First drive: The Honda Civic diesel is the pragmatist’s choice

What is it?

When Honda launched the 10th generation of its Civic last year, penny-pinchers and high-mileage drivers were dismayed to see that it only offered petrol power – in the form of 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre units. That’s now been rectified with the new diesel. Badged 1.6 i-DTEC, it’s a four-cylinder unit aimed at bringing maximum economy for those high-mileage motorway drivers who’ll really benefit.

What’s new?

Obviously the main change here is the engine. It’s lifted from the old diesel Civic, but has had heavy revisions aimed at improving performance and economy. Steel pistons replace the previous aluminium ones, while a new turbocharger reduces lag.
The rest of the car is much the same as the rest of the range, and therefore benefits from a new platform and distinctive new look, as well as an improved and rather more conventional interior.

What’s under the bonnet?

The 1.6-litre diesel lump under the bonnet of this car produces 118bhp and 300Nm of torque – decent figures, though they’re unlikely to tempt people out of their high-powered executives. Still, compared with similar 1.6-litre versions of the VW Golf, they’re competitive.
The Civic diesel never feels a particularly fast car and the torque band is relatively narrow, necessitating plenty of rowing through the gears. That’s not a problem though, as the six-speed ‘box is wonderful to use.
It’s also very efficient. Though you’re unlikely to hit the claimed 80mpg, we found 60mpg easily achievable – with long runs likely to see this number spiral higher.

What’s it like to drive?

The heavier diesel engine doesn’t impact handling much, so the Civic still steers accurately, grips well and doesn’t roll too much through the bends. It’s perhaps less thrilling than its racy looks would have you believe, but for the most part it’s well-sorted and capable.
It rides well too, with expensive-feeling damping making short work of potholes. It’s not cossetting in the same way that a Citroen Cactus is, but the stiff chassis and our test car’s adaptive dampers allow you to feel the bumps without suffering.
Of course, you don’t buy a diesel Civic for thrill-a-minute driving pleasure – you’ll need the halo Type R for that. If you can’t stretch to that, our preference would be for one of the two petrol engines.

How does it look?

The diesel Civic looks identical to the petrol models, which could be divisive. Personally, we quite like the bold styling, with cuts and slashes all over the bodywork. In the black of our test car, it looks positively mean.
The Civic is longer, wider and lower than the car it replaced, with a return to a more orthodox rear seat layout which allows the driver to get really nice and low in the car.
The Civic isn’t a bad-looking car by any means, but there’s no denying that the design isn’t quite as well-resolved as the classy and handsome Volkswagen Golf or sharp-edged Seat Leon.

What’s it like inside?

Those who appreciated the previous car’s high seating position and ease of access will be disappointed, as the latest Civic is low-slung and sporty. Once ensconced it’s actually very comfortable, with supportive seats and plenty of leg and head-room. The boot is similarly spacious, with a massive underfloor compartment, a deep bay and low sill, plus an innovative side-scrolling parcel shelf which packs down into a box about the size of a Toblerone – far easier to store than a regular bulky parcel shelf.
The dashboard is more conventional than the car it replaces, though there are some niggles – such as the touch-sensitive volume control for the stereo and limited physical air-con controls.

What’s the spec like?

Our top-spec EX car came fully loaded, with 17-inch black alloy wheels, a full leather interior, upgraded stereo, adaptive dampers, LED headlights and all-round heated seats. It’s a bit pricey though, so we’d probably step down to SR grade, which still has dual-zone climate control, a rear parking camera, auto lights and wipers and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to replace the slightly dated-feeling software. Our car had the optional ‘Tech Pack’ only available on EX models, which brought those LED lights along with a wireless charging pad underneath the infotainment display. Opt for a petrol engine and you can step further up to Sport, Sport Plus or Prestige trims, but for the diesels things top out at EX.

Verdict

The diesel Honda Civic is a pragmatic choice – as are most diesel-powered family hatchbacks, if we’re honest. There’s little to excite or delight here, but it is a welcome alternative to the likes of the dishwater-dull equivalents in the VW Golf and Ford Focus stables. An interesting design and brilliant economy help it stand out a little, though the dull interior and sluggish performance bring things back down. Perhaps the Civic’s worst enemy is itself, but with the still-very efficient 1.0-litre petrol engine. Is the extra mpg worth it? We’ll leave you to decide.