Honda claims that the Honda Civic series can work well in any condition. How about the slippery surface covered with ice and snow? Are Honda Civics good in the snow?
Yes. This vehicle is equipped with advanced gear to maximize its safety. To make it safe to drive in snowy conditions, the manufacturer includes many impressive technologies in the car.
We will discuss the most outstanding features of Honda Civics when working in the snow. Let’s see how they help you enjoy your winter trips!
Are Honda Civics Good In The Snow?
The short answer is yes. You can drive your Honda Civic in the snow safely thanks to its safety features, such as Vehicle Stability Assist, traction control, anti-lock brake system, and more.
Vehicle Stability Assist
The VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) significantly improves the Honda Civic’s winter driving assistance. It helps maintain your car’s stability and prevents it from becoming uncontrollable in low-traction conditions.
This VSA comes with sensors that let it keep track of your vehicle’s steering angle, acceleration, and wheel rotation speed. Then, it will give you these data sources to inform you if your vehicle is still stable.
The VSA can also reduce engine power output if your car is shaky and about to lose control. In this case, it will help brake individual wheels.
Traction Control
Does Honda Civic have traction control? Yes. Traction control is one of the most important factors to check when driving in the winter. It minimizes the wheelspin’s rate while maintaining traction effectively.
You can use the onboard computers to monitor the wheel’s spin in the Honda Civic. The high rate means that you are losing traction.
Then, the traction control feature of the car will decrease that rate instantly by applying brakes and lowering the engine output.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution
Traveling in wet conditions is risky. That’s why Honda Civic comes with the EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) gear, which enhances the brakes’ effectiveness.
Like the VSA, EBD has sensors to monitor vehicle speed, road conditions, and weight distribution. Checking these figures can determine the optimal braking force to apply to each wheel.
For example, when driving in wet conditions, wheels are easier to lose traction. Then, the EBD system will reduce the brake force to avoid skidding.
Anti-Lock Braking System
Another response to “Are Honda Civics good in winter?” is the braking system. Most modern vehicles have ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), and Honda Civic is no exception. This feature is vital in any driving condition, especially in the winter.
When you brake on a slippery surface, the wheels may lock up easily, causing your car to lose traction and slide. It’s a common situation in winter driving.
Yet, the ABS detects when a wheel in your Honda Civic is about to lock up. Then, it applies a braking force on the wheel, helping it maintain traction.
Heated Seats
The freezing temperatures in the snow prevent you from enjoying your trip. Luckily, your Honda Civic offers climate control and heated seats to keep you warm.
These two features are not rare. However, while some car models only include heated front seats, you can stay warm in every seat if you choose Honda Civic.
Besides, the climate control system keeps your cabin warm all the time. The harsh cold won’t bother you anymore.
Road Departure Mitigation
The Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system detects when your Honda Civic is likely to accidentally veer off the road and takes adequate measures to prevent it.
The RDM system is particularly helpful during winter when the roads are wet, slippery, or covered in snow, slush, and ice. It uses a camera to identify lane markers and keep track of the vehicle’s location.
The system will give you an auditory and visual warning if it notices that your car is slipping out of its lane. If you don’t respond to the warning, it will brake individual wheels to keep your car within the lane.
Can You Install Extra Snow Gear On Your Honda Civic?
The features above can already help with your driving in the snow. However, if you need more than that, consider these installations:
- Snow tires: Honda Civic snow tires have deeper treads and softer materials. Hence, they can improve the traction of your Honda Civic in the snow.
- Snow chains: Attaching Honda Civic snow chains to the tires will enhance their traction as well.
- Snow socks: The socks are tire covers made from fabric that offer extra traction for the tires. They can fit Honda Civic tires and are easy to install.
- Engine block heater: This device warms up the engine in cold temperatures, increasing your car’s gas efficiency. Testing for the bad gas before you start is also a good idea in this case.
How Much Snow Can A Honda Civic Handle?
Like the Honda Del Sol, Honda Civic is a small compact vehicle. Hence, its ability to handle snow is limited due to the low ground clearance of 6.7 inches.
Your automobile can handle snow that is around two to four inches thick. If snow has covered the road completely, your car may stall.
The amount of snow your Honda Civic can cope with also depends on the condition of the tires and the terrain. You should use all-terrain or winter tires to improve traction in heavy snow conditions.
Tips For Driving Safely In The Winter
Your Honda Civic has excellent features to deal with the snow. However, you should still keep in mind the following tips to have a safe winter drive.
Keep The Gas Tank Filled
Driving in the winter consumes more fuel than usual. Since your engine has to work harder, you will visit the gas station more often.
Of course, you don’t want to have an empty gas tank and get stuck in the middle of the road in the freezing winter. So, try to maintain a full gas tank during this time. At least ensure you always have a half-full tank before starting your trip.
Fill The Tires
Check if your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure level as you notice the temperature dropping. The rule stays true for snow tires, too.
Every 10 degrees drop in the temperature will decrease the tire pressure to 1 PSI. Meanwhile, underinflated tires lead to poor traction. That’s why you should always fill the tires before every trip.
Warm Your Vehicle
Before you go, give your Honda’s engine some time to warm up. However, an enclosed place, like the garage, is not a good place for this job.
When you are in an area where air cannot circulate, the fumes from your vehicle may be dangerous. Instead, open the garage door or start your car in an open space to let it warm up.
Another idea is to park your car on the street where it can rest until its engine has warmed up.
Be Careful With The Cruise Control
Cruise control is a feature that allows you to drive at a steady speed without pressing the accelerator pedal manually. This feature will come into play if you intend to have a long trip or drive on a highway.
However, in snow conditions, be careful with the cruise control system. It may pose some risks because you are not in charge of the speed of your car.
When driving in the snow, you must always control your car. You can only avoid ice patches and snow piles when keeping your vehicle under your control. Hence, the steady speed offered by the cruise control is unsuitable here.
Drive At Slow Speeds
Most drivers love speed. When there are only a few cars on the road, your passion will get bigger. However, if it’s winter, do not speed up.
Snowy weather needs you to drive slowly to stay safe. A speed lower than ten miles is good to avoid wet patches and prevent your car from sliding.
Conclusion
Are Honda Civics good in the snow? Yes. Thanks to advanced features like VSA and EBD, your vehicle can handle slippery surfaces and run safely.
Traction control is the key to driving in the snow. Aside from the built-in features, you can install extra gear on your Honda to improve its traction. The snow tires must be one of the best options here.
Driving in the snow is risky. But don’t worry! You will still have a nice trip with a powerful vehicle and good preparation.
Thank you for reading!
