Review Honda Civic hatchback

"The latest Honda Civic is now safer and more comfortable than ever, offering owners a large boot and distinctive looks." The new Honda Civic features styling that is an evolution of the radical look of the previous edition. The new design retains the split rear window and short, curved bonnet but gets LED daytime running lights and a useful rear windscreen wiper. From launch the Civic is offered with three engines - two petrols and a diesel. Customers can also choose from four trim levels - SE, ES, EX and EX GT. Buy a Civic with a manual gearbox, and you get stop/start technology as standard – a system that cuts and restarts the engine in order to save fuel when the car is stationary. All cars are also fitted with an ECON switch, which adjusts the car's electronics to improve fuel consumption - a similar feature is found on Honda Insight and Honda Jazz hybrid models. Drive 3.8 /5 Not as fun to drive as the Ford Focus The Civic offers a decent balance between driving fun and comfort. Revised suspension has brought even better agility and the new electric power steering system is very smooth and precise, even if it doesn’t tell you exactly what the front wheels are up to in the same way as a Ford Focus. Engine choices include a 99bhp 1.4 and 140bhp 1.8-litre petrol, plus a 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel. We’d go for the latter as it has lots of power and can do around 60mpg. It's also very refined, whereas the petrol engines require revving and can be raucous. Standard gearbox is a slick six-speed manual, although a five-speed auto is available. Comfort 3.8 /5 Much smoother than the old model, but lacks rear headroom The old Civic used to crash over bumps, sending jolts through the cabin. Honda has made some big improvements with the new car thanks to fluid-filled rear suspension bushes, which make it much more comfortable. Up front, you still sit a little high, but the seats have plenty of support and the digital dashboard layout of the old car has been updated with a simpler, easier to read arrangement. In the back, the shorter wheelbase and sloping roof means there's less room for tall adults - especially when compared to the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. Reliability 4.0 /5 The Civic carries an enviable reputation The Honda Civic has always had an enviable reputation when it comes to not going wrong – and we fully expect the latest version to carry that mantle on. Given that many of the parts, including the engines and gearboxes, have been carried over with only a few updates means the Civic uses lots of tried and tested technology. Only a Toyota Auris is likely to rival the Civic when it comes to keeping you away from a dealership workshop as much as possible. Practicality 4.5 /5 Rear view is obstructed Thanks to a fuel tank mounted in the centre of the car underneath the floor, and a compact rear suspension arrangement, clever use of space is one of the Civic's strengths. The rear seats can fold up, cinema-style, allowing you to slide tall items like bicycles in behind the front seats. They fold flat too, and combine with the class-leading 487-litre boot (which has a twin-height floor) to make for a huge load area. However, one of the Civic's weaknesses has been carried over from the previous model. Despite moving the split in the rear screen down, your view out the back of the tailgate is restricted – and it's not helped by thick rear pillars either. Value for money 4.0 /5 Well-equipped with strong residual values This is an area in which the Honda Civic scores highly. Even entry-level SE and ES models come with alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, climate control, stop-start and an ECON button (which tweaks throttle response and the climate control to aid fuel economy). Options on these models include Bluetooth and a satnav system, for an extra £995. Flagship EX and EX GT models are very expensive, but come with luxury levels of equipment and options such as adaptive cruise control and systems that automatically brake the car in the event of an accident. Like its predecessor, the Civic is likely to hold onto its value on the secondhand market better than a Ford Focus. Running costs 4.0 /5 The 2.2-litre diesel is currently the most economical The Civic should be one of the cheapest hatchbacks to run in its class. Insurance groupings have dropped by up to five bands over the previous model and all models are economical. The 1.4 petrol can do 52.3mpg and 129g/km while the 1.8 does 48.7mpg and 137g/km with the 2.2 diesel is by far the most frugal, scoring 67.3mpg and 110g/km. No hybrid is planned – Honda says the Insight does that job – but Honda will soon launch a 1.6-litre turbodiesel model which should emit less than 100g/km of CO2, making it tax-free.