FIRST DRIVE HONDA CIVIC 2.2i DTEC:IN THE years since Honda first launched the Civic in 1972, the model has fluctuated between being one of the hottest hatches on the road to one of the blandest family bores on the market.
Its hit-and-miss pedigree means that when you learn Honda is working on the nextgeneration Civic, you flit between excitement and fear. No doubt that’s the same way Honda sales staff greet the news.
For good or ill, Honda has opted for evolution rather than revolution with its ninth generation. That means it retains many of the traits which made it a well-regarded entry in the crowded hatchback market. Unfortunately that also means it may struggle to make an impact as a new car against the plethora of new models.
Honda has decided that the outgoing model’s look was striking enough to last the test of time and carry forward with only the mildest refreshment. The manufacturer claims that much of the bodywork is new, it’s just very similar to the outgoing version. For Irish buyers, the decision to offer the Civic only as a hatchback will disappoint those who have opted for the saloon in the past.
It’s not just the styling that is carried forward. The platform and basic architecture are also retained, as is the engine line-up, although the powertrain has evolved to improve performance and fuel economy.
In fairness, there was quite a bit of the outgoing model that was well worth retaining. The outgoing Civic was a smart-looking car with somewhat premium appeal that ranked high in terms of comfort and practicality.
While there are two petrol engines on offer – a 1.4 litre and a 1.8 litre – the Civic’s 2.2 litre diesel will undoubtedly be the biggest seller in Ireland, particularly given its improved fuel consumption, boasting more than 67mpg, and emissions that drop from 134g/km to an impressive 110g/km, thereby falling into the lowest motor tax band.
The performance figures are less impressive, and while power has increased by 10bhp to 148bhp it is clear from the car’s new tagline of “clean dynamics” that the focus has been on fuel economy, with the manual box ratios tuned to encourage frugal driving rather than racy performance.
Of the other engines, a 1.6-litre diesel with sub-100g/km is supposedly on the way in the near future. The 1.8-litre petrol has a small, loyal market among those still unconverted to diesel, and they will be impressed by its emissions falling into tax band B, but it lacks the torque of its diesel sibling and when you kick down, the high-pitched engine whine becomes annoying.
One area Honda should have revised is the overly fussy dashboard and central console. Despite criticism of the cluttered dials and switchgear, the new Civic’s cabin is still too laden with flashing LEDs. The test cars also featured a clunky satnav system that looked like it was from the bargain aisle at Halfords.
At a time when other car firms are offering sleeker touchscreen systems even in superminis and cleaner, more clever interior design, this interior dates the civic far more than the exterior styling.
Another area Honda could have spent more time reworking is the rear window. Although the car gets a rear wiper this time – which looks like an afterthought – visibility is still impaired by the split glass in the tailgate.
While they’ve marginally lowered the split itself, rear visibility has not been significantly improved. This problem is not helped by the chunky rear pillars.
So what’s the good news? The notable improvement is in terms of the ride and handling, along with those improved economy and emissions figures. In that regard the “clean dynamics” tagline has merit.
The outgoing Civic could be a little jarring, bottoming out on the worst bumps. This model is far more adept at soaking up the potholes, thanks largely to a reworking of its suspension.
It’s handling, too, has been improved, with far more engaging steering, although the body doesn’t always respond as quickly as the wheels, resulting in a degree of bodyroll in corners.
In terms of practicality, the new Civic loses a little boot space, but it’s still one of the most generous in this class, and the retention of the flexible fold-up rear seats is a big boon.
Honda has a loyal following among buyers, and the lower emissions will win them back to the forecourts. The new prices are competitive, and even the entry-level specification is quite strong – up there with some of the best in the hatchback market.
The problem is that by opting to tweak rather than rework the car, the new Civic may well get lost in the crowd. Improvements in handling and emissions keep it in the race, but dominant rivals such as the Ford Focus and VW Golf are unlikely to lose too many sales to the new evolutionary Civic.
Factfile
ENGINE2199cc four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel putting out 148bhp and 350Nm of torque with a six-speed manual transmission
PERFORMANCE0-100km/h: 8.5 seconds
ECONOMY4.2l/100km (67.3mpg)
EMISSIONS110g/km (€104 motor tax)
FEATURESStandard on entry-level SE includes: 16in alloys; air-con; vehicle stability control; LED daytime running lights; alarm; hill-start assist. ES version (€1,350 more on diesel) adds reversing camera; Bluetooth; leather steering wheel and gear knob; cruise control. EX version (€2,950 more over ES diesel) adds: leather seats; heated front seats; satnav; premium audio and video feed.
PRICEfrom €20.995 for the i.4 SE petrol and €23,995 for the 2.2 diesel SE