Honda Civic – the prince of orange

IT may have been around for the thick end of 40 years but there can be no underestimating the importance of the Honda Civic to its Japanese manufacturer.

So much so that the new 10th generation Civic has been the subject of the largest single model global development programme in the company’s history.

The result is a five-door hatchback that comes brimming with sporty style, family-friendly space and a new engine that punches way above its weight.

Make no mistake this is a really smart set of wheels and one that can be made to look even cooler for those daring to be different with an optional colour pack.

For instance the tested EX model, top of the three trim grades, was clad in a menacing Crystal Black Pearl paint job.

Shell out an extra £1,195 for the Orange Line Pack and the effect is simple but stunning.

While most of the impact is on the outer – side skirts, wing mirrors, wheel rims and front and back lower rims – the orange highlighting also extends to the cabin, outlining the full width of the dash and fascia.

But then the new Civic is now more stylish than at any time in its long history – 30mms wider, 136mms longer and 20mms lower than the previous-generation model.

The wheels are also both larger and wider to emphasise the car’s presence, so little surprise then that there’s a more than adequate amount of cabin space.

You can even have the front seats slid well back, yet still stretch out in the rear, and the boot is split level.

Go for the top end EX trim and perforated leather seats, an electric sunroof, high-tech LED headlights and a chunky leather steering wheel join what is a comprehensive standard kit.

On the safety front, Honda’s SENSING features are installed on all Civic grades and use radar and camera information, plus a host of sensors to assist in potentially dangerous situations.

Billed as the sportiest Civic ever and with a lightweight, highly rigid bodyshell, buyers have a choice of two turbocharged petrol engines – a four-cylinder 1.5-litre offering and a three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit.

Both have been designed to develop the power and torque of a much larger engine and the tested 1.0 version in particular, driven through a six-speed manual gearbox, is both smooth and spirited.

It really feels like a powerplant with far greater capacity, especially at low and mid-range engine speeds compared to the 1.8-litre VTEC which powered the previous generation model.

That said, even in Economy mode which we drove most of the time, the average fuel return was still only 38.7 miles per gallon, which falls well short of the official 55.4mpg Combined figure.

Perhaps more important though is the feelgood factor you get from what is a very stylish, cleverly designed and reliable car that’s an absolute joy to drive.