The Honda Civic is an iconic part of the British motoring landscape, eight new versions have gone on sale since the car first launched in 1972.
The Honda Civic is an iconic part of the British motoring landscape, eight new versions have gone on sale since the car first launched in 1972. More than 650,000 have found homes here, and a quarter of those were the most recent model, launched in 2006. It’s been built at Honda’s state-of-the-art plant in Swindon, Wiltshire since 1993, providing jobs for thousands of workers.
Now say hello to number nine, an all-new Honda Civic that takes the best bits of the outgoing car and improves on them. Tested extensively on European roads so it meets the needs of local drivers, this vehicle is quite simply the best Civic yet. It’s quieter, more refined, more efficient, more spacious and more dynamic than ever before.
Let’s start with its exterior styling. Clearly an evolutionary successor to the critically acclaimed looks of the last Civic, there are a number of key improvements. The car has a lower and wider aerodynamic profile and completely fresh brake and indicator light cluster design. It’s also got a rear windscreen wiper, missing from the previous model.
Inside, the cabin is all-new with a functional cockpit-style layout that includes a centrally mounted full-colour screen. Higher quality soft-touch materials give the interior a more premium feel, and the steering wheel has been revised to make it easier to use the multi-function controls.
Honda’s innovative ‘Magic Seats’ offer an incredible range of configurations for maximum versatility, and further back the Civic has the largest boot of any of its rivals. It’s a massive 477 litres, including a secret underfloor storage compartment.
The new Civic benefits from a host of comfort and convenience upgrades depending on the spec of car chosen. These include keyless drive, Bluetooth connectivity, glass roof with electric sunshade, keyfob-operated window closure and mirror fold, hill start assist and a storage console with USB/iPod and AUX inputs.
Honda is famed for its advanced hybrid cars such as the Insight, and the new Civic cleverly borrows green technology from that model. Civic drivers will see a large green ECO button on the dashboard, which alters the car’s set-up to prioritise fuel economy above everything else. ECO Assist mode is another Honda innovation, a coaching system which encourages the driver to travel in the most environmentally aware fashion.
The Civic is available with three fuel-efficient, low-emissions engines, a 1.4 and 1.8-litre petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel. Each is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.8 can be mated to a five-speed automatic. No matter which combination you choose, the Civic offers a precise and predictable ride that’s supremely comfortable no matter how long your journey.
