2019 Honda Civic review, road test

The Civic returns to India after seven years, in its 10th-gen avatar, and now gets a diesel engine.

Published on Jun 03, 2019 07:00:00 AM

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At 430 litres, it’s got the smallest boot capacity in its segment.

Honda has pushed the envelope once again with the new Civic, by giving it a futuristic design that marks it out from the rest of the pack. The fastback styling looks genuinely unique, while the wide, squat stance makes it look sporty and less of an executive sedan. The good thing is that the svelte looks and low-slung design hasn’t come at the cost of practicality, and the Civic is, in fact, a fine example of Honda’s packaging at its best, with every millimetre in the car accounted for. The Japanese carmaker has eked out space from every nook and cranny to offer a remarkably spacious cabin that abounds with cubby holes and storage areas. Cabin quality is also a big step up from past Civics, even though Honda still has some catching up to do with the European brands.

The best part is that Honda has retained the car’s core value of putting the driver in charge. From the perfect driving position to the brilliant ride and handling, the Civic is a class apart and it’s a car you’ll want to drive more than sit at the back in.

What’s a shame is that Honda hasn’t backed the Civic’s sporting pretensions with strong engines. The petrol and the diesel engines do the job but in a rather uninvolving, aloof way. They lack the punch and performance and are the weak link in what is otherwise an expensive but extremely desirable package.