Honda has had a hell two years, hit hard by the recession and by 2011's natural disasters which cut production just as Civic and CR-V were due for replacement. But the cavalry's arrived with the ninth-generation Civic.
What's new
This is an all-new car and a packaging miracle. It's 30mm shorter between the front and rear wheels and 10mm shorter overall, but there's 75mm more shoulder room, a cabin 10mm longer and rear leg-room up 40mm with better ergonomics. Honda says improved crash-protection technology allowed a slimmer skin, to liberate 4.3 per cent extra space.
The 104kW/174Nm 1.8-litre unit is a redevelopment of the previous engine designed for better efficiency, at 6.7l/100km, with a stronger mid-range focused on everyday driving.
The 114kW/190Nm 2.0-litre motor is now from the same single overhead cam design family, , with a claimed 7.5l/100km thirst. But it's the IMA hybrid that's the real fuel miser, the 4.4l/100km claim achieved beside a power boost to 82kW/172Nm by using the Jazz Sport 1.5-litre engine as a base, improvements in regenerative braking, replacing the nickel metal hydride battery with a lighter, more compact lithium ion unit and the ability to run on electricity alone.
The company line
Honda was founded by a petrolhead. The world's seventh-largest car manufacturer and No1 in motorcycles, it's a company that builds everything from robots to aircraft.
