Honda Civic 2.2 i-DTEC EX GT 5dr Car Review - February 2012

There are more powerful engines for your money than the 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, diesel unit under the bonnet of the Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT. With a power output of 152bhp at 4000rpm, it concedes 20bhp to the slightly less expensive VW Golf GT 2.0 TDI, albeit with identical torque figures of 258 lb-ft. It goes from 0-62 in 8.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 135mph. The engine is quietly effective however, and service from the 6-speed manual gearbox is very smooth. The engine responds quickly to requests for power.

The handling is very good without being exceptional, but the braking performance is excellent and the steering predictable and accurate. The ride quality is very good, and feels refined and well-balanced.

The Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT still looks ahead of the curve, despite being refreshed only slightly from the shape that was launched almost six years ago. The sharp, purposeful lines of the car give it a very poised stance. This does compromise the view through the rear window though, meaning aft visibility is disappointing. This could be annoying when reverse parking in tight spaces, so it’s a good job reverse parking sensors are included as standard.

Headroom is more restricted than some of its rivals, which is a pity as legroom is good, the seats are comfortable, and the overall quality of the interior materials is excellent. That said, despite having the same well constructed feel, the dash display does seem a little busy.

The Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT has a standard equipment level which compares favourably with its closest rivals. It comes as standard with power steering, central locking, vehicle stability assist, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather seats, driver airbag, passenger airbag, front side airbags, alarm & immobiliser, MP3 connectivity, CD player, bluetooth, and satnav. In comparison, a VW Golf GT 2.0 TDI may have a purchase price of over £1,000 less than the Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT, but on the VW cruise control, rear parking sensors, and satnav are optional extra’s that will set you back over twice that amount.

The Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT comes as standard with driver, passenger, and front side airbags. Honda have an excellent reputation for reliability, and this car is expected to follow suit in that regard. Its standard 3-year warranty is good for an impressive 90,000, whereas the equivalent VW is limited to a warranty of just 60,000 miles.

Where the Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT scores well is practicality, with a cavernous 467 litre capacity boot. In addition, its versatile rear seats are designed to not only fold flat, but can also pivot upwards to allow larger items to slide underneath.

The Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT’s purchase price ensures it is by no means the cheapest car in its class, however this is off-set by an extensive list of standard features. It does fare well in terms of running costs, with a combined mpg of 64.2, and C02 emissions ratings of 115g/km see it fall into Road Tax Band C. This is two Road Tax Bands lower than a VW Golf GT 2.0 TDI. In addition, while the Golf falls into insurance group 30, the Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT will enjoy much lower insurance costs in group 20.

Honda has a strong reputation for reliability and build quality. The brand also enjoys consistently high ratings in customer satisfaction surveys. These factors, in addition to the high level of standard equipment on the Honda Civic 2.2 I-Dtec EX GT, mean that the car should achieve good residual values.