Honda Malaysia has announced that the order books for the new 2019 Civic facelift are now open at all 98 Honda dealerships nationwide, ahead of the model’s launch in the fourth quarter of this year. The tenth-generation FC model was given a mid-cycle update in August last year, which included revisions to its styling and list of available equipment.

In the case of the former, the changes are more evolutionary, with the Civic’s front end now sporting a piano black “wing” on the grille (replaces chrome) and a restyled lower fascia, which has a wider, one-piece look with black trim near the fog lamps. As for the rear, the C-segment model will feature a new rear bumper garnish and tailgate spoiler to match.

Under the bonnet, the familiar L15B7 1.5 litre VTEC Turbo four-cylinder engine continues to be of service, providing 173 PS and 220 Nm of torque. This is still mated to an Earth Dreams continuously variable transmission (CVT), which directs drive to the front wheels.

As for the list of equipment, the Civic will be available with LED headlamps, 18-inch “fan design” alloy wheels, an electric parking brake, remote engine start, a seven-inch Display Audio head unit, six airbags, front parking sensors, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ABS, EBD, brake assist, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and a reverse camera.

Most of the above-mentioned items (aside from the 18-inch wheels and front parking sensors; these are new) are already found on the pre-facelift model, but the biggest addition to the mix is the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assistance systems. This makes the Civic the third locally-assembled (CKD) Honda model to come with Honda Sensing, after the CR-V and Accord.

You get the full works here, from Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF) to Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Auto High-Beam (AHB). Also present is the Honda LaneWatch camera that gives you a better view of the left side of the vehicle – useful when making lane changes in that direction.

According to information that dealers have (apparently) sent out to customers, the new Civic will be officially launched by the end of September, with three variants on offer, including the base 1.8S, 1.5TC and 1.5TC-P. The base variant retains the 1.8 litre SOHC NA four-cylinder with 141 PS and 174 Nm, also with a CVT, and gains a number of new features.

Aside from the updated styling (minus the black grille), the 1.8S gains front parking sensors (as mentioned earlier, automatic wipers, 60:40 split-folding rear seats (previously a fixed bench) as well as a new wheel design (likely still 16-inch units). Moving up, the 1.5TC will get LED headlamps and fog lamps instead of the previous halogen units, plus the addition of Honda LaneWatch. Meanwhile, the range-topping 1.5TC-P is the only one that comes with Honda Sensing, those 18-inch alloys, the black grille and new tailgate spoiler.

For now, Honda Malaysia has yet to provide official pricing for the Civic – the current pre-facelift is priced from RM108,165 to RM128,631 – for the same variant line-up. Are you excited about the imminent introduction of the Civic facelift? Will you prefer it to the likes of the Mazda 3 and possibly the latest Toyota Corolla Altis as well?

-paultan