2.2 i-DTEC EX GT 5dr Hatchback

Practical doesn't need to be dull!

Honda created a very nice car with the new civic, but not everything is perfect, even not for a Honda.

When that is said, I've owned a 2007 civic type s. The new civic is miles ahead the old one when it comes to quality feel. Finally Honda has got the right "door sound" when you close the door. It's a *thump* instead of *clunk*, it might sound strange, but this test has been used for ages to make a quality check by car enthusiasts. Also the leather seems to be of better quality than any Honda I has driven before. The steering wheel is really thick, but not clumsy to grab. It should be mentioned that when you choose to have the sunroof, the headroom might be a little too low for tall people. I'm about 1,78 and it's a few centimeters of clearance from my head to the roof, however when i lean back towards the headrest the space increases. In the back, Honda has made some clearance for the passengers by lifting the roof a little to make room for the head.
It seems like Honda has tried to make the car as low as possible without compromising with the practical aspect.
The quality feel inside the cabin is pretty good, lots of soft areas, little gap between panels and plastic that seems to be nearly scratch free.
A little drawback is that when you place bottles inside the bottle holders between the seats, you will have problems with operating the gear stick. People should also be aware that you might hit your leg towards a sharp edge when entering the car on the driver’s side.
The car also suffers for some minor trim rattle here and there, but this is probably caused by some vibration from the big 2.2 liter, it's mostly on low revs this happens.

The diesel engine itself is a gem, it’s really punchy but still economical, especially when the "eco" button is depressed. Honda have made some tuning to the engine map, so when you press the eco button the car runs with a lower engine response, but even when the eco button the car launches like a missile. The bad thing with the eco button is just that when you drive with cruise control the car loose too much speed when climbing steep hills, it's better to switch off eco under these conditions. On longer journeys in good conditions I’ve managed to get the fuel consumption down to about 65 mpg, it's no joke.

The civic comes with the smart "magic seats" solution. It's simple but very clever; you can flip the rear seats 90 degrees, or fold the seats flat in the floor. It's just brilliant and very useful. The luggage room is also big, and you have the possibility to store small things under the floor. Because of this the civic has got no spare wheel, but a compressor with foam. Not really a big problem if you choose to fit the car with run flat tires.

One of the biggest drawbacks with the car is the price, but you still get a lot of equipment if you buy with the sport package which is the cheapest one. In the petrol line up you can choose the small 1.4 liter engine, but this one is a bit weak since its normal aspirated. It will work for shopping, or just rolling around town, but with a car filled with family and luggage it will struggle. Most people will probably go for the 1.8 liter, it is lively enough for everyday driving, but it needs to be revved hard to get the most out of it, like all engines with variable valve timing.
The diesel lineup comes with a 1.6 liter and 2.2 liter. The 2.2 liter is brisk, but very expensive. I haven't tried the 1.6 liter, but it should be good enough for a fun driving experience.

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