Honda CIVIC 2.2 i-CDTi
You know those TV clips from the 1950s where experts predicted how people would be living in the distant year 2000? Families lounged around in aluminium foil jumpsuits, goldfish bowls on their heads, being served meals in pill form by robots that resembled upturned chrome dustbins. This vision bore little resemblance to what most of us were actually doing at the turn of the century but it felt impossibly fresh and futuristic in its time. Fifty years hence, we almost certainly wont be driving around in vehicles like Hondas Civic but right now, the car looks more futuristic than just about anything else on the road.
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The same unit had already appeared in other Honda models, notably the Accord, where its refinement and linear power delivery saw it hailed as one of the most petrol-like diesels ever produced. Of course, there were also the added benefits of the low CO2 emissions, the strong torque output and the impressive fuel economy we traditionally associate with diesel cars. Expectations had been cranked so high that upon actually getting to grips with the Civic i-CDTi, it was a marginal disappointment. Honda had to make modifications to the engine in order to fit it into the Civics engine bay and some of the unerring smoothness it displays elsewhere has been lost in the process.
Do not despair, however, because the Civic is still one of the quietest diesel family hatchbacks around. It never sounds quite like a diesel, emitting an unusual ticking whine thats higher-pitched that the bass clatter of most oil-burners. Under acceleration, the turbocharger can be heard whooshing in as an accompaniment. The sound is never loud enough to present a problem, even when road and wind noise are so successfully masked in the cabin.
"The Honda Civics concept car looks and 1980s sci-fi interior are always going to be the big talking points"
Elsewhere, its good news virtually all the way. Honda claim an outstanding 55.4mpg combined fuel consumption figure for the Civic and CO2 emissions of 135g/km will also attract the attention of company car users. The engine has smooth pulling power from low in the rev range, with 251lb/ft of torque being produced at 2,000rpm.
Its capable of an 8.6s sprint to 60mph too, with a maximum speed of 127mph giving it respectable top end reserves. The Civic offers a really good driving position with firm side bolsters in the seat for support and the headrest hovering just behind your cranium. The pedals feel well weighted underfoot and theres a large foot rest area to give the left peg a break from clutching duties.
The power assisted steering is very light and direct, greatly simplifying low speed work. That said, theres little feedback and things can get slightly twitchy on the motorway because of this steering sharpness. The gear lever flows around the standard six-speed gearbox with finger-light ease but the action isnt as reassuring and solid as in top rivals. The Civic has plenty of grip and does much to inspire confidence through the corners.
Overall, theres no doubt its up amongst the class best handlers. This is a great-looking car, a real head-turner, but the designers have taken this futuristic high-tech line rather than going for the classically beautiful. The decision does leave question marks about how the ground-breaking look will age but whether or not the years are kind to the Civic, dull rivals like Fords Focus and Toyotas Corolla will never look as good as this Honda does now. Once you get past that swoosh of light and plastic across the cars nose, the plunging bonnet line and the multi-angled rear end, its the detailing that stays with you.
The triangular exhausts, the split rear windscreen, the concealed rear door handles and the recessed front ones: Honda have pulled out the stops to make this car different. Inside, youre confronted with a daunting array of buttons and digital displays that make you instinctively feel like reaching to the owners manual, but its not as complex as it looks. The information you need is laid out in two tiers with the digital speedo and optional satellite navigation system located near the base of the windscreen so your eyes neednt divert too far from the road ahead. The rev counter, fuel gauge and trip computer are lower in a more conventional instrument binnacle.
Again, its the detailing thats most eye-catching; the red starter button on the drivers right, the tactile control dials for the air-con and the sat nav. None of it would feel out of place in an executive saloon and the steering wheel is one of the most comfortable designs around. There are some areas where the Civic doesnt quite live up to the high standards it sets itself. You suspect that some of the plastics and the standard cloth seating trim may not wear too well, while the brittle clear plastic in the centre of the front grille may prove vulnerable to stone chips.
Theres a large blind spot created by the thick C pillar and the split rear window also restricts rearward visibility. Overall though, the Civic is riddled with great design. Its practical too: the car is actually shorter and lower than its predecessor but its wider by 45mm and, crucially, the wheelbase is increased to 2,640mm. General interior space is good and theres a massive 485 litres of capacity in the boot. The 60:40 split rear seat backs can be folded down to increase this space or the seat bases can be simply pulled up, producing a separate load compartment between the front seats and the boot. Civic i-CDTi diesel customers will pay £15,035 for the privilege and that will land them the S model. Above this sit the SE, Sport, ES and EX derivatives with the top price being £18,100. Across the board, equipment levels are high and the pricing looks tight considering the quality of Hondas product and their premium aspirations for it.
In the end, its hard to view the Civics bold design direction as anything other than a success. Some wont like it and the acid test will be how it looks in ten years time but its easily the most striking car in the sector today. Elsewhere, it has a superb interior, good driving dynamics and is remarkably practical. Honda have shown that futuristic vision neednt come at the expense of modern day relevance.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Honda Civic i-CDTi range
PRICES: £15,035-£18,100 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 135-140g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.6s / Max Speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 42.8mpg/ (extra urban) 65.7mpg/ (combined) 55.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, VSA
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4250/1760/1460mm
