Latest Roy Lewis road test: the Honda Civic hatch (From Hereford Times)

Latest Roy Lewis road test: the Honda Civic hatch

8:00am Saturday 27th August 2011 in Road Tests

HONDA’S striking-looking Civic with its swooping curves and rakish nose may have been around for a few years but it still looks as fresh as ever and continues to draw plenty of admiring glances.

Sleek styling does hamper practicality with some cars but not so with the Honda as it is generally as roomy and practical as leading rivals in its sector.

It easily accommodates the growing family, thanks to a welldesigned interior and a deep and wide boot that is one of the largest in its class.

The Civic is not necessarily all the car you’ll every need: the coupé-styling does restrict rear headroom for those extra tall adults and the driver’s rear visibility is hindered by the small window. But the Honda has much to recommend it.

It has the build quality and driving dynamics that you would expect from the company and there is a host of trim levels with generous kit lists to make it well worth the cash.

Honda is also legendary for reliability and good residual values when the time comes to trade in the car.

Priced towards the top end of its fiercely-competitive sector, the 1.4-litre petrol model sells from £15,745 on the road with the top 1.8-litre model costing £21,740.

The latest cars house some cracking iVTEC petrol motors with outputs of 99 and 138bhp. They are good on fuel, too, with the 1.4 returning a combined figure of 47.9mpg and the 1.8 about 5mpg less.

The extra punch provided by the 1.8 does give the Civic added appeal. The motor is a smooth and swift operator which thrives on high revs to give its best and so if the motor is allowed to go off the boil this can tend to compromise its refinement.

However, the engine, mated to a slick six-speed gearbox, will impress with its rapid overtaking prowess and acceleration from standstill to 60mph in 8.9 seconds.

The top speed is 127mph.

The Civic’s good handing is largely due to its well-sorted chassis.

Grip is very strong and there is little body roll however enthusiastic the car is driven through bends.

The light controls make driving effortless around town but it is on the open road where the car comes into its own and is fun to drive. And despite the suspension being firm it manages to soak up road imperfections to make the journey a comfortable one.

The curvy interior is beautifully built and also futuristic looking with the various dials and controls grouped together in easy reach of the driver. The cabin is well insulated from outside noise.

The seats are also comfortable and supportive and the driver has plenty of adjustments to find an excellent driving position.

The cars bristle with some of the latest hi-tech and more general equipment and for many this will be a big incentive to buy.

One of the best and latest models in the range is 1.8 i-VTEC Si which gets part leather and suede seats, alloy wheels, climate control, a stability programme and traction control. There are side and curtain airbags, front and rear electric widows, MP3 connection, Bluetooth and satellite navigation – the list goes on.

AT-A-GLANCE

Honda Civic hatch 1.8 i-VTEC Si fivedoor.

Price: £18,270 (on the road).

Top speed: 127mph.

0-60mph: 8.9 seconds.

Fuel: 42.2mpg combined figure).

CO2 emissions (g/km): 155.

Verdict: Great looks, safe, practical, roomy, good to drive, extensive kit list, restricted rear view.