For a small family car, the Civic packs a big punch. The 2.2-litre diesel is more than up to the job of pulling the Civic and a caravan, sprinting from 30-60mph in just 14.1 seconds. The Honda slows as well as it goes, coming to a halt in just 10.6 metres.
It’s not all good news, though. While happy at 60mph, several judges noted more movement from the van once up to 70mph. The Civic didn’t feel composed when slowing from high speeds, and through the lane-change test, the van fought the car.
Whether towing or driven solo, the ride is rather firm, and rear-seat passengers will find headroom tight. The boot managed a full load of holiday luggage, but the practicality judges weren’t pleased to see run-flat tyres instead of a proper spare wheel.
Running costs should be modest. Official figures show 53.3mpg on average, and a retained value of 41% after three years is respectable. Honda’s reputation for reliability is well deserved, and the Civic finished 15th of 101 cars in this year’s JD Power Customer Satisfaction Survey.