It also means low fuel bills if you opt for the lightweight 1.6 diesel engine which sips around 3.8 litres per 100km, equivalent to 74.3mpg. Some Honda customers have taken up the challenge and discovered they can achieve this with their own car - Honda claims some have even bettered this and ‘stand to save hundreds of euro a year in fuel costs’.
The car is stylish without being over-the-top. While my review car had a red exterior which looked really well, to me white looks the best.
Honda expect the Civic Tourer to appeal to private buyers as well as to fleet businesses with its class-leading load space, low emissions, good performance, frugal fuel economy and the long list of standard items. These things take time and the car has had something of a slow start since launch in February while its hatchback sibling clocked up a healthy 433 sales for the first five months of this year. But Honda expect Tourer sales to take off when people become more aware of how much the car has to offer.
Although it shares much of the same DNA as its 5-door sibling, the Civic Tourer has a design identity of its own. Special to it is the strong line that runs from the front A-pillar to the D-pillar giving the impression of a floating roof line. The rear has also been given a more premium look with the glass of the back quarter window extended to cover the body work of the D-pillar and the door sash has been raised by 17mm compared to the 5-door. The car’s aerodynamic drag has been reduced through design features including the rear and side spoilers. This all helps with low C02 emissions and thrifty fuel consumption.
It may be only 235mm longer than its sibling, but this estate has one of the roomiest interiors and load space in its segment (and indeed one of the biggest of any estate car on the Irish market).
The fact that the fuel tank is located under the front seats allows such good inside space and Honda’s own Magic Seat configuration with is popular with customers as they fold down low to the floor for ease of carrying items - rear seat cushions can also be flipped up to allow ample floor space to allow for really tall items.
Open a door and discover the big interior room and nice quality materials. But the car’s main feature is the really excellent split level design of the dash and the bright and changing colours on the instruments that show you if you are driving economically. Inbetween, at eye level, you see your current speed in large white digital numbers.
Three specification levels are Comfort, Sport and Executive.
This 1.6 is the most advanced engine of its type in the world and Honda say it is ‘unrivalled in its class for torque and power’. That torque is 300Nm. This is all down to Honda’s ‘Earth Dreams Technology’ which can offer class-leading levels of C02 emissions of 99g/km (Tax Band A2 of €180). Petrols are in Band C of €390. The engine is matched to a slick 6-speed gearbox.
This is a nifty car about town, easy to manoeuvre around city streets, and a really good performer when cruising on the motorway. The engine characteristics encourage enthusiast use of the gearbox. The power will reward you above your expectations for an engine this size. Steering is direct, as I like it to be. There is a very short delay in the stop/start clicking in again which could be annoying in certain circumstances.
Standard equipment even on the entry level trim includes: Alarm and Remote locking, six airbags, Bluetooth HFT, air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, those Magic Seats, Premium audio system with 8 speakers, all electric windows, remote audio controls, USB and Aux input sockets, black roof rails, Driver’s seat height adjustment, and LED Daytime Running Lights.
My review car, the 1.6 i-DTEC Sport, added front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera (smallish but fine), cruise control with speed limiter, front fog lights, automatic headlights/wipers, dual zone Climate Control, leather steering wheel, and electrically folding mirrors.
The Executive spec adds leather upholstery, HDD Satellite navigation, leather upholstery, the Adaptive Damper System, heated front seats, a full 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, privacy glass, 17-inch alloys, silver roof rails and DVD with Video input socket.
The Civic Tourer also uses a traditional type pull-up handbrake. Cubbies include a decent glovebox as well as good sized door bins and a spacious area below the front arm rest. There are two 12-volt sockets in the front.
A multi information display on the dash shows relevant information like fuel economy, distance left to empty, your average speed, while your current speed is displayed in big white digital numbers, at eye level.
The car also shows you how to drive economically with its Eco Assist systems which changes the colour of graphics over the instruments to show you how fuel-efficiently you are driving. There’s a definite feel-good factor when you’re doing your best for the planet. You also save on fuel with the Idle Stop system.
The Civic Tourer is the first production car in the world to feature a rear Adaptive Damper System which automatically adjusts the rear suspension based on driving conditions. There are three rear suspension settings - Comfort, Normal and Sport.
Honda customers are a loyal to the brand and appreciate their cars for their reliability emphasised by the awards for customer satisfaction.
Colours include the six existing Civic ones as well as two new colours - Twilight Blue Metallic and the review car’s Passion red Pearl. These last two can also now be ordered on the Civic 5-door.
This car was designed in Europe specifically for European drivers. It is built in the carmaker’s manufacturing plant in Swindon in the UK alongside the Civic hatchback variant, Jazz and CR-V.
Prices are from €25,695-€32,795.
