Stealth mode permanently on

What’s that sneaking under the radar? Only the brilliant new Honda Civic. By Colin Overland

WITHOUT EVER PARTICULARLY meaning to, I’ve driven or at least been driven in every generation of Civic. I’ve nearly bought a couple, come to think of it. From the tiny Mk1 of 1973 owned by a primary school classmate’s mum to a mid-noughties Type R I inexpertly blatted around Silverstone for a couple of laps, they’ve all been somewhere between good and very good.

But what is it that makes them all Civics? Driving the British-built Mk10 for the first time, I was struck by two things: 1) this is one of the best Civics; 2) it has no obvious connection with any other Civic. That was soon followed by a mental asterix from point 2): none of them have had that much to do with the others. By contrast, every Golf I’ve ever driven has had a familiar feel, as well as a lot of visual continuity; ditto the 3-series. But the Civic? They’re different shapes, different sizes, with gearlevers in all sort of places, and if you exclude the Type R there’s no discernible character traits they have in common.

This new one seems to be hedging its bets, by having an external design that uses so many lines, shapes and crevices that there could be nods to every previous-generation Civic somewhere in there, but then again maybe it’s all fresh. Inside, too, there’s a disorientating proliferation of curves and panels and textures and fabrics with no obvious rationale.

But it all works a treat. It’s practical. It’s very good to drive. And they’ve at least tried to do something with the styling, albeit they’ve then cloaked our car in gaze-deflecting shiny primer (they don’t call it that).

The 2017 five-door line-up spans six spec levels, starting from £18,475. Your non-Type R engine choice is, currently, two turbo petrols, a 1.0-litre with 127bhp or a 1.5 with 180bhp, and seven-speed stepped CVT or six-speed manual transmission.

This is the 1.5 VTEC Sport Plus Manual. Ours arrived with 1498 miles on the clock. We have only one extra, £525 worth of pearlescent paint, taking the on-the-road price up to £25,930. So everything else here is standard for a Sport Plus: keyless entry, sunroof, adaptive dampers, blind sport warning, cross traffic monitoring, heated front seats, wireless charging and an 11-speaker audio system. That’s on top of all the gear that the one-lower Sport spec brings: 17in alloys, privacy glass, LED headlights, hands-free phone, brake hold etc.

First impressions are of a well-built car that has a modest footprint – no car park too tight – but a relaxingly roomy interior. And it’s sweet to drive: a free-revving engine that’s powerful enough to feel quick, a light, precise gearshift and an agreeable way with corners. It sits low, but isn’t sportily suspended.

Letting the Civic stretch its legs on some longer trips should get a bit nd closer to identifying that Civic-ness. Or at least I’ll have a good time trying.