| First Drive | Silverstone, England | 2009 Honda Civic range |

The Honda Civic demanded attention when it was launched in 2006, with its distinctive silhouette and bold details such as the hidden rear door handles, two-piece rear window and Perspex front grille. For 2009 there have been some changes: there is a new 1.4-litre engine and a conventional automatic transmission is also now available. The five-door has been made more refined too, whilst the three-door Civic is intended to be more driver-focussed. The new models are due to arrive in early 2009.

In the Metal

Honda claims the styling is one of the main reasons customers choose the Civic. As a result there have been no radical alterations to the body. The most obvious change is a pair of 'nostrils' either side of the Honda badge on the front of the five-door model; on some versions these are functional, providing extra cooling. The tail lamp clusters have also been updated, but you would need to have an older Civic on hand to spot the differences. The three-door Type-S gets a body kit, similar to the one fitted to the Type-R, and a mesh front grille in place of the chrome and Perspex panel between the lights of the old model.

What you get for your Money

Detailed prices have not yet been released, but the new Civic is comprehensively equipped, including climate control and a six-speed manual transmission as standard on all models. The rear seats have the same versatile folding arrangements as seen on the Jazz and include under-seat storage space that can accommodate a folded push-chair whilst leaving the seat free to use. An auxiliary socket to connect your MP3 player is offered on SE, ES and Type-S models while a USB port is provided with the new GT package, offered on the ES and Type-S. Rear parking sensors are also included in GT specification.

Driving it

New to the range is the 1.4-litre i-VTEC engine already seen in the new Jazz. With 99bhp it is more powerful than the outgoing i-DSI unit. On the road it feels surprisingly lively at low to medium revs, although it runs out of puff if you try wringing it out to the red line. It isn't quite as refined as the larger petrol or diesel engines when extended but it is still perfectly acceptable.

Both the 1.4- and 1.8-litre petrol engines can be paired with the updated i-Shift, automated manual transmission. I-Shift isn't as smooth as the full automatic gearbox but you could live with it. Gear changes in the 1.4 can feel a little sluggish but the Sport mode, with faster shift times, is only offered in conjunction with the 1.8-litre engine. The i-Shift provides manual control on demand with an easy transition between modes - just push the gear lever to the left to toggle between manual and auto. The party-piece of i-Shift is the ability to skip gears in automatic mode; accelerate hard in third to join a motorway and when you back off the accelerator the transmission chooses fifth or sixth gear straight away.

The automatic is smooth and responsive but you must look elsewhere for Tiptronic-style controls. To hold a gear you must use the slightly clunky selector lever with its thumb-operated detent. Most customers will probably just leave the transmission in 'D', which works well most of the time.

The three-door Civic rides a little more firmly than the five-door, but both versions ride and handle competently. The steering might not offer the last word in feel, but it is quick, accurate and well-weighted. Refinement is a strong point, especially in the more comfort-orientated five-door model.

Worth Noting

Honda is pitching the 1.4-litre Type-S as a sporty car for young drivers who can't afford the insurance on a Type-R. It sounds improbable but this model is quite good fun to drive. You have to wonder how many young drivers can afford a brand new Civic though.

The new automatic transmission is only available with the 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine in the five-door body where it replaces the i-Shift option. For the Type-S the 1.8 can still be specified with the automated manual gearbox while the 1.4-litre i-VTEC is offered with i-Shift in both body styles.

The only downside to leaving the styling alone is that the partially blocked rear-view remains. It also makes the Civic the only car in its class without a rear windscreen wiper.

Summary

Honda seems to have hit the target with the updated Civic. Wisely the styling has been mostly left alone while other improvements ensure the Honda remains competitive and ready to take on the recently updated Golf and Mégane. Pick of the range is still the 2.2-litre diesel for its blend of performance, economy and refinement but there isn't a bad engine and transmission combination. Automatic and i-Shift Civics will reach showrooms in January 2009 with other models following later in the New Year.