It’s been a bumpy ride with the Civic this month – quite literally, as I have become increasingly conscious of the way that its stiff suspension deals with the not-so-perfect B-roads we all enjoy a blast down every now and again. This car lets you know about every single surface imperfection.

Now, I appreciate that a hot hatch like the Civic is never going to have as relaxing a ride as, say, a mile-munching Range Rover Sport, and being 26 years old, comfort isn’t high on the list of things I look for in a car. But that said, driving the Type-R really is a rough and rattling experience, even compared to the hardcore Mégane R26.R.

The Renaultsport also has an incredibly firm set-up, but somehow it manages to be both perfectly taught for track work yet supple enough to be a bundle of joy on a back road. However, if it came to choosing between the two for a 500-mile motorway mission, I’d take the Honda every time. Here the ride is less of a problem, and you’d also get to enjoy the benefits of an easy-to-use satnav, a fantastic stereo, and seats that are so comfy I dread to think what B-roads would be like without them.