Honda Civic review - decent looks but it's no Type-R - Engine and Gearbox

Honda’s edgy looking Civic brings plenty of style, backed up by substance.

Evo rating
Price
from £15,970
  • Head-turning looks, reliability, good diesel engine
  • Busy looking interior, limited rear headroom

Engine and gearbox

Two petrol choices and a single diesel offering make up the Civic range, if we’re ignoring the Type R. Gearbox choice is limited to just two, the 1.4 petrol and 1.6-litre diesel only offered with six-speed manual transmissions, while the 1.8 petrol comes with either that same six-speed manual or an optional five-speed automatic. Elsewhere in the Honda range the 1.6-litre i-DTEC turbodiesel is mated to a nine-speed automatic, but it’s yet to be offered in the Civic.

The diesel engine is a typically Honda affair, it feeling over-engineered compared to its rivals. There are two turbos working in sequence, which allows for a greater spread of power and torque, and largely eliminates the all-or-nothing delivery that characterises so many of the Civic’s turbodiesel competitors. The lack of an auto on the diesel isn’t an issue, particularly as the six-speed manual offers a crisp, precise shift, while the clutch is well weighted and positioned. The Civic’s manual shift is among the best there is in the family hatchback segment.

Most Popular

Volkswagen W12 Syncro – dead on arrival
Volkswagen W12 Syncro
Features

Volkswagen W12 Syncro – dead on arrival

A genuine supercar from the maker of people’s cars seemed tantalisingly possible – until logic prevailed
8 Dec 2023
AC has built an all-new Cobra that costs £240,000
AC Cobra GT Roadster
News

AC has built an all-new Cobra that costs £240,000

The Cobra GT Roadster is a bespoke recreation of the iconic ‘60s sports car, packing a heavyweight 654bhp punch
7 Dec 2023
Car prices are plummeting: fancy a £36,000 discount on a brand new M car?
BMW M8 Competition
News

Car prices are plummeting: fancy a £36,000 discount on a brand new M car?

Dealers are slashing prices on new and pre-registered cars on the run up to Christmas, offering enormous savings on some evo favourites
8 Dec 2023