. In those occasions, Honda’s compact sedan did show flashes of brilliance, but was let down by its lack of plush trimmings befitting their respective price tags. It was as if bean counters already had a price point in mind and told product planners to randomly cut out features simply to meet their financial targets with no rhyme or reason. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the Civic RS Turbo.
What I found to be the bigger issue is the Civic RS Turbo’s comically large turning radius. Honda’s official figures read 5.7 meters which, at first, seems like a typo because it’s equal to the Mitsubishi Montero Sport and Nissan Terra’s figure , but it’s a fact that smacks you right in your face as you negotiate your first U-Turn slot or execute your first parallel parking maneuver.
Inside, it’s very clear that Honda’s poured all their resources in making the Civic RS Turbo feel more upscale and premium compared to the non-RS trims. The plastics are actually different here with more soft-padded surfaces. The thick-rimmed three-spoke wheel is covered in leather, while the seats are finished in a nice combination of leather and suede. The execution, too, is tastefully modern with the dash-width air vents and authentic metal finish.
Exclusive to the Civic RS Turbo is wireless Apple CarPlay. Together with standard wireless device charging, it should, at least on paper, make for one seamless smartphone integration experience. Sadly, ditching the wires results in a laggy, buggy experience. It randomly hangs or disconnects with a paired mobile phone.