Road test: 2016 Honda Civic

The new Civic is a remarkable step forward for a model that’s raised more yawns than smiles in recent years.

The new Civic is the 10th generation of the popular smaller car. Photo by Kevin Hackett

No, your eyes do not deceive you: this really is the new, 10th-­generation Honda Civic. And I know what you’re thinking: this really must be some sort of new Accord, because the Civic has always been a smaller car. Truth be told, I keep looking at it and thinking the same. But the new Civic it is, and on the face of things at least, it’s a remarkable step forward for a model that’s raised more yawns than smiles in recent years.

“It boasts a sleek profile and a long wheelbase,” says Honda, “making it sporty even when standing still.” We will ignore the marketing spin, though, and make up our own minds. A rather bold, striking new face sets it apart as smarter than your average Corolla, and that sloping rear, with its distinctively styled lamp clusters, gives it a rather odd yet strangely handsome profile that pulls off the neat optical illusion that this is a larger machine than it really is. So far, so good, then, and I find myself wondering if it will live up to that “sporty” premise proffered by the brochure ­writers.

I have a 2.0L EX model, which can be yours for Dh79,000, for four days (the base starter is the LX, and there’s a top of the line RS, too, which probably does those two letters a great disservice). As you would expect from a Honda, it goes about its business with no drama, fuss or hint of technical problems. The S2000 and new NSX aside, ­Honda has been off-form for years now, but it does know how to build cars that you can depend on. But is this a car that you can love on a day-to-day ­basis?

The interior, like the external design, is rather elegant and simple, with a smattering of electronic goodies that do a good job of giving a premium look (if not feel). The plastics are still tough and scratchy in places, which detracts slightly from the apparently impressive spec. There’s a touchscreen navigation and entertainment system, though it’s not the most intuitive in the world, plus a reverse camera and a rather clever rear-view camera that displays the road behind whenever the driver indicates to make a right turn. The dials, too, look futuristic, and the instrument binnacle is nice and simple. But the tall “cup” that’s supplied for the holder within the centre console is under­sized for its orifice, meaning it knocks about when you’re on the move, and the ­cover for said console doesn’t go all the way – for the life of me, I can’t think why it has been ­designed in such a manner.

So does the new Civic make good on Honda’s “Power of Dreams” slogan? Or is it a case of “new bottle, same old drink”? The 2.0L in-line four-pot puts out a rather sedate 158hp, which is sent through the front wheels via a continuously ­variable transmission (CVT). It’s not the worst gearbox that I have experienced, but it’s still a horrible thing in its use. I have no idea why Japanese manufacturers, in particular, keep blighting some of their otherwise-decent models with these things, but the Civic does at least have a “sport” option. What happens when that’s selected, however, doesn’t really give the Civic a sporting persona – it simply jumps the revs and makes more of a thrashing noise than before. So really, what’s the point? Improved fuel consumption is usually the reason for a CVT, but with the efficiency of modern petrol engines being so improved over the past few years, I’m sure the environment could cope if we were given the option for a proper auto or auto gearbox.

On the move, the Civic is an exercise in comfort and civility, with zero harshness making its way through the drivetrain. The seat cushions are perhaps a tad firm, but the car’s pliant suspension offers a magic-­carpet ride that can’t be faulted. Wind noise is minimal, and there’s excellent visibility all round – it’s a pleasant place to be in practically all ­conditions, with very little to criticise. The steering is nice, too, and the brakes are more than up to the job in hand.

All in all, the Civic is difficult to find fault with – it does everything asked of it without complaining, but despite the marketing clichés, it’s still nowhere near “sporty”. And it does prove that everything is getting bigger, which is a shame, because I liked Civics of old; they were compact, chuckable and fun to drive. In the quest for size, the impact will be that the rest of the range will need to grow, too, for there to be greater differential between the ­models.

In this era of downsizing engines with a drive for greater efficiency, perhaps it’s time compact cars went back to being just that. But after four decades as Honda’s volume seller, the new Civic is still a rather good machine on which to spend your money.