Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC EX 9AT
- P11D Value: £26,620
- BIK band 2018/19: 26%
- 5-door hatch
- 1.6-litre Diesel 120hp/300Nm
- Performance: 10 secs/124mph
- Economy (On test) 44.7 mpg
- CO2: 109g/km
Honda Civic 1.5 v-TEC Turbo Sport Plus
- P11D Value: £23,450
- BIK band 2018/19: 26%
- 5-door hatch
- 1.5-litre Petrol Turbo 182hp/250Nm
- Performance: 8.2 secs/137mph
- Economy (On test) 43.1 mpg
- CO2: 128g/km
What is it?
The 10th-generation Civic which represents a significant step forward for Honda in the C-segment, benefiting from the largest single model global development programme in the company’s history.
The Civic is a core model for the brand in Europe and has been at the heart of its sales and manufacturing heritage in the region.
Why would you want a Honda Civic?
- This is the first time that the Civic has been offered with a diesel auto option.
- The i-DTEC engine produces 118bhp at 4,000rpm and 300Nm of torque at 2,000rpm – enough to take the nine-speed auto Civic from 0-62mph in 11 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph.
- The nine-speed auto transmission is smart and quick with the downshifts when you need them. All that torque means you can get a wiggle on.
- Ride is smooth and the build quality excellent
- The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine has better performance and is more fun the drive that the Civic’s normally aspirated engines.
- The VTEC Sport Plus adds adaptive dampers, sporty styling and a centrally mounted sports exhaust which sounds the business under acceleration.
- Looks – Yes, this is subjective but the new Civic is a car that will appeal to a much younger audience.
What might put you off a Honda Civic?
- That auto box is controlled by an over complicated set of buttons ….. not really, but you do have to stop and think what your doing but once you’re used to them it’s no doubt fine.
- There is a fussiness about the down-changing when going down hill, but at least is stops the car running away from you.
- The badge. Not being funny but there is still a perception that Honda is for the older driver. Get into a new Civic, it’s a game changer.
- The dashboard and interior have a modern look and feel but we didn’t find it particularly intuitive.
Verdict on the Honda Civic
What just happened to the Honda Civic? Past models have come across as rather bland – with the notable exception of the Type R – but the latest version looks the business.
The two models we tried, not only look the business but can do it as well.
While there is still a certain amount of nervousness about diesels, Honda’s 1.6 unit is as good as you will find under the bonnet of a VW or a Ford while the new nine-speed automatic transmission adds another dimension.
The gearbox has smooth enough shifts and nine ratios means that it can keep the revs nice and low. That’s good news because diesels can become a bit raucous as the revs mount.
It shifts up around the 2,250rpm point and once on the motorway you hardly know you’re in a diesel which makes for a relaxed drive.
The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine offers better real-world performance and drivability than the Civic’s normally aspirated engines.
It offers good throttle response and strong mid-range delivery while remaining quiet and smooth at low and medium revs.
Sport trim brings adaptive dampers, sporty styling and a centrally mounted sports exhaust and its quite engaging toi drive although not as dynamic as some in the segment.
You can, however, get along at a pace with precise steering, good grip on the corners, nice body control and, best of all, excellent ride quality.
You can select a Dynamic mode and the ride becomes tauter but still rides the bumps well.
What you will find across the range is that the Civic has grown, as pretty much all cars in this segment have as the D-segment continues to dwindle.
Inside, you sit lower in the driving seat than before with more headroom, thanks, apparently to the re-siting of the fuel tank. There is a much more modern dashboard and a more “expensive” look while there a new 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system.
Material quality is high with a soft-touch dashboard pad while plastics are otherwise mostly hard. Switchgear feels solid but the button consoles could be arranged better.
Passenger space in the back is good with plenty of leg room and head room while boot space is close to the top of the class at 478 litres with the back seats in place.
What else should you know about the Honda Civic?
- The Civic is Currently built at Honda’s UK plant in Swindon
- The Civic is the sixth best-selling car of all time
- The first generation model was launched in 1972
- Europe has been a successful market for the Civic and from 2006 Honda offered three distinct body styles: one for North America, one for Europe, and one for Asia and Russia.
- The Civic 5-door comes with Honda SENSING as standard, a unique suite of advanced safety features that use radar ad camera technology that monitor the surroundings
