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Our Score:
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Styling & Design
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Score:
7/10
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The Civic's basic shape is superb with a wonderful stance and fine proportions, but the detailing around the lights, bumpers and grilles is too overwrought. 3-door is very sporty and is matched to great wheels in warm Type S and hot Type R models.
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Engine Spec
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Score:
7/10
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The Civic’s 83hp 1.4 is a fine engine, but there’s no other engine between it and the revvy 140hp 1.8. The 1.3 hybrid is frugal novelty but only available in the loaded saloon. The Type-R’s 201hp 2.0 lacks torque versus its turbo-charged rivals. 2.2 diesel is in the works.
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Performance
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Score:
6/10
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The 1.4 and 1.3 hybrid chug at first (14.2/12.1 seconds to 100km/h) but feel better once rolling. The 1.8 hits 100km/h in 8.9 seconds - fine in the 5-door but disappointing in the sporty 3-door Type S. The Type-R is quick on paper (6.6 seconds, 230km/h) but gutless on the open road.
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Ride & Handling
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Score:
7/10
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Even the most basic Civic handles with some verve. The steering is quick and light (it lacks feel, though), it rides and grips well and the bodyroll is kept well in check. The Type S is really no sportier than boggo hatches while the Type R is disappointingly firm and numb.
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Interior & Ergonomics
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Score:
4/10
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Even though the driving position is superb, the Civic’s cabin is an absolute mess. The switches and instrumentation are scattered everywhere, making them pain to use. The Type R's red on red rev-counter has be stared at to decipher which is infuriating in a rev-sensitive hot hatch.
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Space & Practicality
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Score:
6/10
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The Civic is about average in terms of interior space and practicality. Rear seat passengers have decent space, 3-door rear access is fine and the boot is a good size. The saloon is no more spacious cabin-wise, but the boot is bigger.
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Safety
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Score:
7/10
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The 4 Star NCAP Civic comes with ESP; front, side and curtain airbags; front seat belt pre-tensioners, three 3-point rear seat belts; three headrests in the rear and ISOFIX child seat anchors across the range.
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Value & Running Costs
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Score:
7/10
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The Civic isn’t cheap but you do get a lot for your money and it should be faultlessly reliable. Running costs are low, even by class standards, and while the old model depreciated badly, this current Civic should hold its value well, especially 1.4 and Type S and R models.
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Quality & Refinement
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Score:
7/10 |
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It might be extremely well built but very few of the interior plastics are soft to the touch. Mechanically, the Civic feels unbreakable, but while the Civic rides well there’s a fair bit of road noise at motorway speeds. Type R is far too stiff to be fun on Irish roads.
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Equipment
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Score:
8/10
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The SE gets climate control while SE-S adds alarm and 16-inch alloys. Sport adds 17-inch alloys and Xenons. The SE Executive gets heated leather while the ES adds auto lights and wipers and a glass roof. Type S is has ES spec plus 17-inch wheels. Type R gets bucket seats and 18-inch wheels.
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Bad
Not fast
bizarre interior
not cheap.
Good
Radical looks
well equipped
reliable
fun to drive.
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