Honda will not only drive SUVs in Australia

Honda no longer considers the Civic a “Core” model, but that doesn’t mean it’s on the chopping block.

The company has been busy expanding its 11th generation Civic range, with the Type R being the latest addition, but its main focus this year is SUVs.

It considers the HR-V, CR-V and upcoming ZR-V – which will sit between the two – as its “core” models, with the Civic hatch and Accord sedan supporting players.

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“We want to appeal to a broader customer base. Obviously our focus is on SUVs because that’s the fastest growing segment in the industry,” said Carolyn McMahon, chief executive of Honda Australia.

“While we are focused on SUVs, that’s because we have the opportunity to expand the offering, but I wouldn’t say we have any plans to become an SUV-only brand.”

Ms McMahon specifically cited strong demand for the new Civic e:HEV hybrid.

“[The Civic] is aligned with the Honda brand overall, so we don’t want to lose that, that’s part of who we are,” said Belinda Cusworth, general manager for customer experience.

The company has not confirmed when the next 11th generation Accord will be launched locally.

Last year, the CR-V accounted for 57 percent of the brand’s sales in Australia. Honda sold a total of 14,215 vehicles and 8,123 CR-Vs, with the HR-V coming second with 4,717 sales.

Overall, SUVs accounted for 90 percent of Honda sales in 2022.

Honda Australia’s passenger car offering has shrunk significantly in recent years.

City, Jazz and NSX were canceled in 2020, Odyssey was withdrawn in 2022.

Citizen volume is down from its predecessor, partly due to a dramatically reduced lineup and a significantly higher base price.

With the new generation, it lost its sedan body style in Australia and now starts at $47,200 drive-away – over $15,000 more than the previous base price.

Accord sales fell every year after 2013, even after losing an internal rival with the demise of the Accord Euro. In 2022 they will increase for the first time, but only from 90 to 96 units, making the Accord the vehicle with the lowest volume in its segment.

Honda now has as many cars as Nissan, which only offers the Z and Leaf locally.

The rival Japanese brand controversially phased out most of its passenger car lineup in the 2010s, although it still offers a number of them in other markets.