Honda Civic hatchback 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel

Honda Civic hatchback 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel

 There's no question that Honda's decision to radically change the looks of its Civic has polarised opinion. The need to reach out to more youthful buyers is always important to secure a long term future. However, there's also the need to ensure you don't spook existing customers. In some quarters the jury's still out, but there's no denying that Honda's engineering talents remain strong - witness a super-clean and frugal 1.6-litre diesel engine.

Honda Civic 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel

More of an evolutionary change to a previously revolutionary design shift, this generation of Civic's appearance has been softened slightly to strike a more sensible balance to please new and existing customers alike. It remains a core model for Honda, and as such, the arrival of the long-awaited 1.6-litre diesel unit promises to save motorists money and increase its appeal in the lucrative company car market.

Recent years have seen the Civic become a little more willing in its demeanour, with the gap between it and Toyota's Corolla - universally accepted to be the least sporting of the Far Eastern hatchbacks - widening. The iteration goes a step further in its desire to please keen drivers, but at its original launch critics weren't completely convinced. The lighter 1.6-litre diesel goes a long way to fixing this, and the car's agility is noticeably enhanced due to the reduced weight in the nose and the unit's more flexible power delivery.

Honda Civic 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel

The car's newfound driver involvement, at least in 1.6 diesel guise, is matched by the car's high quality cabin. Like before, the ambience matches that of its German rivals, although on closer examination the ergonomics - switchgear and instrumentation - could be more intuitive and are probably a little too radical for some but the driver-focused layout is rare in the family hatch sector.

The family hatch market is a fierce one and the need to broaden the Civic's appeal is important for the company's future. And it's difficult to deny the fact that swooping curves, a rakish nose, Alfa-style rear door handles, a Star Trek-like dashboard and digital instruments will appeal more to the PlayStation generation than any other.