Civic pride as Mk11 ticks all the boxes

HONDA’S GONE HYBRID-ONLY FOR ITS ALL-TIME BEST-SELLER, WRITES EDWARD STEPHENS

AFTER building more than 10 generations of Civic models over four decades Honda really has honed its craft.

The 11th generation of the Civic is a car which ticks all the boxes in terms of style, engineering, economy and performance. And for the first time the Civic, like so many other models in the Honda stable, now comes as a hybrid-only.

But then having enjoyed so much success with its self-charging hybrid systems in other models like the Jazz and the HR-V it’s hardly surprising that the Japanese car maker has upgraded it and opted to make it the sole power source for the Civic.

And while Civic buyers tend to traditionally be an older set of motorists they have proved in the past that they are not averse to new ideas where this car is concerned and I’m sure will take to this hybrid like a duck to water.

The newcomer is svelte and stylish, an evolution of the easily recognisable Civic shape, but doesn’t have the boy racer image of the previous generation with its large spoilers and body kit, which is bound to go down well.

A low roof line which tapers dramatically at the back gives it an appealing coupe-like silhouette.

Add to that a car which – in topof-the range Advance spec as driven here - will accelerate to 62 miles per hour in a lively 8.1 seconds and officially average 56 miles to the gallon and loyal Civic buyers will be falling over themselves to put down their deposits.

And while that fuel consumption might sound a little ambitious I noted that on my first drive in the new model – a distance of 42 miles – the average consumption was a super impressive 72.2 mpg without even trying. Other subsequent journeys recorded well over 60mpg.

At the same time the combination of a 2.0-litre engine and two electric motors ensures plenty of power when you need it, but all delivered in a quiet, refined manner.

And with a 19 per cent increase in body rigidity over the previous model, a 35mm longer wheelbase and 18mm wider rear track the handling and cornering ability of the new car is vastly improved, not only making it superbly stable but also good fun to drive fast when you

need to.

Most of the time in towns and cities the car operates purely on electric but when more power is needed it seamlessly switches to hybrid drive, powering the front wheels by the electric motor with the petrol engine generating the electricity.

On the motorway, however, the car tends to be powered by the engine with the electric motor only cutting in when needed.

There is effectively only one gear but there are paddles behind the steering wheel which are designed to help you boost the regenerative braking on the car with each pull of the left paddle adding more braking and of the right paddle taking it off.

Using them when powering around bends adds to the fun of driving this car, particularly in Sport mode although you also have Eco, Normal and individual settings to choose from. The new system offers plenty of torque and powerful, silky-smooth acceleration.

The Civic Advance model comes with a whole host of onboard creature comforts to make it easier to live with including heated seats, a heated steering wheel and a large tilt and slide glass sunroof, not to mention satellite navigation and a reversing camera.

And when darkness falls you have the reassurance of Honda’s version of matrix headlights which allow

you to drive on full beam without blinding oncoming vehicles.

The car has keyless entry and push button start and the seats are electrically adjustable to ensure maximum comfort although there is no height adjustment on the passenger seat which can be annoying as you sit so low in the car.

It is, however, one of the few negative points on an otherwise very impressive new hatchback – a credit to the 27 million Civics which have gone before it.