Honda have not had a very good track record when it comes to serious problems with their cars, but a recent 2012 Honda Civic explosion is not a sign of a new recall issue, as this was down to the owners error. When we first saw the image we thought that the Japanese car manufacturer had a serious issue with the Civic range, so those who currently own a 2012 model can rest assured that this is not the case.

A negligent plumber who left his wielding rig in the trunk of his 2012 Honda Civic caused the explosion, and it is worth pointing out that oxygen and acetylene tanks being transported in a closed cabin vehicle is illegal in many states.

The guy was not aware that the acetylene tank had a slow leak that filled the interior of the car, and it was when his girlfriend used her key fob to open the trunk that the mechanism used to open the trunk caused a small spark, which was enough to set off a huge explosion. The end result is very bad indeed but could have been so much worse.

We’re happy to say that no one was injured, although several vehicles sustained damage. We’re not sure how the guy will explain this one to his insurance company, but we bet the warranty does not cover this kind of damage.

The new Honda Civic is the ninth in the series which has been manufactured since 1972. It will begin shipping in January 2012 and is being manufactured at the company’s Swindon plant in the UK. Honest John says the top of the range version of the vehicle, the 2.2 litre i-DTEC EX GT, which features the highest specifications will set you back £26,595 while the basic model costs £16,495.

There are three engines available altogether, the 2.2 litre i-DTEC diesel and the 1.4 and 1.8 litre i-VTEC petrol engines, as well as four trim levels; EX GT, EX, ES and SE. All come equipped with six-speed manual transmission as standard with a five-speed automatic option available for the 1.8 litre petrol model. They will also all feature a fuel-saving ECON driving mode. Even the basic SE models will come already equipped with USB/AUX connectivity, automatic air-conditioning and alloy wheels.

As you would expect, as the trims increase in specs so too does the price. The ES models begin at £18,995 and get automatic window wipers and lights, optional sat nav, dual-zone air conditioning, reversing camera, speed limiter and cruise control all as standard. A premium sound system, heated leather seats and sat nav are added as standard to the EX models, which begin at £21,745 and the top model, the EX GT, gets additional tinted windows, bigger alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, bi-xenon lights, rear and front parking sensors and keyless entry and start functionality for £24,495. A collision mitigating brake system and adaptive cruise control can also be specified for an extra £1,900.

What do you think of the new Honda Civic? Will you be getting one in January?

LA Times says that Consumer Reports has given their verdict, and they do not expect this to top the charts as one of the best selling cars – they simply do not like the new version. This disapproving review will be a huge blow to the new Civic, as a huge percentage of drivers take their advice before buying a new vehicle. Sales could be affected, but not just by this review.

The likes of Honda and Toyota are oblivious to the fact that Hyundai is breathing down their necks; you only have to look at the new 2012 Veloster to understand just what we mean. The South Korean carmaker used to produce boring cars, but maybe with a little inspiration from Samsung they now produce vehicles with style and passion – so why is Honda still playing it safe?

Consumer Reports will no longer endorse the Civic due to the fact that the score was just too low. The rating used to be 78, but has now dropped to 61, that’s a 17 points drop. To rub salt in the wounds, they rated it only above the redesigned Volkswagen Jetta, which as we know is a very disappointing car. There are a number of reasons why the score is so low, two of which are poor interior quality and a rough ride.

Honda is a little like Apple, well vice versa really, as they have their loyalists and will keep coming back. However, the Civic has always been about the average driver, one thing that the new model seems to have forgotten about. Car and Driver concurs with what Consumer Reports have said, as they are not impressed with the new model either. They said that Honda is now playing it safe with the design, as to not shock drivers with anything too radical. We do find it funny how they just went conservative on every aspect of the design – we just do not know what the 2012 Civic’s target audience will be now?

What we mean by this is in the way of losing 1,000 RPM when compared to a late 90s model. This seems to be a familiar story with a number of their models now – it’s as if the pressure from the Kia and Hyundai is now starting to get to them. There are even suggestions that Honda has lost that sparkle and now produce cars that are plan and boring.

The biggest downfall with the new Civic Si Coupe, as explained by Motor Trend, is the fact that it is no longer powered by that awesome K20 2.0-liter four engine, it has the more conservative K24 2.4-liter instead. You may wonder what we mean by this as the latter has more power, but it is all about those high-revs, which has always been a character of the Civic.

The look of the car will not let you down, as there is enough design flare to keep any young driver happy. However, it is not until you actually sit in the thing and start driving that things go downhill. The interior itself is very nice and so is the handling, but it is those seats that let it down – an uncomfortable driver is not a happy driver. The reason for this is it changes how you drive the car, as you need to be confidant from the start. If you plan to use the car for long journeys, then be prepared for a few back pains.

Honda has not given anything away when it comes to what size engines they will use with the new Civic Si, but one would presume that they would stick with the current 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre i-VTEC powertrains. Maybe the Japanese automaker will shed more light after the press event of the auto show?

LA Times makes a note that the hybrid version of the new Civic will be the first Honda to use lithium-ion batteries, as well is incorporating the Eco Assist technology used in the CR-Z. This is a perfect system for drivers who wish to select which kind of driving mode best suits the situation.

Honda currently has 5 hybrid models in its range, and it is the two Civic models that are showing their age the most. Is it me or do they look like something designed in the 1980’s? Looking at the upcoming version it looks to me as if the design team has had a wake up call and finally going to give Honda drivers what they want.