Fifty never looked so good

Honda’s new Civic brings some big advancements. Ted Welford sees how it stacks up.

Few cars have stood the test of time quite like the Honda Civic, which this year celebrates 50 years of continuous production – more than pretty much any mainstream car on the market. Now, Honda is back with a new 11th iteration, bringing with it a range of advancements to ensure it can remain competitive in what remains an ultra-popular segment.

WHAT’S NEW?

It’s pretty rare for any ‘next generation’ car to launch these days without an electrified option. The Civic is no different, with Honda now selling the model with a newly-developed hybrid powertrain. Though the Civic’s design on the outside hasn’t changed dramatically, there are plenty of other changes elsewhere – not least a new touchscreen that replaces the appalling system found in this hatchback before. With the closure of Honda’s Swindon factory last year, this is also the first Civic in some time that hasn’t been built in Britain.

UNDER THE BONNET

Though Honda had a wide range of hybrid powertrains readily available, it developed a new system for the Civic. There’s just the one option offered – a 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with two small electric motors and a battery for a combined 181bhp and 315Nm of torque.

It’s brisker than the previous 1.5-litre petrol Civic, with 0-60mph taking 7.9 seconds in our Advance car, and capable of a 112mph top speed. As for fuel efficiency, the Civic fares very well, with CO2 emissions of 114g/ km on our top-spec test car, or just 108g/km on models fitted with the smaller wheels. Honda also claims 56.5mpg, though we quite easily exceeded that on our mixed test route.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Honda is keen to push the

Civic as a ‘driver’s hybrid’ – and there’s truth to this. Selfcharging

hybrids, generally speaking, tend not to be great to drive, but this Honda is a big step up, especially compared to the brand’s other hybrid models. It’s smooth, isn’t shy of performance, and is generally very pleasant. Ask a lot from it with your right foot and it does get quite vocal, but it’s otherwise quiet and refined, with minimal road noise too. The steering has a good degree of weight to it, making it good fun through the corners, and while there’s body roll if pushed, it’s undoubtedly one of the better cars behind the wheel in this class. At the same time, the ride is excellent, getting the balance about right between soft and firm.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Three trim levels are offered on the Civic – Elegance, Sport and Advance, with even the entry-level grade getting a huge range of equipment.

Highlights include adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and a reversing camera. In fact, we reckon there’s not much need to upgrade. But should you want to, the Sport brings wireless smartphone charging, LED front fog lights and larger alloy wheels. Opt for the topspec Advance and it features high-end equipment like a Bose sound system, a panoramic glass roof and an electric front seats. As for pricing, the Civic starts at £29,595 and rises to £32,995 for a top-spec Advance model. It might seem quite expensive at first, but it’s right on the money compared to Toyota’s Corolla hybrid.

THE VERDICT

Blended with an enjoyable and comfortable driving experience, there’s a huge amount to like about this new car, and it’s one of Honda’s best cars in years. It’s one of those rare cars that really doesn’t have much wrong with it, and fully deserves to carry the famous Civic nameplate well into the future and beyond.