Skip advert
Advertisement

Honda Civic Sport 1.4 petrol review

Honda Civic Sport looks the part, but ageing 1.4-litre petrol engine can't compete with turbocharged rivals

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

Find your Honda Civic
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

The 1.4-litre engine in this Honda Civic Sport feels decidedly old-hat alongside more modern turbocharged rivals, but you can’t argue with the car’s cool styling and rock-bottom running costs. While the interior is feeling a little out of date, there’s loads of kit and thanks to some attractive finance offers, it’s decent value too.

Advertisement - Article continues below

For years, manufacturers have been adorning their lesser-engined models with fancy bodykits and bigger wheels to give the impression of power and performance without the raised running costs that would accompany an actual hike in horsepower. 

BMW is a longstanding master of the art, with flashy M Sport parts now available across its range. Volvo has its R-Design variants, while Kia and Peugeot use the GT Line moniker. The formula is always roughly the same.  

• Best hatchbacks on sale right now

The Honda Civic Sport is nothing new, however. We first tried it in February last year, just as the current car had undergone a mild mid-life facelift. Along with revised lights and new bumpers, the Sport hinted at the then yet-to-be-revealed Civic Type R, acting as a convenient half-way-house between the tame standard models and the fire-breathing 306bhp hot hatchback.

The Civic Sport used a 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel engine, and is still available today. Now, though, UK bosses have fitted a more modest 1.4-litre engine, bringing big savings on both list price and whole life costs – thanks to attractive group 5 insurance and 51.4mpg fuel economy.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

• Honda Civic Sport 1.6 i-DTEC review

That’ll be a big pull for younger drivers, many of whom prioritise style and running costs above performance or handling. It’s also available with some seriously attractive zero per cent finance offers. In fact, with a £4,000 deposit, you can have one on your drive for £182 per month.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Standard kit is good, with all Sport models getting a seven-inch touchscreen, DAB radio and Honda’s Connect infotainment system. The gloss black 17-inch wheels are also included, as are front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. In fact, the only option on our test car was the £525 ‘Brilliant Sporty Blue’ metallic paint. 

So it ticks the style and equipment boxes, but what’s it like to drive? Well, with tough competition from more modern rivals, the Civic remains an also-ran in terms of performance and handling. The steering is better weighted than it is in the CR-V, but it doesn’t offer an enormous amount of feedback. It’s responsive enough, though, and you’re never left unsure of where the front wheels are pointing. Body roll isn’t too much of an issue either, while the ride is acceptable given the Sport’s bigger wheels.

Getting up to speed requires patience. In this day and age, most small capacity petrol engines come with a turbocharger bolted on, allowing acceptable performance with lower running costs. As a result, the Honda’s naturally aspirated 1.4 feels rather sluggish. Any overtakes necessitate careful planning, while pulling away from junctions can be a laborious affair. The elevated driving position takes some getting used to, but anyone stepping out of an existing Civic will feel right at home. 

Despite having six gears this 1.4-litre Civic Sport it’s not all that refined at high speed. Wind and tyre noise isn’t an issue, but there’s a noticeable drone from the engine at 70mph. Cabin quality is acceptable, but falls short of newer models like the Vauxhall Astra or Renault Megane.

Practicality remains a Civic strong point, and is unaffected by the engine and trim selection. That means all models benefit from Honda’s excellent Magic Seats, which fold flat in one motion to provide up to 1,378 litres of bootspace. The frustrating boot spoiler remains and continues to affect visibility out the back, though.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the our team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024