When it comes to cars, we hear a lot about fancy performance numbers. From fast acceleration to high towing limits, it sure seems like the automobile market is offering almost superhuman vehicles. If you want to tow a series of boats, you’ll probably find a truck on the modern market that’s good for you. If you want to take off at warp speed when entering a highway, yep, you are going to find a vehicle that serves you well.
However, for most drivers, those performance capabilities are not what they need on a daily basis. No, they’re looking for a safe, capable, and comfortable ride that they know will last a long time and not break the bank when it’s time to refuel. The 2024 Honda Civic is capable of all that, which is why it remains one of the most popular vehicles on the market today. Since it first took the road by storm in the early 1970s, the Civic has proven time and again to be a trustworthy, fuel-efficient ride with a nice exterior and solid interior features.
However, there’s an underrated element to the Honda Civic that we want to highlight today: comfort.
The Importance of Comfort
When you hear about comfort in sedans, you think of luxury seating or climate control that can keep everyone onboard happy. These are all important elements for the modern driver, no doubt about it. But when we talk comfort, we sometimes leave out the driver’s comfort, which goes beyond luxury and into safety. A comfortable driver will be an effective driver.
Think about highway hypnosis. You’re driving on the highway, perhaps in the dead of night, and you’re going to be there for a while since your destination is a few states away. Even with your favorite podcast going or your favorite playlist rocking, there’s the chance you start to zone out. Manufacturers like Honda know this, which is why so many vehicles, including the Civic, come with Lane Departure Warning, letting you know when you’re veering out of your lane. Some systems will go so far as to gently steer you back into your lane. Very nifty, no question there. But you also don’t want to find yourself in that situation to begin with.
Being able to sit comfortably in your driver’s seat is imperative. The worse your posture is, the more likely you are to become tired and not as sharp behind the wheel. When your body has to keep realigning itself, and you have to keep shifting around, you’re more likely to become tired or just plain distracted as time goes on. Therefore, a great driver’s seat should be your number one concern whenever you’re looking at a new car, giving someone else advice on a purchase, or even renting a car for a trip.
Ergonomics!
This brings us to ergonomics. Ergonomics is the process of sitting correctly. If you’re reading this at an office during your lunch break (or maybe you’re just bored during regular office hours!), then how you’re sitting will drastically affect how you feel for the rest of the day. If you’re slouched, and your wrist is at an awkward angle when using your mouse, you’ll start aching, with the aches lasting all day, distracting you from what you need to do, causing you to become grouchy, and in all likelihood adding some exhaustion. You might even feel wrong when you wake up tomorrow morning, your alarm annoyingly blaring.
Those aches and pains can ruin the workday, but if the same happens in your vehicle, more than just your day might end up ruined. Therefore, sitting well in your driver’s seat is imperative. Unlike your workplace, though, you might feel like your options are more limited. It’s not like you can decide not to hold the steering wheel for a while or lean your seat far back while driving. That’s why opting for an ergonomic driver’s seat might be your smartest move this year.
Physical ergonomics is the study of how the positioning of our body leads to, or harms, our awareness and productivity. The worse someone’s physical position, the worse they’ll perform no matter the task at hand. Considering driving is a large part of most people’s lifestyles, an ergonomic driver’s seat should be a no-brainer. That’s why the 2024 Honda Civic comes with one.
The Honda Civic’s Specialized Driver’s Seat
Honda has installed a body stabilizing driver’s seat so that you are not just comfortable but also sitting in a way that lets your body be as alert and responsive as possible. The specialized seat keeps you stable so you’re not shifting into poor posture during your drive. The seat makes certain that your lumbar area and pelvis are given the support that they need so that you feel relaxed yet alert. Instead of simply being an average seat, the driver’s seat is designed around the form of a human body so that you feel like it’s giving you a welcoming embrace when you sit in it. The seat’s cushioning also supports your hips, which is important as it keeps your body aligned properly during your drive. Poor alignment can lead to long-term hip problems.
What does this all add up to? Well, a comfortable, relaxing drive for one. But more importantly, it makes you feel more aware and less tired. A long drive no longer has to be a drag or, in the worst-case scenario, a danger. When you’re sitting in a body stabilizing driver’s seat, a lengthy journey will be much more bearable. You should still take breaks to stretch your body, as sitting in one position for too long is never advised. With the body-stabilizing seat, though, you might need fewer stops, and you certainly won’t feel as achy when you make them.
The back is one of the most important parts of your body, and when you’re driving a long distance, it’s perhaps the most important part. You want to make sure it’s treated well.
Other Ergonomic Touches in the Civic
There is no doubt about it that the body stabilizing driver’s seat is the main attraction. But that’s not the only ergonomic touch Honda has put into the 2024 Civic. This sedan has some other neat features that will keep you comfortable on your drive, and they’re ones you should come to expect whenever you upgrade your ride. The touchscreen is perfectly situated so that you can access it with ease; no leaning over or reaching forward is necessary to activate your apps. Your infotainment can be voice-activated, too, if you don’t want to bother using the touchscreen at all.
Switches on the steering wheel can also manage the touchscreen and the digital information center so that you have everything at your command and don’t need to switch seating position while driving. The power adjusted driver’s seat also ensures you’re in the exact right position for both the pedals and the wheel. Any sort of straining or awkward posture is now a thing of the past. Climate features, like heated front seats, can also be a nice boon. One’s body tends to become unnecessarily rigid when they’re cold, which can lead to poor posture even when you’re in the most ergonomic seat.
If you’re considering buying a new or used car, overhauling the one you have, or just giving advice to a friend or family member who plans to check out the automotive market, you should always keep an eye on the ergonomic nature of the driver’s seat. It can make a difference in comfort and safety that’s hard to put a price on.
