Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC ES 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.8 i-VTEC engine is very quick and responsive, and the impressive acceleration figure of 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds is certainly one of the quickest in the class. The top speed of 127mph is quite good, although it won’t be achievable on British roads. The suspension is quite hard meaning that the ride for passengers isn’t the most comfortable, but the driving experience for the driver is quite good on the whole.

The firm suspension does mean that the cabin can be quite noisy, although the wind noise at speed and the engine are both fairly quiet. The driving position is quite good, but shorter people may struggle to see the dashboard and will have to lower the steering wheel accordingly. Rear visibility can be a problem as there is no rear wiper and there is a spoiler cutting across the rear window.

The Honda Civic is a car that has been designed to catch the eye, and from the narrow headlights and large air intake at the front end, the styling will certainly appeal to those who like a sporty looking car. The twin exhausts at the back of the car add to this sporty look, but the spoiler across the back window is an odd thing to have, and it does affect visibility from within the car. Alloy wheels are included as standard in this very attractive car.

The car has driving aids such as cruise control included as standard, and the panoramic sunroof is certainly a nice feature to have. The layout of the dashboard is simple to use, but the entertainment controls on the centre console can be a little small and fiddly, with a lot of buttons.

The Civic did receive a five star award in the Euro NCAP safety tests, and pedestrian safety in an accident was rated quite highly compared to other vehicles. It is supplied with a range of airbags, but as with other Honda vehicles a driver’s knee airbag is not available. ESP, traction control and ABS are all included as standard which will help to keep the driver and passengers safe.

In terms of practicality, the lack of space in the back seats can be a problem for those who will regularly carry adults in the back of the car, and the boot space is not as good as some of its competitors. The car comes fitted with an alarm and immobiliser, and the deadlocks also help to ensure that the Civic is a very secure car.

This is one category where the Honda Civic doesn’t perform as well as some of the competitors, and this model is in the middle of the Civic range and is listed at £18,770. Falling between the budget Skoda Octavia and the slightly pricier Volkswagen Golf, the Honda Civic is in a very competitive market where the key points of value and ride quality will usually nudge a buyer towards one of the competitors.

The engine is certainly powerful and quick enough for drivers who will be driving more aggressively, but the fuel performance is not as competitive as some of the rivals in the class, delivering an average 42.2mpg. The insurance group is slightly higher than some of the Civic’s rivals, but the three year or ninety thousand mile warranty is accompanied by three year’s breakdown cover does help to ease the blow in terms of the running costs. However, in such a competitive part of the car market, there are rivals to the Civic that do seem to perform better.