Civic facelift driven
Facelifted hatch also adds new trim to line-up
THE current fuss around family cars is centred on the all-new Volkswagen Golf Mk8, but that doesn’t mean other manufacturers are resting on their laurels. Conscious of quite how capable this new hatchback will be, makers are rushing to update their fast-selling favourites.
Honda is no exception – the company quietly revised the Civic with a smattering of tweaks last month. Not content, it has now added Sport Line trim to the range, designed to steal sales from rivals like the Ford Focus ST-Line and SEAT Leon FR.
Instead of acting as a standalone spec, Honda’s sporty tweaks are applied to the flagship EX, but will later be added to the to cheaper SR, too. For £1,000 you can now turn your family car into a wannabe Type R.
From the outside, it mimics the hot hatch with a modest rear wing, a back bumper designed to look like a diffuser and a subtle bodykit. Sport Line also features unique wheels, while inside there’s red stitching and new textured panels for the dash.
Overall, it’s a classy approach, and the extra cash required will likely pale into insignificance on a PCP deal. The fact it’s currently only available on the top-spec
trim is more likely to put buyers off – even more so when you consider a Ford Focus ST-Line with the excellent 1.0 EcoBoost 125PS engine starts from just over £22k.
The Civic remains a good car to drive, however; the short, snickety six-speed box is fantastic and body control is excellent. The engine is stronger than its figures suggest,
and the consistent steering means the
Civic is pleasurable to drive around town and on country roads. The ride is well judged, too, striking a neat balance between control and comfort. Slightly intrusive road noise serves up the Civic’s only black mark on the road.
Elsewhere, Honda has listened to early criticism of the Civic’s cabin by adding physical controls to the infotainment system. It still centres around a fiddly touchscreen, but there’s now a line of shortcut buttons down the side – as well as a chunky volume knob that’s simple to find while driving. Quality is excellent, but the cabin doesn’t feel quite as hi-tech as a Ford or VW’s.