Honda Civic Type-S 2.2 i-CTDi
Warm hatches are nothing particularly new but its only relatively recently that diesel warm hatches started to make a significant impact on British buyers. Cars like the SEAT Ibiza FR TDI, the Citroƫn C4 VTR HDi and the Skoda Fabia vRS TDI have all notched-up respectable sales. As this was going on, Honda already had all the ingredients necessary to join the party.
Firstly, the company had already established the Type-S badge in the previous generation Civic. Secondly, they already had an excellent 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel engine doing sterling work in the Accord and, thirdly, they had engineered the Civic in such a manner that this powerplant could be squeezed beneath its stubby bonnet. The result is the surprisingly satisfying Civic Type-S 2.
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The dynamics are what makes this car special and theyre a long way removed from a common-or-garden variety five-door Civic. For a start, the steering has been sharpened to give a more direct feel. The spring and damper settings have been revised to offer a decent ride quality with the standard 17-inch alloys coupled with beefy roll resistance through corners. The rear track has been widened by 20mm to give the Type-S an even more planted appearance, the car almost appearing to sit foursquare on the tarmac.
Like any diesel car, it doesnt show off its best aspect with a bald 0-60 figure, managing to hit the benchmark in 8.3 seconds. Instead, the Type-S saves its best work for the midrange where it will overtake with real verve with as little as 2,000rpm showing on the clock, despite maximum power being attained at 4,000rpm. Keep it in this band and it feels genuinely quick.
Top speed is pegged at 127mph.
"Thanks to Honda, not every aspect of growing up needs to be disappointingly onerous"
Sharing the same platform as the five-door car, the styling of the Type S is well judged, with a decent array of sporting cues that stops short of appearing too over the top. If youve seen the Type-R, youll appreciate that its for genuine extroverts. Get at all self-conscious in a car and this Type-S may be more your thing. With side skirts that flare outwards to the wheel arches, the Civics flanks now get a more voluptuous Coke-bottle look and the front and rear spoilers give the impression that the Type-S is absolutely bonded to the tarmac.
The lower body structure is finished in gun metal grey. The side windows of the three-door are probably the easiest way of identifying it, with an upwards kick to the rearmost pane giving a wedgier look than the five-door car. Although the latest Civic is significantly smaller than its predecessor on the outside, the company claims that room inside is just as generous as before. Instead of trying to understand how Honda has warped the time-space continuum, its easier to spot the simple engineering solutions theyve employed.
Like the Jazz, the Civic features a fuel tank thats centrally-mounted along the cross member below the front seats. This means that the seats in the rear can fold flat and theres no intrusion into the cargo bay floor. Just because you opt for a three-door model doesnt bring any penalty in luggage carrying ability, the 485 litres of loading space identical to the more family-friendly five-door car. The Type-S is fitted as standard with silver-stitched black alcantara seats and a leather trimmed steering wheel.
Peer into the footwell and youll spot a natty aluminium pedal set too. Two model grades are offered standard and GT. As well as the big alloys and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), the Type-S is fitted with air-conditioning, a cool box, remote audio controls and curtain airbags. Those who bought the old Type-R will remember that air con was a costly option and many felt they had been a little hoodwinked by the cars attractive base price.
No repeat this time round. The GT version of the Type-S adds dual zone climate control, a panoramic glass roof, cruise control, front fog lights, retractable mirrors and automatic wipers and headlamps. Pricing may well raise an eyebrow, Honda wanting £16,567 for the entry-level car and £17,567 for the GT variant. This sort of money will buy you a fully-fledged hot hatch such as a Clio Renaultsport 197 or, at a pinch, a Ford Focus ST so its worth bearing in mind that you probably wont spend this sort of money in order to recoup it in terms of fuel bills.
Youve got to actively want the characteristics of the diesel engine. The upside of having a relatively modest 138bhp diesel engine up front is a Group 10 insurance rating. Compare that to Group 17 for a Ford Focus ST for example. Give both cars a good pedal cross country and youll be lucky to see much over 20mpg from the Ford where the Civic will still nudge 40mpg, with an average figure quoted at 54.
3mpg. Maybe were not comparing eggs with eggs here but it goes some way to indicating the markedly different running costs between a diesel warm hatch and a spicier petrol model. Emissions is another area where the diesel Type-S scores heavily, logging a mere 138g/km. This will make it very attractive to corporate user-choosers who want something that appears outwardly responsible to the bean counters in the back office but decidedly racy to their colleagues in the company car park.
Depreciation is another area in which the Civic is reasonably strong, this model expected to retain around 48 per cent of its value after three years. Get over the fact that its not going to regularly win you the traffic light Grand Prix and theres a lot to be said for the Honda Civic Type-S 2.2 i-CTDi. Its good-looking, well-equipped, engineered with an integrity utterly beyond 90 per cent of other car manufacturers and, once youve got it spooled up to speed, very good fun to drive.
It also manages to make most of its rivals look a generation older. The initial asking price might put some off, as may the nagging suspicion that this is a sheep in wolfs clothing. Some will pigeonhole it as a Type-R for those whose partner wouldnt let them have one but this is perhaps unfair. Responsibilities happen to all of us sooner or later.
Thanks to Honda, not every aspect of growing up needs to be disappointingly onerous.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Honda Civic Type S 2.2 i-CTDi
PRICES: £16,567-£17,567 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 138g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.3s / Max Speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [urban] 42.8mpg / [extra urban] 67.3mpg / [combined] 55.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, VSA
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4276/2046/1460mm
