Honda Civic review

The new Honda Civic offers some respite from the slew of SUVs and crossover-styled family cars that populate the current UK car market. It’s good to drive and benefits from an efficient hybrid powertrain that will appeal to those looking for lower running costs, while its improved interior quality is another welcome plus point. 

The Civic’s sleek hatchback lines mean it doesn’t offer the same flexibility as a more upright SUV model, but the cabin should be practical enough for most. Factor in impressive levels of standard equipment along with its understated good looks, and the 11th-generation Honda Civic is a worthy contender in its class.

About the Honda Civic

It’s 1972. Russia has landed its unmanned Luna 20 spaceship on the moon, rock ‘n’ roll band T.Rex is riding high in the music charts and Ford has just launched its new Granada executive car. Slipping under the radar, with a little less fanfare, was the introduction of Honda’s first-generation Civic – firstly as a two-door saloon, followed by the now more familiar hatchback model.

Fast forward more than fifty years and eleven model generations, and it’s fair to say that the Honda Civic has proved itself as a capable, compact family car. Offered in a variety of bodstyles, including coupe, saloon and estate versions, the Civic has become a motoring mainstay in the UK and around the world.

But with families increasingly turning to SUVs and crossover-style cars to meet their everyday driving needs, the humble hatchback is facing more competition than ever. Honda now only offers the Civic as a sensibly-styled five-door hatch to challenge rivals such as the iconic Volkswagen Golf, the great-handling Ford Focus, the faithful Toyota Corolla or the uber-practical Skoda Octavia.

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Other hatchback options for buyers include the stylish-looking Mazda 3 and Peugeot 308, along with the impressive SEAT Leon and Vauxhall Astra, while the Korean pairing of the Kia Ceed and Hyundai i30 are also strong options. Those after a more premium model may wish to consider the Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1 Series or Audi A3 Sportback.

The latest, front-wheel drive Civic is powered by Honda's e:HEV hybrid technology with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet, plus two electric motors. Combined, the set-up produces 181bhp and 315Nm of torque and is paired with an e-CVT transmission. For the hot hatch fans out there, the new 325bhp Civic Type R hit the streets in 2023, and since then has broken front-wheel drive lap records at the Nurburgring race track in German and Japan's Suzuka race track.

Honda currently offers just two trim levels for the Civic hatchback: Sport and Advance, with the base Elegance spec removed from the price list earlier this year. Entry-level cars are very well-equipped, as you'd expect when prices start at nearly £34,000. Every Civic comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry, a nine-inch touchscreen, reversing camera and adaptive cruise control as standard, while top-of-the-range models gets a fully digital driver's display, heated leather steering wheel and panoramic glass roof, among other kit.

For an alternative review of the Honda Civic, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...