What is it?
 
The Honda Civic Ti, a special edition of the British-built family car that’s due a replacement soon. It’s inspired (in the styling department, at least) by Honda’s British Touring Car Championship competitor and costs £15,995 with a 1.4-litre engine, £16,995 in the 1.8-litre form we’ve tried here.
 
Technical highlights
 
There’s no trick mechanicals lifted from the turbocharged BTCC car, but there is a new touchscreen ‘infotainment’ system. It’s a Pioneer unit that boasts Bluetooth, satnav and full iPod connectivity, your albums and playlists appearing neatly on the screen. It’s a bit fiddly to use, but provides a welcome spruce up to the predominantly grey dashboard.
 
What’s it like to drive?
 
With no chassis or engine tweaks, it’s identical to standard Civics, but that’s no bad thing. It’s pretty firm, and doesn’t have the ride comfort of rivals, while the class-leading Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus are more agile and pleasurable to drive on a good road, but Honda’s hatchback doesn’t fall too far behind, as its controls all possess great weight and precision. The six-speed manual gearbox is snappy, the steering is feelsome and the pedals are well positioned.
 
The 1.8-litre VTEC engine gives it a selling point over rivals, which are now mostly turbocharged. Its top-heavy, naturally aspirated power delivery means you need to change gear later than your ears will tell you to maximise its 138bhp and 128lb ft, but you’re rewarded with a sense of satisfaction and a rorty soundtrack that many turbo engines struggle to offer. The downside, of course, is failing to achieve the already below average 43mpg figure…
 
How does it compare?
 
Rivals such as the Astra, Focus and Golf are all more modern, more economical and better to drive, but this could change once a new Civic arrives in 2012. In the meantime, the Ti offers a lower price, more equipment and racier looks that could tempt buyers out of a Scirocco or Megane Coupe.
 
Anything else I need to know?
 
Ti specification also brings pearl white metallic paint, a subtle body kit and some excellent 17in Team Dynamics Pro Race wheels in contrasting black. There’ll be 500 Honda Civic Tis on sale in the UK, 300 of them 1.8s, 200 1.4s.