Does the Civic feel unstable at high speeds?
4 Answers
No, it doesn't. The Civic demonstrates excellent stability at high speeds, offering a driving experience comparable to German cars. It remains very stable at normal speeds of 120 km/h, though speeding is not recommended. Below is a detailed expansion on the Honda Civic: 1. Interior: The Dongfeng Honda Civic features relatively refined interior craftsmanship with a fashionable design that emphasizes layering. It comes with abundant functional configurations, though the extensive use of hard plastics results in a less premium feel. The seats offer good comfort. 2. Space: The Civic performs well in terms of space, with ample legroom in both front and rear seats. The front seats provide generous headroom, while the rear seats are slightly cramped in this regard. The central floor hump in the rear is not very pronounced, enhancing practicality. The storage compartments are quite functional, and the trunk space has been improved compared to older models.
To be honest, my 10th-gen Civic does feel a bit floaty on the highway, especially when exceeding 120 km/h or encountering crosswinds. Mainly because the car is relatively light, has a slightly higher center of gravity, and the suspension is tuned for comfort, which compromises grip. In strong winds, you can clearly feel the steering wheel being pulled. However, it's still quite agile and precise in city driving or on regular elevated roads, and handles corners well on mountain roads. For long trips, I deliberately inflate the tires slightly above the standard pressure, which noticeably improves cornering stability. Also, a reminder: upgrading to better tires makes a significant difference in high-speed stability.
I've driven the Civic on the highway many times, and personally feel it's a bit floaty, but within acceptable limits. The main impact is during sudden lane changes for overtaking or when encountering airflow disturbances from large vehicles, where the steering feedback becomes somewhat vague, requiring more effort to maintain direction. A friend of mine who drives a Corolla remarked that compared to the Corolla, it's indeed not as 'heavy'. Actually, it's due to the tuning style—the car is designed for family use but tries to incorporate a bit of sportiness. However, with five people and the AC on, it feels noticeably more stable, perhaps due to better weight distribution? When driving this car on the highway, it's advisable not to follow large vehicles too closely and to avoid overly aggressive lane changes.
I drove my friend's Civic with aftermarket coilovers, and it was rock-solid at high speeds! The stock version does feel a bit floaty, especially on uneven roads or during lane changes – the rear end seems to lag slightly. I think it's partly due to the mediocre grip of the factory tires and the relatively long suspension travel. Some international reviews mention that the rear torsion beam suspension can reduce outer tire contact during high-speed cornering. That said, it handles perfectly fine at around 100 km/h on urban expressways, with very responsive steering. If you want more stability, avoid roof racks – those actually increase wind resistance and raise the center of gravity.
