Honda Civic Tourer Review

The Civic has been a solid performer for Honda for quite some time now - 42 years to be precise - and the latest version is their 9th Generation. Each generation of the Civic has been available in a number of structural derivatives, such as coupe, estate, hatchback and saloon. This ‘Tourer’ model can be most likened to an estate vehicle, with a large flat rear end permitting a huge boot-entry and high roof line throughout the boot space - perfect for dog owners or family driving holidays.

The Civic Tourer is available in two engine specs - the 1.6 litre diesel model that we tested or the 1.8 petrol alternative. Put simply; the 1.6 is the one to go for - it feels a bit swifter than the 1.8 as you work through the revs and the mileage far outweighs that of the petrol engine. In real terms, a lot of diesel engines can be quite unforgiving if they catch you in the wrong gear at the wrong time, particularly while rolling through suburban areas in gears 1 to 3. I found this simply wasn’t the case in the Civic, the car can quite happily drag itself up to speed from sub 20mph in third gear without putting too much stress on the engine. Ideal for staggered driving such as the school run.

Comfort is key with the Civic - although the 1.6 diesel is suitably powerful, albeit not overwhelming, it also provides a smooth drive and the power is delivered gradually yet effectively. 

The silky smooth manual gearbox works handsomely in tandem with the progressive power delivery of the i-DTEC engine - also adding to the driving pleasure is the SACHS adjustable dampers available on the SR and EX Plus trim levels (£550 optional extra for all lower models.) This system gives the driver the ability to adjust the firmness of the ride between Normal, Dynamic and Comfort. It would be lazy to dismiss this feature as merely a gimmick - it really works. In Dynamic mode the car feels genuinely planted as the spring rate is sharpened and the car remains flat through corners, really filling the driver with confidence and encouragement. Comfort mode was my personal favourite for menial driving like my 10 mile urban commute. In this setting the ride was loosened and the car felt cushioned and not bouncy, gliding over speed bumps as if they weren’t there. 

The Civic performed responsibly and with great composure on motorway journeys thanks to the long wheelbase and adjustable dampers which in combination make the car feel planted and stable. The Diesel engine was noticeably loud at idle, as is the way with most diesels, but not irritating as such as the cabin is well insulated from the outside world - increasing the general ride pleasure accordingly.

The 6th gear is a godsend for Civic Tourer which, combined with cruise-control and the high mpg figures, makes motorway driving an absolute breeze. Sitting at 70mph the engine noise isn’t at all intrusive and the cabin space feels rather cosy and relaxing.

Our press car came fully loaded with extras - including a full leather upholstery which extended to the steering wheel and dash making the cockpit an impeccably luxurious place to be. The speedometer is cleverly presented aback from the rest of the instrument dials so the driver can check their speed and barely take their eyes off the road - very clever indeed. A minor pitfall would be that drivers who prefer a low-slung seating position may find that the speedo is out of view due to the top of the wheel so they would have to adjust.

In terms of technology, the Japanese firm have nailed it with the Civic. The connectivity options in the Civic are brilliant - DAB, Bluetooth, Aux, CD, USB all included from the SE Plus spec upwards. The Honda CONNECT 7” touchscreen works well to integrate all connectivity as well as the Garmin Navigation and internet browsing feature in one place, although we found the touch screen itself wasn’t up to modern standards in terms of responsiveness which can get frustrating if you find yourself messing around with it on the move.

The Honda Civic has always excelled in this category - each generation has specifically been designed for all round usability for the everyday motorist and this ethos has blossomed in the tourer. The standard Civic hatch has the ‘Magic Seats’ in the rear that fold upwards to expose a huge amount of space and they also fold completely flat to maximise boot space as well. These Magic Seats are also present in the tourer, but once folded flat they offer 1,668 litre of space which is simply class-leading. No other vehicles in the same category can get even close to matching those figures.

Leg room in the front and back is more than suitable to carry 4 adults, or 2 adults and 3 children in the back, headroom is equally suitable as the roofline is stretched for the Tourer, meaning more loftiness than the hatchback model. The rear-end of the tourer also removes the ability

The 1.6 litre i-Dtec engine in the Civic Tourer is an impressive lump to say the least. Honda believe this will be the most popular engine choice for consumers looking at the Civic Tourer because the numbers add up. 74 miles to the gallon is a great start for fuel-conscious prospective buyers, as is the £0 Road Tax rates courtesy of the 99g/km of CO2 emitted. Entering ‘Econ’ mode, by hitting a big green button with a tree on it, means the car will have a more gradual progression off the line and the engine will cut out when stationary in neutral. This stop-start technology has had a marmite effect on motorists, some love it - some hate it, but once you’ve gotten used to the timing of the system in the Civic it becomes really pleasant to manage. Of course, you can turn it off easily so the choice is in the hands of the driver- which is nice as not every manufacturer gives the driver this option.

Honda have always been a solid-performer in reliability tests, they are mechanically and aesthetically durable and early impressions of the Civic Tourer shows the reputation has shined through to the latest models. Although the Tourer is yet to stand the test of time, the soft-touch materials across the upper dash feel firm and convincingly rigid. Less-pleasingly the lower half of the cabin does feel slightly more plastic and material choices are clearly a bit more inexpensive - nevertheless the panels don't rattle and would only discomfort those who are particularly fussy.

Every variant of the Civic Tourer comes with sufficient safety features such as front head restraints, six airbags and stability control. Additionaly safety packs are available which boast features such as a collision-avoidance system as well as a system to monitor the drivers blind-spots. The Civic Tourer was also awarded a 5 star safety record on the Euro-NCAP crash test

In terms of security; remote central locking, alarm and an immobiliser are standard across the spec levels as you would expect with a Honda.