You’ll probably be aware by now that there’s an all-new Honda Civic just around the corner. Due to be introduced early next year, it promises to be bigger and more practical than ever before, while still being good to drive and reasonably priced. The Civic’s about to grow up, in essence.

We are looking forward to that, but what about the current model? After all, when it was first released it was unlike anything else on the road and we’d still rate it highly even in its competitive and over-subscribed market.

Although we’ve tested the Civic in its various guises over the years, we still hadn’t yet had a proper drive in the 1.4-litre Sport model, and so when Honda offered us one for a week we thought it was more than worth a go. Even with the new one just weeks away, is the current Civic still worthy of a look?

Performance

When it was first released, the Civic Sport was available with Honda’s versatile 1.6-litre diesel or a larger 1.8-litre petrol. That was soon replaced by the option of the much more modest 1.4-litre.

Compared against both the 1.8 petrol and the diesel it’s considerably down on punch; it’s not turbocharged like many other engines in the hatchback market these days and there’s not a whole load of power either, with just 99bhp on tap.

It takes its time, put it that way, with a 0-62mph time of 13.4 seconds, and so overtakes do require a bit of forward planning and a fair bit of rowing on the six-speed manual gearbox.

Of course, it’s important to remember that not every hatch – even one as dynamic-looking as the Civic – has to be hot. This car with the 1.4 petrol will surely still appeal to lots of buyers, particularly younger drivers who want the cool looks but not necessarily loads of power and the high insurance costs that come with it.

Ride and Handling

The car still retains the direct, incisive steering and sporty suspension setup that makes it such a hoot to drive.

The Civic has also always been one of the sportier cars of its kind to drive, and maybe the 1.4-litre engine isn’t all that powerful, but the car still retains the direct, incisive steering and sporty suspension setup that makes it such a hoot to drive. It can be a bit stiff for a family hatch and so that mightn’t necessarily appeal to everybody. But for the buyer who wants a more engaging driving experience without the compromises of a full hot hatch, it’s great. Refinement isn’t amazing however, as despite the fact that the gearbox has six gears it tends to tick along at between 3,000 and 4,000rpm on the motorway. As a result, there’s a fair bit of engine noise that creeps into the cabin, along with tyre and wind roar.

Interior and Equipment

The original Honda Civic was first introduced as a small, efficient family hatchback specifically designed to appeal to money-conscious buyers during the fuel shortages of the 1970s.

When this current Civic was first unveiled, it featured its famous split-level dashboard, which at the time looked unbelievably futuristic. Compared to the sleek and decluttered dashes of more recent cars it might look slightly behind the times, but it’s still undeniably quirky. It’s hard to believe that the Civic Sport is also actually the cheapest Civic you can buy, despite the fact that it’s designed as a sort of halfway house between the more everyday trims and the Type R hot hatch. Of course, it’s decidedly more about styling than it is about speed, but with its aggressive bodykit and sizeable rear spoiler, it’s a long shot from some of the dire, basic entry-level models offered by other manufacturers. There’s a decent amount of space and standard equipment is reasonably good too, with DAB digital radio, cruise control and Bluetooth all thrown in, while options include the likes of rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Sat-nav doesn’t come as an option on this trim though, which is surely a point against it in many drivers’ eyes, while material quality isn’t up there with the best in class by a stretch, but it’s certainly one of the most distinctive interiors and cost effective. Where the Civic also wins is in terms of sheer versatility. The rear doors open at a 90-degree angle which makes getting in and out a doddle, while it also comes with Honda’s handy ‘Magic Seats’, which flip up and stow away at the touch of a button. The sloping roofline of the hatchback makes headroom tight and there isn’t as much legroom as in other competitors either, but the Civic makes back ground with its huge 487-litre boot, which outclasses cars like the Golf by 100 litres or more. There’s also a hidden underfloor storage compartment and with all the seats tucked down, total luggage capacity is a hugely competitive 1,210 litres.

Cost

Bearing in mind that it’s due for replacement soon, there are also likely to be some significant discounts you can get on one.

Being the entry point to the Civic range, the Sport trim starts from just over £18,000, which is a bit more than your standard Focus or Golf, but which does come with a lot more stuff. Bearing in mind that it’s due for replacement soon, there are also likely to be some significant discounts you can get on one too. In terms of running costs, it’s a bit behind the 1.6-litre diesel. Honda claims the petrol can return 51.4mpg combined, with CO2 emissions of 131g/km.

Our Verdict

Usually when it’s time for a car to be replaced, it feels much-needed. But aside from a slightly aging interior, the current Civic still manages to feel contemporary for the most part. It’s a good car to drive, surprisingly practical for a hatchback and we’ll definitely miss those stand-out looks as the next model aims to be more mature. Still, if this is the precedent set, then we very much look forward to the next one.