life.
In terms of safety, there is no detail spared by Honda. No matter which model you purchase, you can be at peace knowing that you are getting the best protection and prevention. Honda has calculated all the risks and worst case scenarios for you to ensure you are prepared. Features include: 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®) (HS*), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system (HS*), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system (HS*), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control, Honda LaneWatch™ blind spot display, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) (HS*), i-SRS airbag system (front), Side Curtain Airbags with rollover sensor system, HondaLink™ Assist Automatic Emergency Response System. While they can be clumsy for our adult passengers, Child Locks do what they are supposed to do in the back seats.
The car seats five people comfortably with plenty of room in its hatchback for cargo. We adore Proximity Entry, making it super-easy for us when our hands are full, which actually is often! (See above)
While the Start Engine button is a bit clumsy requiring a few tries sometimes to start things up, I have no real glitches to report with this ride. Would gladly do it all again!
The 2021 Honda Civic 5D Sport Touring starts at $33,900 CAN. Morehere.