Honda Civic

FIRST DRIVE All-new version of family hatch is better in every way. We see if it’s a class leader.

- Richard Ingram

LAST December, Honda built its 100 millionth car. While the CR-V retained its title as the world’s best-selling SUV, of the 4.7m models that rolled off the manufacturer’s production lines in 2016, more than 620,000 wore the Civic badge.

Now in its 10th generation, the family focused hatchback has come a long way since it was first launched in 1972. Each incarnation has seen various region-specific models come and go, without any real cohesion between what you buy here in the UK and what sells in showrooms across America or elsewhere.

With the latest version, however, Honda pooled resources to establish a dedicated team for the very first ‘global’ Civic. A third of the firm’s entire research and development budget has gone into this car, to create a vehicle that large project leader Mitsuru Kariya describes as “solid, sleek and fun to use”.

The brand’s Swindon factory in Wiltshire is the international hub for the new Civic. It will be built here, with other countries also offered a choice of four-door saloon and two-door coupé variants. The hatch gets a completely new platform, as well as engines and transmissions. There is loads of fresh technology, while the shape of the Japanese-designed body pulls it into line with the latest HR-V and Jazz models. Styling is subjective, of course, but the distinctive nose and wide, squat profile give it much more presence on the road.

With no diesel engine available from launch, it’s this 127bhp 1.0-litre turbo petrol that Honda bosses reckon will be the biggest seller in this country. Only a third of buyers are expected to stump up the extra in monthly PCP payments and fuel costs for the 180bhp 1.5-litre petrol version.