PDRM Now Has 425 New Honda Civic 1.8S Patrol Cars

Polis Diraja Malaysia gets a fresh set of patrol cars: the Honda Civic 1.8S

Late last week, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Putrajaya, the Royal Malaysia Police were officially handed the keys to 425 units of the Honda Civic 1.8S, presented to them by Honda Malaysia.

Because of social distancing and all, we imagine there wasn’t any shaking of hands or a close shoulder-to-shoulder photo op allowed. The white Civics were already decked out in the proper exterior treatment at the time of the handover ceremony, replete with police livery and roof-mounted flashers.

The delivery of these cars were initially planned for an earlier date but was subsequently delayed due to the Movement Control Order coming into effect on March 18th. On this, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said: “We are delighted that we are now able to resume the plan to deliver these new mobile patrol and enforcement vehicles which are expected to assist in the tasks and responsibilities of the police force in effectively responding to emergencies, maintaining law and order.

“We are pleased that the Royal Malaysia Police have chosen the best-selling model in C-segment,
the New Civic, to assist them in their daily tasks, enforcements and administrative duties for
the country,” he added.

The locally assembled 1.8S is offered by Honda as their entry-level variant of the popular Civic sedan and is powered by a - you guessed it - 1.8-litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC four-cylinder engine producing a respectable 141PS and 174Nm, mated to Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) for excellent fuel economy.

Each Civic 1.8S is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, remote engine start, and a 7-inch infotainment system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though we wonder if PDRM officers have much use for that last feature.

Despite lacking the active safety features of the Honda SENSING Suite in the Civic 1.5TC-P, the 1.8S is fitted with 6 airbags, Anti-Lock Brakes, and Vehicle Stability Assist, backed up by a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

With the police patrol cars now needed throughout the country to enforce the updated standard operating procedures (SOP) during the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), we reckon it won’t be long until these Civics are spotted on duty.