Honda Civic - Pictures

What’s less appealing is the 11.8-metre turning circle, which makes getting in and out of tight spots tricky. Still, the direct steering only has a little over two turns between locks

A radical move away from convention, the Type R’s cockpit urges you to get in and drive. The seating position is superb, but we wish the multifunction steering wheel’s rim had a better shape and higher-quality leather trim

Honda has kept to its word – the 2.0-litre retains its high-rev purity and crisp responses, but a meatier mid-range means it no longer has to be pushed to get meaningful acceleration. It’s also docile and friendly at low sp

Lowered by 15mm and with a 20mm wider rear track than the five-door, the Civic is dynamite on the road. Taut, positive and well balanced without being uncomfortable, it’s involving as well as easy to live with