Honda has introduced a new nine-speed automatic gearbox on its Civic diesel sedan. This is the first time Honda is offering the option of a diesel-automatic on the current-gen Civic. The India-bound Honda Civic diesel's 1.6-litre unit churns out 120hp and 300Nm. This is the same engine that will do duty in the upcoming next-gen CR-V SUV which is slated to launch in the country soon. With the CR-V getting the diesel-auto combo, there is a strong possibility the India-spec Civic will get this powertrain option.

According to Honda, the Civic 1.6 diesel-auto does a 0-100kph dash in 11sec, with a top speed of 200kph. Additionally, the nine-speed gearbox can skip through gears to facilitate better fuel economy and faster shifts; this means, the transmission can shift directly from ninth to fifth, or say from seventh to fourth, in full automatic mode. Earlier this year, Honda confirmed that the Civic sedan will make it to India in 2019, and will be the refreshed version that is yet to be unveiled globally.

The India-bound Civic will come with the above mentioned 1.6-litre diesel and a 140hp, 1.8-litre petrol engine as well. The India-bound Honda Civic will take on the Skoda Octavia and the facelifted Hyundai Elantra along with the Toyota Corolla.